The Yang Tongyou 杨通幽

The Yang Tongyou 杨通幽

Paul Peng

Yang Tongyou

Yang Tongyou was a native of Shifang County in Guanghan (now Shifang County, Sichuan Province) during the Tang Dynasty. His original name was Shi Wu.
In his youth, he encountered a Taoist priest, whom he respected and served diligently. The priest taught him the "technique of summoning by official document"—a Taoist ritual practice that allowed him to command ghosts and spirits, and all his commands would be responded to immediately.

He also learned the Three Emperors' Celestial Texts (a classic Taoist scripture). He was capable of praying for thunderstorms and expelling plagues; as a result, many people from all over the country came to him for help.
As recorded in Volume 43 of Comprehensive Mirror of Immortals Who Embodied the Dao Through the Ages (a major Taoist hagiographical work): During the An Lushan Rebellion (a large-scale uprising in the Tang Dynasty), Emperor Xuanzong fled to Sichuan to avoid the chaos.
The emperor issued an imperial order, commanding Yang Tongyou to travel across the Three Realms (a concept in Taoist cosmology referring to the Heavenly Realm, Human Realm, and Underworld) to find Consort Yang (Yang Yuhuan, Emperor Xuanzong’s beloved concubine). Yang Tongyou finally succeeded in enabling the emperor to meet her.
Emperor Xuanzong then bestowed upon him the name "Tongyou" and treated him with the courtesy due to a teacher.
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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