The Wei Jiang 魏降

Wei Jiang (594-676), born in Chengfan (now Jining County, Shandong) during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, styled Dao Chong.

The "Inscription for Wei Master at Renjing Temple in Runzhou, Great Tang Dynasty" states: his great-grandfather Wei Yun served as the Minister of State in Liang's Ancheng Kingdom; his grandfather Wei Qian served as a general in Chen's Changsha Kingdom; his father Wei Xiang was an Exofficer of Fengxin in the Sui Dynasty. 

He aspired to immortality from a young age and did not mingle with the mundane world. Upon reaching adulthood, he became a monk at Maoshan Temple, under the guidance of Xu Ang, the head priest. For over a decade, he followed Xu Ang to visit famous mountains and was taught the teachings of Taisu Shangqing and the texts of Sanjing Baji. In the ninth year of the Zhenguan era (635), Emperor Taizong summoned Xu Ang for service in the inner temple. He accompanied the emperor on tours to Kongtong Mountain and the Fen River, and was highly regarded for his responses.

The emperor was pleased and ordered Wei Jiang to be summoned, praising him as "exceptionally diligent and unassuming, maintaining integrity in seclusion, the current pillar of stability." Emperor Taizong decreed that Wei Jiang should reside at Renjing Temple on Huai Mountain.

In the second year of the Zongzhang era (669), he was ordered to preside over the Maoshan Temple's rituals and sacrifices, and Empress Wu Zetian specially granted him a mountain and water robe as a reward.

He passed away in June of the third year of the Shangyuan era (676).

His famous disciples included Hu Sihan, Huan Wenjie, Xiao Hongkai, and Sheng Wenyi.