Early life
Sun Bu'er was born (as Sun Fuchun) in 1119, in a small town located within theThe School of Complete Perfection
Wang Chongyang (1112–1170) began a career as a religious leader soon after hermetizing himself on a 100-day retreat. He began a new movement named "Complete Perfection". Sun Bu'er's husband, Ma Yu, became an eager follower of Wang. This relationship caused disruption in Sun Bu'er's family life. Sun became so angry with Wang's interference in her social role that she hoped he would starve to death during his retreat. He was still alive after 100 days, during which he had perfected his sainthood. This caused Sun Bu'er to recognize her religious calling. In order for her husband to pursue his divine path she had to let him be free. She then decided to leave her family, which contradicted what was seen as her wifely duty. She then began her role in becoming one of the few women in the "Seven Perfected". This became a major statement in the conflict women undergo between their social role and their religious calling.Life as a "Seven Perfected"
Sun Bu'er finally joined the "Seven Perfected" after being urged ten times by Wang to convert. Once formally part of the group, Sun Bu'er received her Taoist name, Bu'er. She became a Taoist nun of Complete Perfection Order and a resident of the Golden Lotus Hall, where she received the title, "Serene one of clarity and Tranquility". Sun Bu'er was then able to engage in advanced rituals. Some of these rituals consisted of conducting exorcism and acquiring spiritual powers. Sun then moved west, where she fought rain, frost and bad terrain. She began following the ''Zhouyi cantong qi'' (Tally to the book of changes), which gave her instruction to practice her reversed breathing. She unblocked the orifices in her body, and refined the '' Qi'' (energy flow) in her three cinnabar fields (located between the eyebrows in the head, the heart and abdomen). She eventually attained full realization of the Tao. Sun Bu'er then moved to Luoyang and attracted disciples. She set herself up in a residence called ''Feng xiangu dong'' (Grotto of the Immortal Lady Feng). She founded a female lineage there and became known for her eccentricity and for her ability to perform exorcisms. Sun Bu'er did not appear among the Seven Perfected until sixty years after her death. She then received the formal title "Perfected of Clarity and Tranquility and Deep Perfection Who Follows Virtue".Renunciation of physical attractiveness
Sun Bu'er is most known for her journey from Shang Dong to Luoyang, where she intentionally made herself ugly by splashing boiling oil on her face to destroy her beauty. She did this in order to survive her trip unmolested. Sun Bu'er knew her physical attractiveness made her a target for men and could hinder her chances of completing her journey. A goal of Sun Bu'er's journey was to overcome her physical attractiveness, that inhibited her Taoist cultivation. By completing this action she then became recognized for her dedication to the Tao.Role for Taoist women
Sun Bu'er serves as a model and matriarch for women who follow the tradition of Complete Perfection. She was the only woman to become one of the Complete Perfected. Women who ordained into Complete Perfection Order follow her spiritual path for women. Her determination to lead the life of a female ascetic, devoted to the Tao, and have inspired countless other women.Accomplishments
Sun Bu'er wrote a set of fourteen poems and is credited with variousLater life
Sun Bu'er died in 1182, having predicted the hour of her departure. Before she died, she groomed herself, put on clean clothes, presented herself to her disciples, and recited a poem, therefore she was able to control her body and life. Sun Bu'er realized her original destiny by returning to the realm of immortals, reaffirming her role as a part of the eternal Tao.Despeux, 2003, p. 147 The surviving writings of Sun Bu'er consist of: *"Secret Book on the Inner Elixir as Transmitted by the Immortal Sun Bu'er" (''Sun Bu'er yuanjun chuanshu dandoao mishu'') *"Model Sayings of the Primordial Immortal Sun Bu'er" (''Sun Bu'er yuanjun fayu'')References
NotesBibliography
* Boltz, Judith M. (1987). ''A Survey of Taoist Literature: Tenth to Seventeenth Centuries''. Berkeley, CA: Institute of East Asian Studies. * Cahill, Susan.(1996). ''Wise Women: Over Two Thousand Years of Spiritual Writings by Women''. W.W. Norton & Company. * Cleary, Thomas. (1989). ''Immortal Sisters: Secrets of Taoist Women''. Shambhala Publications. * Despeux, C., & Kohn, L. (2003). ''Women in Daoism''. Cambridge, MA: Three Pines Press. * Eskildsen, Stephen. (2004). ''The teachings and Practices of Early Quanzhen Taoist Masters''. CA: Suny Press. * Kohn, Livia (Ed.). (2000). ''Handbook of Oriental Studies Section Four''. Volume 14. Brill Academic publishers. * Silvers, Brock. (2005). ''The Taoist Manual: An Illustrated Guide Applying Taoism to Daily Life''. Sacred Mountain Press. * Valussi, Elena. (2004). ''Women in Daoism''. Journal of Chinese Religions no. 32. * Wiethaus, Urlike. (1999). ''Encyclopedia of Women and World Religion: Volume 2''. (pp. 961, 1009–1011) New York: MacMillan Reference USA. * Wong, Eva. (1990). ''Seven Taoist Masters: A Folk Novel of China''. Shambala Publications. * Young, Serenity. (1993). ''An Anthology of Sacred Texts by and about Women''. Virginia : Crossroads. {{DEFAULTSORT:Sun Bu'er Song dynasty Taoists Chinese hermits Women mystics Taoist immortals 12th-century Chinese women 12th-century Chinese scientists Medieval women scientists Chinese alchemists 12th-century alchemists