The Ye Guozhong 叶国重

Ye Guozhong lived during the transition between the Liang and Chen dynasties of the Southern Dynasties, and was a native of Ye County in Nanyang Commandery (now Ye County, Henan Province, China).

As recorded in The Stele of Ye Guozhong, the Daoist Master of the Tang Dynasty (Tang You Dao Xian Sheng Ye Guo Zhong Mu Bei): His courtesy name was Yazhen. He carried on the aspirations of his grandfather and father, and three generations of his family served as Daoist practitioners.

He received and mastered the methods of Daoist talismans (a core practice in Zhengyi Daoism, where talismans are used to ward off evil and invoke spiritual power). His ability to suppress the evil spirits of "Liang" (malicious wandering spirits in Chinese folklore) proved highly effective. He traveled extensively across famous mountains, and his reputation spread far and wide.

He practiced the Daoist arts of "emptiness and tranquility" (a fundamental Daoist cultivation method focusing on calming the mind and aligning with the Dao). He collected the "marrow of five minerals" (a material used in Daoist alchemy, believed to nourish vitality) and plucked the "essence of three types of ganoderma" (a sacred herb in Daoism, associated with longevity). He abstained from eating and drinking (a advanced Daoist ascetic practice known as "bi gu," or "avoiding grains"), maintaining this discipline for decades without interruption.

He was particularly renowned for his skills in "vitality cultivation" (Daoist practices for nurturing physical and spiritual vitality) and divination.

The imperial court repeatedly issued official documents summoning him to take up official positions, but he ultimately refused to comply with the orders. People of his time honored him with the title "Daoist Master of Virtue" (You Dao Xian Sheng).

His son Ye Huiming and grandson Ye Fashan both became famous and accomplished Daoist masters of the Tang Dynasty.