The Chen Tuan 陈抟

Chen Tuan (871-989) was a Taoist priest during the late Five Dynasties and early Song Dynasty. He was born in Zhenyuan of Haozhou (now Luyi County, Henan Province); according to another theory, he was from Chongkan of Puzhou. His courtesy name was Tunan, his literary name was Fuyaozi, and he was granted the honorific title "Mr. Xiyi".

In his early years, he was well-versed in the classics, history, and the works of various academic schools, and also had a good command of medical theory, Buddhism, astronomy, and geography.

During the Changxing era of the Later Tang Dynasty (930-933), he took the imperial examination for the title of Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) but failed. After that, he found joy in wandering among mountains and rivers.

During the Qingtai era of the Later Tang Dynasty (934-936), he lived in seclusion in Wudang Mountain for more than 20 years, focusing on practicing internal quiet cultivation methods such as taixi (embryonic breathing, a Taoist breathing technique), fuqi (nourishing vital energy), bigu (abstaining from grain), and daoyin (guiding energy through body movements). During the Tianfu era of the Later Jin Dynasty (937-944), he traveled to Tianqing Temple in Qiongzhou, Sichuan, and later returned to the Guanzhong region. His cultivation attainments became increasingly profound, and he looked young despite his advancing age. In the third year of the Xiande era of Emperor Shizong of the Later Zhou Dynasty (956), the emperor summoned him and asked about the art of huangbai (alchemy for producing gold and silver, a form of outer alchemy). His replies satisfied the emperor, so he was appointed as a Jianyi Dafu (a high-ranking court advisor), but he firmly declined the position. Instead, he was granted the title "Mr. Baiyun" (White Cloud).

Later, he went to Huashan Mountain and resided in Yuntai Temple.

In the early years of the Taiping Xingguo era of the Song Dynasty (around 977), he responded to the imperial edict and entered the imperial court. In the ninth year of the Taiping Xingguo era (984), he entered the imperial court again and was treated with great courtesy. The emperor issued an edict to grant him the title "Mr. Xiyi" and bestow upon him a set of purple robes (a symbol of honor for distinguished scholars or religious figures).

His religious thoughts integrated the doctrines of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, pioneering the ideological trend of the "unity of the three religions" in the Song Dynasty.

According to legend, he created Wuji Tu (Diagram of the Ultimate Void, carved on the stone wall of Huashan Mountain) and Xiantian Tu (Diagram of the Innate). Later, Zhou Dunyi developed Wuji Tu into the "Theory of the Taiji Diagram", and Shao Yong evolved Xiantian Tu into the "image-number" system—both became integral parts of Song Dynasty Neo-Confucianism.

His Taoist inner alchemy thoughts advocated the "dual cultivation of nature and life" (xingming shuangxiu): nurturing life through internal refinement, calming the mind to eliminate distractions, regulating vital energy to enter a state of tranquility, and following the laws of nature.

With traditional Taoist doctrines as the core, he absorbed Confucian ideas and Buddhist meditation practices, forming a systematic theory of inner alchemy. This laid the foundation for the formation of the Taoist inner alchemy school in the Song and Yuan dynasties.

He authored Jiushi Zhixuan Pian (Guide to the Mysterious from the Nine Chambers), which consists of 81 chapters discussing daoyin (energy guidance) and huandan (alchemical refinement for immortality).

In addition, his works include Yi Long Tu (Diagram of the Dragon of the I Ching), Chisongzi Bajie Lu (Record of the Eight Precepts by Chisongzi), Goutan Ji (Collected Essays from Goutan), Yin Zhenjun Huandan Ge Zhu (Annotations on Immortal Yin’s Ode to Alchemical Refinement), and Renlun Fengjian (also known as Gui Jian, Mirror of Human Relationships).

(Source: History of the Song Dynasty·Biography of Chen Tuan, Continuation of the Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government, Records of Xiyi from Mount Taihua)