The Cheng Xuanying 成玄英

Cheng Xuanying, styled Zishi, was a native of Shanzhou (present-day Shan County, Henan Province) in the early Tang Dynasty.

He had a thorough command of Confucian classics and attached particular importance to the study of textual exegesis (the interpretation and explanation of words in ancient texts). In the fifth year of the Zhenguan era (631), he was summoned to the imperial capital by imperial edict and bestowed the title "Xihua Dharma Master".

Later, he was exiled to Yuntai Mountain in Yuzhou (present-day Lianyungang City, Jiangsu Province). He conducted in-depth research on the doctrines of Laozi and Zhuangzi, dedicated himself to annotating and interpreting abstruse philosophical principles, and inherited and developed the thought of "Chongxuan" (Double Mystery). Through his efforts, the "Dao of Chongxuan" became a major mainstream in Taoist philosophical thought in the early Tang Dynasty.

His works include: Annotations on Laozi's Dao De Jing (in 2 volumes), An Explanation of the Preface and Key Principles for Interpreting Laozi (in 7 volumes), Annotations on Zhuangzi (in 30 volumes), and Commentaries on Zhuangzi (in 12 volumes). (Sources: New Book of Tang · Bibliographic Treatise, A Comprehensive Account of Buddhist-Taoist Debates Past and Present)