The Xu Yifan 徐一返

The Xu Yifan 徐一返

Paul Peng
Xu Yifan was a native of Dongchang, Shandong Province, during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. He also went by the given name Hanchen, with the courtesy name Longyuan and the literary name Longyan.

As recorded in The Golden Lid and the Lamp of the Heart (a key text on the lineage of the Quanzhen School of Taoism), in his youth, he was a chivalrous outlaw. After meeting Fang Ningyang, he repented sincerely and became Fang’s disciple to study Taoism.

In the 36th year of the Kangxi reign (1697), Xu Yifan went to Jingen Mountain and studied under Xu Ziyuan. Xu Ziyuan gave him the courtesy name Longyan and conferred the Three Great Precepts (a set of core high-level precepts in Taoism) upon him; afterward, Xu Yifan resided at Helin Taoist Abbey.

When Xu Ziyuan passed away, he entrusted the affairs of Jingen Mountain to Xu Yifan.

In the 59th year of the Kangxi reign (1720), Xu Yifan began to take charge of the lecture seat at Jingen Mountain (i.e., preside over Taoist scripture lectures and teaching there).

In the 10th year of the Qianlong reign (1745) [Note: There is a chronological inconsistency in the original text; the 10th year of Qianlong corresponds to 1745, which is later than 1720, the 59th year of Kangxi], Jiang Yucang from Dongting left his family to become a Taoist monk and studied under Xu Yifan.

Xu Yifan earnestly instructed Jiang Yucang. Since Jiang had previously converted to the Zhengyi Sect (a major Taoist sect) and followed its masters, Xu Yifan taught him the Maoshan Prayer Rituals and enabled him to inherit the Zhengyi lineage of the Heavenly Master Zhang.

Later, Xu Yifan imparted the core doctrines of Taoism to Jiang Yucang without conferring a new literary name on him. After that, he fully entrusted the affairs of Jingen Mountain to Jiang Yucang and then resided in places such as Xia’ang Zhudun on his own.

Xu Yifan lived to the age of 93. He was the 11th Successor Master of the Longmen Sect (a branch of the Quanzhen School of Taoism).
Paul Peng — Zhengyi Taoist Priest, Longhu Mountain

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 →
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