Page 301 - The Encyclopedia of Taoism v1_A-L

T H E ENCYCLO PEDIA O F TAO ISM A-L

ChenZhixu

I289-after I335; zi: Guanwu ftJI, 13-; haD: Shangyang zi ..t ~ T
(Master of Highest Yang), Luling daoshi ff1{ ~ m ±
(Taoist Master of Luling)

Although Chen Zhixu is one of the main representatives of the *neidan tradi-
tion, almost nothing is known of his life, except that he was born in Luling 11
~ (Jiangxi) and that he received teachings first in I329 from Zhao Youqin JIli
1ZiX in Hunan, and some time later from an anonymous master of Mount
Qingcheng (*Qingcheng shan, Sichuan). Four of his works are extant:
I. Duren shangpin miaojing zhu 1t A...t &"b:i!'J> #~ tt (Commentary to the
Wondrous Scripture of the Upper Chapters on Salvation; CT 9I; I336).
2. A commentary to the *Wuzhen pian (Folios on Awakening to Reality),
incorporated into the Wuzhen pian sanzhu ,t! ~m--= 11: (Three Com-
mentaries to the Wuzhen pian; CT I42).
3. *Jindan dayao ii£ftje~ (Great Essentials of the Golden Elixir; CT I067;
I335), with three appendixes separately printed in the Taoist Canon:Jindan
dayao tu ii£ftje ~ ~ (Diagrams; CT I068), containing illustrations with
explications; Jindan dayao liexian zhi ii£ftje ~ 3iU1ill ~ (Biographies of
Exemplary Immortals; CT I069), composed of notes on sixteen *Quan-
zhen deities, immortals, and masters who reportedly transmitted neidan,
from Donghua dijun *~*~ (Imperial Lord of Eastern Florescence)
to Zhao Youqin; and Jindan dayao xianpai ii£ ft je ~ {ill ~ (Lineage of the
Immortals; CT I070), divided into two parts: a doctrinal genealogy of
neidan (thirty-four names from Laozi to Chen Zhixu) and a description of
a rite performed in honor of *Zhongli Quan and *Ui Dongbin on their
birthdays.
4· Zhouyi cantong qi Jenzhang zhu f,!U ~ ~ Iq] ~?t ~ 11: (Commentary to the
Zhouyi cantong qi, with a Division into Sections). This work is not included
in the Taoist Canon but is available in more than fifteen editions, including
those of theJindan zhengli daquan ii£ft .lEllje~ (Great Compendium
on the Correct Principles of the Golden Elixir; I538; see Davis and Chao
I940a), the Siku quanshu Jm Jl ~ ~ (1782), and the *Daozang jiyao (I906,
vol. H). Chen's recension of the Can tong qi is one of the best available, and
in the early sixteenth century served a the basis of the so-called "ancient
text" version of this scripture (see *Guwen Zhouyi cantong qi).