The Zhang Tanxuan 张探玄
Paul PengShare
Zhang Tanxuan (667-742)
Zhang Tanxuan lived in the mid-Tang Dynasty. His courtesy name was Tiwei, and he was posthumously awarded the title "Mr. Zhenxuan". He was a descendant of Zhang Daoling (the founder of Taoism).
According to The Stele of Zhang Tanxuan: His ancestral home was in Nanyang. Later, his family moved to Chaoyang, and then relocated to Guangping due to an official appointment, thus he became a native of Linming.
- His great-grandfather, Zhang Yan, served in the Northern Zhou Dynasty and held the position of Governor of Zizhou in Xiangguo.
- His grandfather, Zhang Gan, was the Sima (an official in charge of military affairs and administration) of Pingzhou during the Sui Dynasty and inherited the title of "Lord of Chaoyang County".
- His father, Zhang Rui, lived through a turbulent period and never held an official position in his lifetime.
In the first year of the Wenming era of Emperor Ruizong (684), Taoism was promoted and valued. Through recommendation, Zhang Tanxuan was initiated as a Taoist priest at Mingshan Temple in his home prefecture.
In the early years of the Kaiyuan era (of Emperor Xuanzong), due to his profound attainments in Taoism, he was summoned by the imperial court and appointed as a "Dade" (a senior and virtuous Taoist priest) at Jinglong Temple in the Western Capital (Chang'an). Later, the court intended to appoint him as a Jianguan (an imperial censor in charge of remonstrating with the emperor), but Zhang Tanxuan firmly declined and did not take up the post.
In the 14th year of the Kaiyuan era (726), together with Wang Xianqing from Emei Mountain, Zhao Xianfu from Qingcheng Mountain, Liang Xuzhou from Hanzhong, Tian Xianliao from the Qi region, and others, he was selected to preside over the sacrificial rituals at the Xuanyuan Temple (dedicated to the "Great Sage Ancestor" Xuanyuan Huangdi, revered by Taoism).
In the 21st year of the Kaiyuan era (733), he was ordered by the emperor to serve as the "Daomen Weiyi Shi" (an official in charge of managing Taoist temples and regulating Taoist practices) in the Eastern Capital (Luoyang), and concurrently held the position of abbot of both Shengzhen Temple and Xuanyuan Temple.
He once participated in the construction of Lingdu Xiantai Temple (also known as Qingxu Dongfu Temple), but the project was unfinished when he passed away in July of the first year of the Tianbao era (742). He was seventy-six years old at the time of his death.
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 →
