Pan Shizheng（潘师正）: The Hermit of the Sacred Mountains

Pan Shizheng (584—682), styled Zizhen, was a renowned Taoist priest in the Tang Dynasty, born in Zanhuang, Zhaozhou (now Zanhuang County, Hebei Province). He came from an official family, and his devotion to Taoism was largely influenced by his mother. His mother, who was knowledgeable and proficient in expounding philosophical principles, taught him Tao Te Ching orally when he was very young. Pan Shizheng, being intelligent, fully comprehended the essence of the text. After his mother passed away, he kept filial vigil for her, building a thatched hut beside her tomb, and thus became famous across the country for his extreme filial piety.

During the Daye period of the Sui Dynasty, Pan Shizheng studied under Wang Yuanzhi, from whom he fully received the esoteric teachings and talismans of Taoism. He followed Wang Yuanzhi to Maoshan and later resided in the Xiaoyao Valley of Shuangquan Ridge in Songyang, practicing Taoism for over 20 years.

In the third year of Shangyuan in the Tang Dynasty (676), Emperor Gaozong arrived at the Eastern Capital and paid homage to Mount Song, summoning Pan Shizheng. In the first year of Tiaolu (679), Emperor Gaozong worshiped Mount Song again, invited Pan Shizheng to live in the Songyang Temple, and ordered the construction of Chongtang Temple in Xiaoyao Valley and a Jingsi Courtyard on the ridge for Pan Shizheng's residence.

After Pan Shizheng's death, Emperor Gaozong posthumously awarded him the title of "Taizhong Dafu" and the posthumous name "Mr. Tixuan".

The Life of Pan Shizheng: A Man of Stone and Starlight

Legends paint him as a figure of paradox: a hermit who influenced emperors, a scholar who shunned fame, and a master of alchemy who taught that "the greatest elixir is simplicity." Three chapters of his life stand clearest:

1. The Disciple of Wang Farang
   • He studied under Wang Farang, a reclusive Daoist who lived in a bamboo hut atop Songshan’s highest peak.
   • Wang’s last words to him: "Do not seek the Dao in clouds or caves; seek it in the space between breaths."
2. The Emperor’s Teacher
   • When Emperor Gaozong of Tang summoned him to court, Pan Shizheng refused to bow, saying: "A mountain does not kneel to the wind; why should I kneel to a crown?"
   • The emperor, humbled, asked for a single teaching. Pan replied: "Less is more. The less you desire, the more the Dao fills your cup."
3. The Keeper of the Five-Animal Frolics
   • He revived the ancient Wuqinxi ("Five-Animal Qigong") exercises, attributing them to Hua Tuo, a legendary physician.
   • His disciples recall him moving like a crane, a tiger, or a monkey—not to mimic animals, but to "awaken the wild spirit within."

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Pan Shizheng’s Core Teachings: The Alchemy of Simplicity

To grasp his philosophy, let us explore his three pillars of practice through imagery and action:

Pillar	Practice	Daoist Interpretation
The Breath as Mountain	Sit daily at dawn, inhaling as if drawing mist from valleys, exhaling as if releasing clouds.	"Just as mountains stand unmoved by storms, steady breath anchors the mind amid life’s chaos."
The Five Animals Dance	Mimic the crane’s grace, the bear’s strength, the deer’s gentleness, the tiger’s courage, and the monkey’s playfulness.	"Each animal embodies a virtue. To move like them is to cultivate balance—yin and yang in motion."
The Hermit’s Diet	Eat simply: wild herbs, coarse grains, and water from mountain springs. Avoid rich foods that "clog the spirit."	"A full belly breeds laziness; a light body fuels clarity. The Dao dwells in hunger as much as in fullness."

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A Parable: The Monk and the Emperor

Pan Shizheng told this story to a proud young monk who sought his approval:

"Once, a monk boasted to Emperor Taizong, ‘I have meditated for thirty years!’ The emperor asked, ‘What have you learned?’ The monk replied, ‘I have transcended all desires.’ The emperor laughed and said, ‘Then why do you crave my praise?’ The monk left in shame. Later, he met a hermit who said, ‘Desire is not the enemy; attachment is. Even a hermit must eat, sleep, and breathe.’"

This tale teaches a Daoist truth:

"True freedom is not the absence of desire, but the freedom from desire—like a lotus untouched by mud."

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How to Honor Pan Shizheng’s Legacy Today

While we may not dwell in mountains or advise emperors, we can embody his spirit through:

• Morning Qigong: Practice the Five-Animal Frolics in a park or backyard, letting movement dissolve stress.
• Simplicity in Eating: Choose whole foods over processed ones, savoring each bite as if it were a prayer.
• Laughing at Pride: When someone boasts, smile and recall Pan’s words: "A mountain does not shout its height; why should you?"