The Yun Dabian 云大辫

Yun Dabian was a native of Pu'er (now part of Yunnan Province) in the early Qing Dynasty.

His original surname was Wang, but his given name is unknown; he styled himself "Huosiren" (the Living Dead Man). In his early years, he joined the military and once held an official position. At the age of fifty, he traveled to the capital on foot. At that time, he suffered from a severe dysentery attack, which was cured by Guan Tianxian (Immortal Guan Tian). Later, he met Jin Huaihuai, whom he studied under and from whom he learned all the profound and subtle esoteric teachings.

At the age of fifty-two, he went to Wuding. Later, Guan Tianxian took him to Longshu Shanfang (Dragon Tree Mountain Lodge) on Jizu Mountain, where he received the Daina Seal and practiced the magical arts of Western India (Xizhu). He wandered as a Taoist hermit in Tiantai Mountain, Zhongnan Mountain, and other places for more than ten years, before finally arriving at Laihe Daoyuan (Crane-Calling Taoist Abbey) on Guanshan Mountain in the Jiangnan region.

Though he possessed extraordinary magical powers and supernatural abilities, he never displayed them once. While living in the mountains, he focused solely on tuna (breathing exercises, a core Taoist practice for vital energy cultivation). He built a "Tomb of the Living Dead" by the side of the abbey and entered it alive, passing away there at the age of 110.

He belonged to the Xinzong (Heart Sect) branch of the Longmen (Dragon Gate) School of Taoism.

(Source: Jingai Xindeng [The Golden Canopy Lamp of the Heart])