The Zhang Zhijing 张志敬

Zhang Zhijing (1220-1270) was a native of Anci in Yanjing (present-day Langfang, Hebei Province) during the late Jin and early Yuan dynasties.

His courtesy name was Yiqing, and his Taoist title was "Zhenren of Manifesting Priority, Embodiment of Dao, Sincerity and Illumination" (Guangxian Tidao Chengming Zhenren).

From childhood, he had a fondness for Taoist books; whenever he heard someone recite Taoist scriptures, he would listen attentively and be reluctant to leave. At the age of eight, he was sent to Changchun Palace, where he studied under Real Person Li of Zhenchang (Li Zhichang), a master of the Quanzhen School.

Zhang Zhijing was intelligent and perceptive, and his prudence and decorum were comparable to those of an adult. Real Person Li regarded him as exceptional, so he kept Zhang by his side to serve him, and Zhang never left his side day or night.

Wang Shuzhai was renowned for his poetry in his time. Real Person Li ordered Zhang Zhijing to study under Wang. In the abbot’s quarters, there was the Cuixuan Hall, which housed a collection of ten thousand volumes of books—ordinary people were not allowed to peek inside. However, Real Person Li gave Zhang the keys to the hall, allowing him to read freely to his heart’s content. As a result, Zhang made remarkable progress in his Taoist studies and achieved extraordinary attainments.

In the 4th year of the Xianzong era of the Yuan Dynasty (1254), he was appointed to oversee affairs of the Quanzhen School. In the 6th year (1256), when Real Person Li passed away (attained immortality), Zhang Zhijing succeeded as the leader of the Quanzhen School, and both insiders and outsiders unanimously respected and obeyed him. In the 3rd year of the Zhongtong era (1262), he was bestowed with the Taoist title "Zhenren of Manifesting Priority, Embodiment of Dao, Sincerity and Illumination". In the 2nd year of the Zhiyuan era (1265), he presided over the grand Jinlu Ceremony (a major Taoist ritual) at Changchun Palace. The emperor commended him and granted him a set of ritual attire, including a golden crown and cloud-patterned silk robes.

Later, he took charge of restoring the Taoist temples dedicated to the Four Great Mountains and the One Great River (key sacred sites in traditional Chinese cosmology). The Quanzhen School regarded "recognizing the mind and perceiving one’s nature" as its core tenet, and "denying oneself to benefit others" as its guiding practice. Traditionally, the school did not rely on formal academic study or establish fixed written doctrines.

From Wang Chongyang (founder of Quanzhen) to Real Person Li Zhichang, after three generations of leadership, followers gradually began to value reading and no longer regarded written texts as obstacles to enlightenment.

When Zhang Zhijing became the school’s leader, he greatly propagated the profound essence of Taoist doctrines. Only then did all followers come to understand the importance of discussing and interpreting classics, and immersing themselves in the study of philosophical principles.

Zhang Zhijing conducted himself with extreme caution and prudence, and handled matters with flexibility and adaptability. Most of his associates were virtuous scholars and officials in the capital, as well as guests from all over the country—without exception, they all held him in high regard and affection.

He passed away in the 7th year of the Zhiyuan era (1270) at the age of 51.