The Tan Zixiao 谭紫霄

Tan Zixiao (? - 973) lived during the late Five Dynasties and early Northern Song Dynasty. His courtesy name was Zilei.

His ancestors were from Beihai (now part of Shandong Province); according to another theory, he was from Quanzhou, and he was born in Jinling.

He became a Taoist priest at an early age. As recorded in Volume 3 of Lishi Zhenxian Tidao Tongjian (Comprehensive Mirror of Immortals Who Attained Dao Through Cultivation in Successive Ages): "From childhood, Zixiao had a passion for reading, and he was well-versed in the Great Classics, the works of various philosophers, as well as esoteric scriptures and sacred texts."

He encountered an extraordinary person (a hermit with supernatural abilities in Taoist legends) on Yusi Mountain, who taught him the arts of "Kuili Douji Guan 灯 Feifu" (a specialized Taoist ritual involving observing lamps and casting flying talismans associated with the Big Dipper) and the "Shangqing Tianxin Zhengfa" (Orthodox Method of the Heavenly Heart from the Shangqing School, a major Taoist tradition).

The practices he performed were highly effective (in exorcism, blessing, etc., as per Taoist beliefs), and from then on, his reputation spread widely across the Jiangnan region, attracting a large number of followers. When he went to the Min region, Wang Chang, the King of Min, treated him with the courtesy due to a teacher, and bestowed upon him the titles "Jinquan Yuke Zhengyi Xiansheng" (Immortal Zhengyi, the Feathered Guest of the Golden Gate) and later "Dongxuan Tianshi" (Heavenly Master of the Mysterious Cavern) and "Zuojie Daomen Weiyi" (Guardian of the Left Orthodox Taoist Order). After the fall of the Min State, he returned to Jinling. Li Bian, Emperor Liezu of the Southern Tang Dynasty, held him in high esteem, and granted him the titles "Zhenyao Xiansheng" (Immortal of True Radiance) and "Zuojie Daomen Weiyi" (Guardian of the Left Orthodox Taoist Order).
During the Baoda era (943 - 957), he was again bestowed the title "Jinquan Yuke" (Feathered Guest of the Golden Gate). He chose to settle in Xiyin Cave on Mount Lu, and more than a hundred people came to study under him.

He passed away from illness in the sixth year of the Kaibao era of Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty (973).