The Zhao Daojian 赵道坚

Zhao Daojian (1163-1221) was a native of Tanzhou (now Miyun District, Beijing) during the Jin Dynasty. His original name was Zhao Jiugu, and his Taoist title was Xu Jingzi (Master of Emptiness and Tranquility).

As recorded in Golden Cover Heart Lamp (Jingai Xindeng), a Taoist classic: In the 19th year of the Dading era (1179), he became a disciple of Ma Danyang. The following year, he was ordered by his master to go to Longmen Mountain, where he paid homage to Qiu Changchun (Qiu Chuji) and became his disciple—thus changing his name to Zhao Daojian. In the subsequent years, he traveled back and forth in the Pingliang area.

In the 26th year of the Dading era (1186), Qiu Changchun took Zhao Daojian to reside at the ancestral temple of the Quanzhen Sect on Zhongnan Mountain. Before long, Qiu Changchun was summoned by the imperial court to travel eastward; he left Zhao Daojian behind and ordered him to switch his mentor to Li Lingyang.

In the 2nd year of the Mingchang era (1191), when Qiu Changchun returned eastward to the coastal regions and passed through Yecheng, he again instructed Zhao Daojian to pay homage to Liu Changsheng (another Quanzhen Sect master).

Shortly after, the Real Person Liu (Liu Changsheng) ordered Zhao Daojian to return east to Qixia (in Shandong Province) and join Qiu Changchun there. Zhao then served as a literary attendant, in charge of Taoist scriptures, historical allusions, and incoming/outgoing letters. In the 3rd year of the Xingding era of Emperor Xuanzong of the Jin Dynasty (1219), he followed the Real Person Changchun (Qiu Chuji) on his journey to the Western Regions. When they reached Sailan City (an ancient city in Central Asia), he unfortunately passed away at the age of 59.

In the 5th year of the reign of Emperor Dingzong of the Yuan Dynasty (1250), he was posthumously conferred the title "Zhongzhen Yijiao Xuanying Zhenren" (Real Person of Loyalty, Integrity, and Support for Teachings, Responding to Mystery).

Baixian Xianbiao (Tablet Inscription of the White Cloud Immortal) states that Zhao Daojian once received Taoist precepts from Qiu Changchun and was the first patriarch of the Vinaya School (Disciplinary School) of the Quanzhen Sect.