The Tao Xuan 陶烜
Paul PengShare
Tao Xuan (316–?)
A native of Poyang during the Western Jin Dynasty, he was the nephew of Tao Dan and styled himself Tairen.
He was proficient in medical skills and astronomy. Living in seclusion in Baihe Cave (White Crane Cave) in Xiangyin, he recited and studied the Huangting Jing (The Yellow Court Scripture, a core Taoist classic).

Later, when Tao Dan came to reside there with him, his attainments in Taoist practice made significant progress.
In the third year of the Tianjian era of the Liang Dynasty (504), local villagers built a temple to jointly enshrine and worship both Tao Dan and Tao Xuan. In the second year of the Xianfeng era of the Qing Dynasty (1852), he was specially conferred the title of "Fuyou Lingying Zhenren" (literally "True Person of Blessings, Protection, and Efficacious Response") by imperial decree, in recognition of his merit in protecting the endangered city.
(Source: Comprehensive Gazetteer of Hunan, Gazetteer of Changsha Prefecture)
About the Author
Paul Peng
Paul Peng is a Zhengyi Taoist priest from Longhu Mountain, Jiangxi — the ancestral home of the Celestial Masters' tradition. Ordained at 25 after a dream from the Celestial Master, he has practiced for 25 years under Master Zeng Guangliang. He is one of the curators of this store, which is officially authorized by Tianshi Fu. All items are consecrated at the temple by the resident priest team.
Read his full story →