The Zhang Suqing 张素卿

The Zhang Suqing 张素卿

Paul Peng
Zhang Suqing was a native of Jianzhou (now part of Sichuan Province) during the Tang Dynasty.
He lost his father at an early age and worked as a servant in the household of Xiahou Zi, a Jiedushi (military governor).

He had a natural fondness for painting. While in the Jiedushi’s household, he was exposed to numerous famous paintings, which greatly improved his artistic skills.


During a trip to the mountains, he encountered Chen Qianhui, a Taoist priest. Chen Qianhui admired Zhang Suqing’s exquisite painting technique, so Zhang Suqing became Chen’s disciple and later became a Taoist priest himself.


In the ninth year of the Zhonghe era (882), Zhang Suqing gained fame at the imperial court for his paintings. Emperor Xizong of the Tang Dynasty bestowed upon him the title "Xiyi Zhenjun" (True Lord of Mystery and Eternity) and granted him a purple robe, honoring him as a preeminent painter of his generation.


Yizhou Minghua Lu (Record of Famous Paintings in Yizhou) records his renowned works, including Wuyue Chaozhen Tu (Painting of the Five Great Mountains Paying Homage to Immortals), Ershisi Hua Zhenren Xiang (Portraits of the Twenty-Four Transcendent Immortals), and Laozi Guo Sha Tu (Painting of Laozi Crossing the Sand); Xuanhe Huapu (Xuanhe Painting Catalogue) documents other works such as Rongcheng Zhenren Xiang (Portrait of Immortal Rongcheng) and Ge Yuan Zhenren Xiang (Portrait of Immortal Ge Yuan).


After the Song and Yuan dynasties, his works were regarded as a model for Taoist figure paintings and murals in Taoist temples.
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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