The Zhenren Yan 燕真人

Zhenren Yan (Immortal Yan) was a native of Wangwu Li in the Later Jin Dynasty of the Five Dynasties period (now Jiyuan County, Henan Province). He was styled Yanluozi and was an internal alchemy practitioner (a Taoist who focuses on refining internal qi for spiritual and physical cultivation).

During the Tianfu era (936–947) [Note: There is a chronological error in the original text; the Tianfu era of the Later Jin Dynasty was 936–947, not 936–917], he obtained the secret method of cultivating the Dao through absorbing the essence of mist and clouds. Later, he dug up a miraculous ginseng root from a well near his residence. His whole family ate the ginseng, after which their entire house (along with the family) ascended to heaven (a Taoist myth symbolizing achieving immortality).

The Ten Books on Cultivating the True Self (Xiuzhen Shishu) includes works written by Yanluozi, such as The First Diagram (Shoubu Tu), The Song of the Physical Shell (Tike Ge), The Diagram of Paying Homage to Immortals (Chaozhen Tu), The Left-side Diagram of the Internal Realm (Neijing Zuoce Tu), The Right-side Diagram of the Internal Realm (Neijing Youce Tu), The Front Diagram of the Internal Realm (Neijing Zhengmian Tu), The Back Diagram of the Internal Realm (Neijing Beimian Tu), and The Scripture of Internal Observation (Neiguan Jing).

In addition, historical records and bibliography catalogs also list his other works, including The Secret Method of Absorbing Internal Vital Qi (Fu Neiyuanqi Jue), The Song of Internal Truth and Translucence (Neizhen Tongming Ge), The Secret Method of Establishing Internal Truth and Penetrating the Mysterious (Li Neizhen Tongxuan Jue), The Secret Diagram of the Lock for Nourishing the Spirit (Yangshen Guansuo Mijue Tu), and The Golden and Jade Chapter of the Upper Clear Realm (Shangqing Jinbi Pian).

(Sources: Records of Mount Wangwu (Wangwushan Zhi), Volume 1; Records of Huaiqing Prefecture (Huaiqing Fuzhi))