Wang Xuanfu (王玄甫), also known as Wang Cheng (王誠), is a legendary Taoist of the
Han Dynasty
The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–207 BC) and a warr ...
, who became immortal at the age of 256, under the name of "Lord of the Young Yang of the Purple Office" (紫府少陽君). He is sometimes equated with the god Donghua (東華帝君), in which case he is made a character of the Zhou dynasty. Considered the master of
Zhongli Quan
Zhongli Quan, courtesy name Jidao, is a Chinese mythological figure and one of the Eight Immortals in the Taoist pantheon. He is also known as Han Zhongli because he was said to have been born in the Han dynasty. In legend, he wields a large fa ...
to whom he would have transmitted alchemical secrets and the technique of the sword of the black dragon (青龍劍法), he is one of the Five Ancestors of the North of the
Quanzhen current and was titled by the
Yuan emperors.
He is said to be from Donghai (東海), now
Yanzhou
Yanzhou ( postal: Yenchow; ) is a district in the prefecture-level city of Jining, in the southwest of Shandong province, People's Republic of China. It was also the name of one of the Nine Provinces in ancient China, where Yu combated floods by ...
in
Shandong
Shandong ( , ; ; alternately romanized as Shantung) is a coastal province of the People's Republic of China and is part of the East China region.
Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history since the beginning of Chinese civilizati ...
. As a disciple of the immortal of the White Clouds (白雲上真), he was said to have been a hermit in the magical caves of the Kunlun, Wutai and Zhongnan (終南山) mountains, the latter frequented by the apparitions of
Wang Chongyang
Wang Chongyang (11 January 1113 – 22 January 1170; Chinese calendar: 22nd day, 12th month, 2nd year, Zhenghe era in the reign of Emperor Huizong of Song - 4th day, 1st month, 10th year, Dading era in the reign of Emperor Shizong of Jin) wa ...
, founder of Quanzhen. He is sometimes depicted as a wandering vindicator carrying a pair of flying swords on his back that can accomplish their mission on their own and then return to their scabbard. His divine birthdays on 15 of the 6th month (birth) and 16 of the 10th month (achievement of immortality).
References
{{Reflist
Taoist immortals