Zhang Yuchu (1359-1410) was the 43rd Heavenly Master of the Zhengyi School.
His courtesy name was Xuan, and he was also known by the literary name Zheshan. He was the eldest son of Zhang Zhengchang.
In the 11th year of the Hongwu reign (1378), he was officially conferred the title "Great True Person Who Inherits the Zhengyi Teachings, Harmonizes with Non-Action, Spreads the Ancestral Legacy, and Serves as a Brilliant Model".
In the 17th year (1384), he was summoned to the imperial capital and took charge of holding the "Yulu Grand Ritual" (a major Taoist ritual for praying and absolution) on Zijin Mountain.
In the 24th year (1391), an imperial edict was issued to rebuild the Shangqing Palace on Longhu Mountain.
In the 25th year (1392), the emperor issued an order to the Ministry of Rites, strictly prohibiting the forgery of Taoist talismans. Zhang Yuchu was granted the "Zhengyi Xuantan Seal" to oversee the distribution of talismans, with the mission of permanently safeguarding famous mountains and great rivers.
In the early years of the Jianwen reign, he violated imperial laws and had his official seal and imperial certificate confiscated.
He passed away due to illness in the 8th year of the Yongle reign. He once wrote Collected Works of Xianquan in ten volumes, which was praised and printed by the Prince of Liao of the Ming Dynasty and thus passed down to later generations.
He also wrote the preface to Taiji Ritual for Refining the Inner Self, and compiled works such as Records of the 30th Heavenly Master Xujing Zhenjun, Ten Rules for Taoist Clergy, and Comprehensive Interpretation of the Supreme Scripture of the Primordial Lord for Saving All Beings.
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