The Sun Xuanqing 孙玄清

Sun Xuanqing (1497-1569) was a native of Shouguang County, Qingzhou Prefecture, during the Ming Dynasty.

Also known as Sun Zu, he styled himself "Haiyue Shanren" (Mountain-dweller of the Sea and Peaks).

As recorded in Essential Readings for the Taoist School, he became a Taoist monk at Mingxia Cave in Mount Lao from an early age, studying under Li Xiantuo.

Later, he traveled to Yunguang Cave in Mount Tiecha, where he encountered the True Person Tongyuanzi, who taught him the method of "the Five Elements' Ascent and Descent, and the Operation of the Heavenly Gate".

At the age of 19, the True Person Taihe from Jimo County took him to Huangshi Palace, where he lived in seclusion and practiced assiduously for over ten years, making significant progress in Taoist doctrines and skills.

Subsequently, he met the True Person Zhang Doupeng; after discussing the essential formulas for cultivating immortality with him, Sun Xuanqing achieved a sudden enlightenment.

In the 37th year of the Jiajing reign (1558), he went to the Bo Hall of Baiyun Temple in the capital.

At that time, the capital was suffering from a severe drought. Sun Xuanqing prayed for rain with effective results, so he was bestowed the title "National-protecting Celestial Master, Left Assistant Hierophant, Purple Yang True Person". Originally a fourth-generation descendant of the Longmen School, Sun Xuanqing later established an independent school called the "Jinshan School"; also, because he practiced cultivation in Mount Lao, it was also known as the "Laoshan School".

He passed away in the sixth month of the third year of the Longqing reign (1569) at the age of 73.

(Essential Readings for the Taoist School)