The Zhang Hehao 张合皓
Paul PengShare
Zhang Hehao (?–1808) was a native of Chang'an County, Xi'an Prefecture, during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty.
His courtesy name was Langran, and his literary name was Yixuan.
At the age of 32, after both his parents passed away, he went to Yaoshang An (Yaoshang Nunnery) in Mei County at Zhongnan Mountain, where he studied under Li Benshan.
Subsequently, he visited Preceptor Zhang at Yaotou Divine Cave to study the three teachings (Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism). Through daily conversations and discussions with Preceptor Zhang, he gained profound insights.
Later, he further studied under Dong Chijiao (Dong Barefoot), Shi Chijiao (Shi Barefoot), and Li Chijiao (Li Barefoot) from Jingyang County, delving deeply into the profound mysteries of heaven and humanity, as well as the core tenet that the three teachings share the same origin.
In the 42nd year of the Qianlong reign (1777), he went to the imperial capital and resided at Baiyun Guan (White Cloud Temple), serving as the guest manager (a Taoist temple role responsible for receiving visitors and handling external affairs).
In the 43rd year of the Qianlong reign (1778), he moved to Yongning Guan (Yongning Temple) in the Imperial Garden and gained recognition from Tute Bu, a Bachelor of the Imperial Academy (a high-ranking scholarly official).
Bachelor Tute Bu specially built Yanning An (Yanning Nunnery) and invited Zhang Hehao to reside there. In the 56th year of the Qianlong reign (1791), Zhang Hehao returned to Baiyun Guan to serve as its abbot.
By the 12th year of the Jiaqing reign (1807), friends and practitioners from all over the country gathered at Baiyun Guan willingly, like clouds converging.
Later, local authorities invited Preceptor Zhang (another Taoist master specializing in precepts) from Huashan Mountain with ritual gifts, requesting him to come to Baiyun Guan to set up an altar and lecture on Taoist precepts. Over 120 disciples received the precepts there.
Moreover, Preceptor Zhang transmitted the lineage of the authentic precepts and teachings of the Longmen (Dragon Gate) School to Zhang Hehao, making Zhang Hehao the 16th-generation Preceptor of Precept Transmission (a Taoist master authorized to confer precepts).
(From Taishang Lümai Yuanliu (Origin and Development of the Supreme Precept Lineage))
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 →
