The Wang Qi 王杞

Wang Qi (?–859) lived during the reigns of Emperors Wuzong and Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty. A native of Zizhou (present-day Santai County, Sichuan Province), he went by the courtesy name Changyu.

In his prime, he served as a prison official in Dongchuan. He dedicated himself to prison affairs and accumulated extensive yinde (hidden virtues—good deeds done without seeking recognition, a concept in traditional Chinese ethics emphasizing karmic merit). He encountered an extraordinary person (a term often referring to immortals or Daoist masters in classical texts), who taught him a hundred poems containing immortal secrets; these poems deeply resonated with him and aligned with his understanding of Daoist principles.

Later, he was further taught the Chilong Dadan Method (the Great Elixir Method of the Red Dragon, a core practice in Taoist internal or external alchemy for immortality cultivation). Thus, he abandoned his official post to embrace Daoism, devoting himself wholeheartedly to Daoist cultivation.

In the final years of the Dazhong era (847–859 CE), he attained Dao, became an immortal, and departed the mortal world. Posthumously, he was conferred the title "Perfected One of Harmony and Protection."

(Source: Comprehensive Gazetteer of Sichuan / Sichuan Zongzhi)