The Zhao Guizhen 赵归真
Paul PengShare
Zhao Guizhen (?–846) was a Taoist priest in the late Tang Dynasty.
He was skilled in the art of huangbai (alchemy of turning base metals into gold or silver, a core practice in traditional Taoist external alchemy), and was highly praised by emperors. In the second year of the Baoli era (826 CE), he served as Daomen Jiaoshou Boshi (a official title in the Tang Dynasty, responsible for teaching Taoist doctrines and rituals to Taoist clergy).
When Emperor Wenzong ascended the throne, Zhao Guizhen was exiled to Lingnan (a region covering present-day southern Guangdong, Guangxi, and northern Vietnam). In the fifth year of the Kaicheng era (840 CE), he was pardoned and returned to the capital. The emperor issued an edict, ordering him to preside over a Jinlu Daochang (a grand Taoist ritual altar for praying for blessings and expelling misfortunes) in the imperial palace together with 81 other Taoist priests; Emperor Wuzong personally received the Falu (Taoist ordination certificates, symbolizing the formal acceptance into the Taoist clergy and acquisition of ritual authority) at the Jiutian Altar.
In the first year of the Huichang era (841 CE), the emperor summoned Zhao Guizhen to build the Wangxiantai (Platform for Viewing Immortals) in the imperial palace, and appointed him to oversee practices aimed at achieving immortality. He was also conferred the title of Zuo You Jiedao Men Jiaoshou Xiansheng (a senior honorary title for Taoist masters, responsible for guiding Taoist affairs across the country). In the fifth year of the Huichang era (845 CE), Zhao Guizhen collaborated with Liu Xuanjing to plan the suppression of Buddhism.
In the fourth month of the following year (846 CE), when Emperor Xuanzong ascended the throne, Zhao Guizhen was beaten to death with a staff on the charge of "deluding the previous emperor and destroying Buddhism." Another account claims he was exiled to Lingnan.
(Sources: Old Book of Tang·Annals of Emperor Wuzong, Tang Huiyao (Compilation of Tang Institutions), Zizhi Tongjian·Tang Annals)
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 the curator of this store, which is officially authorized by Tianshi Fu. All items are consecrated at the temple by the resident priest team.
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