The Ye Huiming 叶慧明

Ye Huiming, styled Dezhao, was a native of Yexian County in Nanyang (present-day Nanyang City, Henan Province) in the early Tang Dynasty.

Following in his father’s footsteps, he became a Taoist priest (by renouncing secular life and devoting himself to Taoism). As recorded in Biography of True Immortal Ye, he had a thorough understanding of the doctrines of Laozi and Zhuangzi, mastered profound Taoist principles with extensive knowledge, and held an indifferent attitude towards fame and wealth (pursued a simple and unadorned aspiration).

He was only fond of the path of immortality: he followed the example of Chisongzi (a legendary immortal in Chinese mythology) in seeking a carefree, transcendental life, and indulged in the teachings and practices of Huangdi (the Yellow Emperor) and Laozi (core to Taoism). He owned no material possessions beyond his body, adhering to the Taoist principle of "returning to one’s roots and attaining gentleness" (a concept from Tao Te Ching, emphasizing aligning with the original, gentle nature of the Tao).

He possessed profound Taoist arts: whenever he reprimanded ghosts, controlled deities, activated talismans of the netherworld officials, or altered registers of the underworld, all his practices proved effective without exception. He could recount past events in detail and foresee future occurrences while sitting still.

For the imperial court’s annual ceremonies (held three to four times a year) to worship Heaven, Earth, seas, and mountains, he was sure to be escorted by carriages drawn by four horses to preside over the rituals. Therefore, he was highly praised by the imperial family and senior court officials. In the second year of the Xiantian era (713 AD), he was posthumously awarded the title of Yinqing Guanglu Dafu (a high-ranking honorary official title in the Tang Dynasty) and appointed as the governor of Shezhou.