The Zhou Tailang 周太朗

Zhou Tailang (1628–1711) was a native of Zhenze, Jiangsu Province, during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. His courtesy name was Yuanzhen, and his Taoist title was Mingyangzi.

At the age of seven, he could compose poetry; Taoist Chiyangzi was astonished by his talent when they met.

When he was twenty, he accompanied his father (who held an official position) to the imperial capital. After paying respects at Baiyun Guan (White Cloud Taoist Temple), he conceived the aspiration to become a Taoist Priest.

Three years later, his father passed away. Zhou Tailang escorted the coffin back to his hometown; on the way, he went to Maoshan Mountain, where he studied under Sun Yuyang, the abbot of Qianyuan Guan (Qianyuan Taoist Temple). It was then that he was given the Taoist name "Tailang" (replacing his secular name).

In the 3rd year of the Kangxi reign (1664), he met Huang Chiyang at Dade Guan (Great Virtue Taoist Temple), took him as his teacher, and further received the Major Precepts (a high-level set of Taoist monastic precepts).

In the 4th year of the Kangxi reign (1665), he went to Jingshan Mountain (Golden Canopy Mountain) and visited Tao Jing’an, seeking to understand the essential principles of Taoist practice and worldly engagement. When Wang Changyue went to Wuling to transmit precepts, Zhou Tailang followed him for two years, receiving extensive teachings and guidance. His Taoist knowledge advanced significantly, and he attained the "Six Penetrations" (a state of spiritual accomplishment in Taoism, referring to mastery of supernatural and moral-spiritual faculties).

At that time, there was a Jingu Cave (Golden Drum Cave) on Qixia Ridge by West Lake—its cliffs towering against the sky, with no buildings yet constructed. Zhou Tailang loved the cave’s seclusion, which separated it from the "red dust" (secular world). He thus settled there, hanging his gourd (a symbol of Taoist ascetics) under the cliff. When Hu Deng, a Buddhist monk and the keeper of the cave, arrived, he felt an immediate affinity with Zhou Tailang and thus entrusted Jingu Cave to him. Zhou Tailang then built thatched huts and constructed Helin Daoyuan (Crane Grove Taoist Abbey) at Jingu Cave; soon, numerous practitioners seeking to study Taoist mysteries and pursue the Dao gathered there.

In the tenth month of the 13th year of the Kangxi reign (1673), as Huang Chiyang was approaching death, he summoned Zhou Tailang to Dade Guan and transmitted ritual implements (symbolizing the passing of Taoist lineage) to him.

Zhou Tailang had nearly a thousand disciples, all of whom revered him as their spiritual master. He presided over the lecture platform at Yunchao (Cloud Nest), where he taught Taoist doctrines.

He was the 9th-generation Lvshi (Precept Master) of the Longmen (Dragon Gate) School of Taoism. He passed away in the 50th year of the Kangxi reign (1711) at the age of 84.

(Source: Jingai Xindeng [The Golden Canopy Lamp of the Heart])