The Zhang Chen 张谌

The Zhang Chen 张谌

Paul Peng
Zhang Chen was the 20th Heavenly Master of the Zhengyi School (Orthodox Unity School) of Taoism.

His courtesy name was Zijian, and he was the eldest son of Zhang Xiu.
From childhood, he was fond of reading poetry and classics; when he grew up, he was erudite and versatile, skilled in cursive and official script calligraphy, and was regarded as a learned Confucian scholar of his time.

He was proficient in practicing the "bigu" technique (a Taoist practice of abstaining from grain to cultivate vitality).


Emperor Wuzong of the Tang Dynasty summoned him and intended to appoint him to an official position, but he declined and returned home without accepting the appointment. During the reign of Emperor Yizong of the Tang Dynasty (860–874), he was ordered to hold a grand "Jinlu Jiao" (Golden Register Ritual, a major Taoist sacrificial ceremony) in the imperial capital. He passed away due to drunkenness at the age of over one hundred.


In the 13th year of the Zhizheng era of the Yuan Dynasty (1353), he was posthumously awarded the title "Chongxuan Dongzhen Fude Zhenjun" (True Lord of Profound penetration, Mysterious Reality, and Trustworthy Virtue).


(From Hàn Tiānshī Shìjiā (Genealogy of the Heavenly Masters of the Han Dynasty))
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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