The Wang Xiqia 王栖霞
Paul PengShare
Wang Xiqia (882-943) was a native of Qilu (now part of Shandong Province) during the late Tang Dynasty and Five Dynasties period.
He also went by the given name Shuzhen and the courtesy name Xuanyin.
From an early age, he was exceptionally intelligent; at the age of seven, he passed the imperial examination for "child prodigies" (a special imperial exam for gifted children in ancient China) and obtained the corresponding title. By the age of fifteen, he had a thorough mastery of Confucian classics and history, and his reputation was well-known in his hometown.
In the fourth year of the Tianyou era (907), to avoid the chaos of war, he crossed the Yangtze River south to Shouchun. There, he became a Taoist priest under the tutelage of Nie Wenzheng and received Taoist ritual certificates (falü), which marked his formal entry into the Taoist order.
Later, he went to Huayang, where he studied under Deng Qixia, a Taoist official in charge of ritual protocols (Daomen Weiyi). From Deng, he learned the esoteric scriptures and secret teachings of the Dadong Jing (Great Cavern Scripture), a core text of the Shangqing School of Taoism.
Subsequently, he traveled extensively across famous mountains and great rivers, and finally built a thatched hut to reside in front of Liangchang Cave at the foot of Leiping Mountain in Maoshan.
Later, he was summoned to Jiankang (an ancient city, now Nanjing) by imperial edict. His answers to the emperor’s questions satisfied the imperial will, and he was soon bestowed with a golden seal and purple sash (symbols of high honor for officials or religious leaders in ancient China) and granted the title "Great Master Xuanbo". He was also appointed as the abbot of Xuanzhen Guan (Xuanzhen Taoist Temple).
Wang Xiqia had long cherished a desire to return to the mountains and forests. He submitted memorials to the emperor repeatedly, requesting permission to go back to Maoshan. In recognition of his devotion, the emperor further conferred on him the title "Mr. Zhensu" and additionally awarded him the honorific "Dongwei Yuanjing" (Profound Insight and Primordial Tranquility).
In the first year of the Baoda era (943), he passed away at Xuanzhen Guan at the age of sixty-two. His body was escorted back to Maoshan and buried in the "Divine Chamber" (a sacred burial site for eminent Taoist masters in Maoshan).
Wang Xiqia was the 19th patriarch of the Maoshan Shangqing School (one of the most important schools in Taoism). He authored Lingbao Yuan Ji (Record of Lingbao Courtyard).
(From Maoshan Zhi (Chronicle of Maoshan), Volume 11)
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 →
