The Wu Tao 吴夲
Paul PengShare
Wu Tao (979-1036) was a native of Baijiao in Tong'an (now Longhai County, Zhangzhou City) during the Northern Song Dynasty.
The character "夲" in his name is pronounced "tāo"; he also went by other names such as Wu Bo, with the courtesy name Huaji and the literary name Yunchong.
From an early age, he became a Taoist priest. He traveled extensively to seek out renowned masters, dedicated himself to studying medicine, and aspired to save all living beings.
In his medical practice, he treated patients without distinguishing between the noble and the humble. He prescribed medicine based on their specific illnesses, and his treatments often yielded immediate miraculous effects—earning him the title "Divine Physician" among people of his time.
He was once summoned to the imperial capital by imperial edict. Using acupuncture, he cured the breast illness of Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty’s wet nurse, and was thus conferred the title "True Person Miaodao" (where "Miaodao" means "Wondrous Dao").
In the second year of the Mingdao era (1033), a plague broke out in the Zhangzhou-Quanzhou region. Wu Ben spared no toil and saved countless lives. During the Jingyou era (1034-1038), he accidentally fell off a cliff and died while gathering medicinal herbs.
A temple was built and a statue erected in his hometown to enshrine him. He received numerous posthumous titles bestowed by emperors of successive dynasties, such as "True Person Ciji" (Ciji = "Merciful Salvation"), "True Person Xianyou" (Xianyou = "Manifest Blessing"), "Marquis Linghu" (Linghu = "Spiritual Protection"), "True Lord Yiling" (Yiling = "Medical Spirit"), and "True Person Fushan" (Fushan = "Blessing and Goodness"). He also held revered titles like "Great Emperor Baosheng" (Baosheng = "Protecting Life"), "Emperor Wu" and "Lord Huaqiao". During the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty (1403-1424), he was further conferred the grand title "Enzhu Haotian Yiling Miaohui True Lord, Longevity Without Boundaries, Great Emperor Baosheng" (Enzhu = "Gracious Lord", Haotian = "Vast Heaven", Miaohui = "Wondrous Grace").
(From Stele of Ciji Temple, Tong'an County Chronicle, and Haicheng County Chronicle)
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 →
