Sima Chengzhen

Sima Chengzhen (司馬承禎, Wade–Giles:Ssu-ma Ch’eng-chen, 647–735), also known as Daoyin (道隐 "Dao Recluse" and Baiyunzi (白雲子, "White Cloud Master") was a patriarch of Supreme Clarity Daoism. He is the author of the Zuowanglun, an influential Daoist meditation text.[1] He was a member of the high-ranking Jin (266–420) imperial family. Sima rose through the ranks to become the Grand Master of the Shangqing school in 684, and became an influential Daoist at the imperial court. According to Russell Kirkland, Sima Chengzhen was "perhaps the most important Taoist of Tang times."[1] Sima was influential with emperor Xuanzong (r. 712–756) who often met with him. He was also an accomplished calligrapher. Sima is also known for combining Daoist, and Buddhist methods of mental cultivation and meditation and developed the Daoist practice of “inner alchemy” (neidan).

Sima Chengzhen

Citations
  1. Kirkland, Russell (2008), "Sima Chengzhen 司馬承禎," in The Encyclopedia of Taoism, ed. by Fabrizio Pregadio, p. 911 (911-913).
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