The Shoufa Zhenren 守法真人

Shoufa Zhenren (? - 1491) was a native of Jiading (now part of Shanghai) during the Ming Dynasty, with the courtesy name Haoran.

He suffered from illnesses since childhood. When he met a Taoist priest, the priest advised him to embrace Taoism, and his illnesses were subsequently cured. He studied under Zhenren Sun Yingyuan and Zhenren Shao Tongmiao, and fully mastered their Taoist techniques.

Recommended by the Heavenly Master Zhang of Longhu Mountain, he served as the abbot of the Dongyue Temple. Soon after, he was ordered by imperial edict to collaborate with eminent Taoists across the country to collect and collate the scriptures of the Daozang (Taoist Canon).

Later, recommended by Hu Dan, the Minister of Rites, he was promoted to the position of Tidian (a senior Taoist administrative post) of the Shenle Temple. In the first year of the Tianshun reign (1457), he was further promoted to Zuo Yanfa (a mid-ranking official) of the Daolu Division (the top imperial agency overseeing national Taoist affairs), concurrently serving as the abbot of the Chaotian Palace.

In the 9th year of the Chenghua reign (1473), he was transferred to the post of Zuo Zhengyi (a high-ranking Taoist official). In the 10th year of the Chenghua reign (1474), he was conferred the title of "Xuanzhi Shoujing Qingxu Gaoshi" (Virtuous Scholar of Profound Aspiration, Quiet Observation, Purity and Emptiness). Not long after, he was granted another title: "Chongxu Jingmo Wufa Congdao Ningcheng Yanfan Xianjiao Zhenren" (True Person of Void and Tranquility, Silent Insight into the Dharma, Following the Dao, Steadfast Sincerity, Spreading the Model and Manifesting the Teaching).

In the first year of the Hongzhi reign (1488), he was officially appointed as You Zhengyi (a top-ranking Taoist official) and ordered to take charge of the affairs of the Daolu Division.

Zhenren Shoufa had a straightforward, sincere and prudent temperament, and attached great importance to self-restraint with modesty and frugality. He was skilled in Taoist arts, such as praying for rain or clear skies. He passed away due to illness in the 4th year of the Hongzhi reign. Details of his life can be found in works including Xu Wenxian Tongkao (Continued Comprehensive Examination of Literature and History) and Volume 7 of Changchun Daojiao Yuanliu Kao (Study on the Origin and Development of Taoism in the Changchun Period).