The Zhao Yizhen 赵宜真

Zhao Yizhen was a native of Anfu (now part of Jiangxi Province) in the late Yuan Dynasty. His courtesy name was Yuanyang, and his Taoist title was Yuanyangzi (Master of Primordial Yang). As recorded in Gazetteer of Jiangxi (Jiangxi Tongzhi):

From a young age, Zhao Yizhen was intelligent and perceptive, and he studied the knowledge required for the imperial examination (to become a scholar-official). When he traveled to the capital to take the examination according to the official protocol, he fell seriously ill halfway and was unable to sit for the exam. In a dream, a divine figure instructed him, telling him that he was destined to attain the status of an immortal. Thus, he went to Longhu Mountain and became a Taoist monk.

He studied under Li Yuan and Zhang Tianquan. Later, he built a thatched hut to reside on Mount Kuang, where he practiced Quanzhen Taoism (the Complete Perfection School). Subsequently, he moved to Mount Baihe and lived in Yongxing Temple.

His proficiency in Taoist practice advanced day by day. He made significant developments and elaborations on the Tianxin Thunder Method (a core ritual practice of the Zhengyi School, the Orthodox Unity School) and the fundamental principles of Huandan (the "Returning Elixir," a key concept in Quanzhen inner alchemy). From then on, he largely integrated the Northern and Southern branches of the Quanzhen School with the Zhengyi School, unifying their teachings to a great extent.

In the early years of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (around 1368), he resided temporarily in Ziyang Temple in Yudu. During this period, he traveled extensively to famous mountains and great rivers, visiting accomplished Taoist masters, and obtained the esoteric secrets of both Neidan (inner alchemy, focusing on spiritual cultivation) and Waidan (outer alchemy, focusing on refining physical elixirs). Later, he returned to Longhu Mountain and paid his respects to the Chongxu Celestial Master (a leader of the Zhengyi School), who received him with great courtesy and respect.

In the first month of the 15th year of the Hongwu era (1382), Zhao Yizhen passed away at Ziyang Temple in Yudu. He left behind several works, including poems, songs, and essays, as well as:

All these works were published and circulated in the world. In the 6th year of the Jingtai era (1455) of the Ming Dynasty, he was posthumously conferred the title of "Zhenren (True Person) of Honoring Literature, Expanding the Dao, and Pure Virtue—Yuanyang."