Biographies of the Seven Perfected
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Summary
Set against the backdrop of the development of the Quanzhen Daoist tradition, The Biographies of the Seven Perfected tells the story of Wang Chongyang taking disciples and transmitting the Dao, and of the Northern Seven Perfected cultivating themselves and helping the world. To promote Quanzhen teachings, Wang Chongyang took seven disciples: Ma Yu, Sun Buer, Tan Chuduan, Liu Chuxuan, Qiu Chuji, Wang Chuyi, and Hao Datong. In the story, each of the seven has a troubled past and worldly entanglements: Ma Yu and Sun Buer were originally husband and wife, but under Wang Chongyang's guidance they cast off their worldly marriage and each pursued cultivation; Qiu Chuji braved hardships, gathered many disciples, and dispensed medicine and aid among the people, gaining wide renown; Hao Datong studied the I Ching and used hexagrams to comprehend the Great Dao. Through worldly trials—whether struggling against evil forces or tempering their minds in adversity—they cultivated the Dao and helped the world, spreading Quanzhen thought.
Editor's review
The Biographies of the Seven Perfected takes the founding and spread of Quanzhen Daoism as its narrative thread, linking Wang Chongyang's taking of disciples and transmission of the Dao with the Northern Seven Perfected's individual cultivation and worldly beneficence into a chapter-style story with a religious and cultural flavor. Its appeal lies not in scholarly Daoist history but in organizing figures and episodes—Ma Yu and Sun Buer casting off their marriage, Qiu Chuji dispensing medicine and aid, Hao Datong comprehending the Great Dao through the I Ching—into a highly readable narrative of cultivation. Readers can learn the basic genealogy and master-disciple relations of the Seven Perfected of Quanzhen, and also sense the traditional values of tempering the mind and benefiting the world. It suits slow reading in a relatively quiet setting: treat each disciple's background, trials, and moments of enlightenment as separate units, then return to the overall trajectory of Quanzhen's development. For general readers interested in traditional Chinese religious culture and Daoist figure stories, the book offers a path from characters into ideas; those expecting strict scholarly verification or purely literary fiction should adjust their expectations.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- General readers interested in Daoist culture and stories of Quanzhen figures
- Readers who want to learn the genealogy of Wang Chongyang and the Northern Seven Perfected through character stories
- Readers who enjoy traditional chapter-style narrative and themes of cultivation and worldly beneficence
- Teachers or book club members seeking traditional culture reading materials
Not a good fit for
- Religious studies scholars expecting strict Daoist historical verification or scholarly annotation
- Genre fiction readers who prefer fast-paced plot conflict and strong suspense
- Readers uninterested in religious figure stories who want pure literary works
Reading tips
- Read the section on Wang Chongyang taking disciples first to clarify the master-disciple relations among the seven, then read by character unit.
- As you read each disciple's trials and enlightenment passages, jot down their worldly entanglements and turning points.
- If unfamiliar with Quanzhen Daoism, briefly learn some basic Daoist background before reading to lower the barrier to understanding.
- After finishing, review the main thread of Quanzhen's spread and place the character stories back in the overall context.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 第一回 贫困偶施恻隐 入梦寐明指前程
- 第二回 万缘桥吕祖亲传道 大魏村孝廉假中风
- 第三回 受天诏山东度世 入地道终南藏身
- 第四回 谈真空孙氏诲夫主 求大道马钰访明师
- 第五回 马员外勤奉养师礼 王重阳经营互道财
- 第六回 孙渊贞劝夫舍家财 马文魁受贿通权变
- 第七回 贿族长马钰立舍约 谈玄功重阳传全真
- 第八回 谈先天贞一妙理 除魔根不二法门
- 第九回 王重阳分身化度 孙不二忿怒首师
- 第十回 讲三乘演说全真道 损面容甘作丑陋人
- 第十一回 降冰雹天公护法 施妙算真人指迷
- 第十二回 指坐功申明妙理 学真道喜逢明师
- 第十三回 散坛场学人归家去 换道装师徒往南来
- 第十四回 试凡心屡施叱责 顺师意常秉皈依
- 第十五回 示羽化先生归隐 送灵榇门人服劳
- 第十六回 大魏村三老谈往事 晋安桥一言指迷途
- 第十七回 戏喜红定计脱身 难浑然当真盘道
- 第十八回 王玉阳以真服假 谭长真说古证今
- 第十九回 论玄机四言契妙道 开石洞一人独勤劳
- 第二十回 炼色相烟花混迹 说妙语道念纯真
- 第二十一回 孙不二洛阳显道术 马丹阳关西会友人
- 第二十二回 分蒲团大道不恋情 问相法当面把人量
- 第二十三回 化强梁改邪归正 谈至理因死得生
- 第二十四回 苦根尽相随心变 阴魔起幻由人生
- 第二十五回 真阳足群阴退散 恶贯盈合家沉沦
- 第二十六回 祈雨泽回天转日 施妙术换凤偷龙
- 第二十七回 谕道众敦敦告诫 论修行层层说来
- 第二十八回 赐鸩酒皇后试道 戴金冠真人吟诗
- 第二十九回 受丹诏七真成正果 赴瑶池群仙庆蟠桃
FAQ
Which seven people does this book mainly discuss?
The book centers on the seven disciples taken by Wang Chongyang—Ma Yu, Sun Buer, Tan Chuduan, Liu Chuxuan, Qiu Chuji, Wang Chuyi, and Hao Datong—telling of their backgrounds, cultivation trials, and worldly beneficence, and linking them to the overall context of Quanzhen Daoism's development.
Can I understand it without a foundation in Daoism?
Yes. The book is driven by character stories and does not depend on specialized Daoist knowledge. If the Quanzhen lineage and basic concepts are entirely unfamiliar, a brief preliminary look at common background is enough and will not prevent you from following the main plot and character relations.
What is the relationship between Ma Yu and Sun Buer in the book?
According to the material, Ma Yu and Sun Buer were originally husband and wife; later, guided by Wang Chongyang, they cast off their worldly marriage and each embarked on the path of cultivation. This setup is an important character thread in the book for exploring the relationship between cultivation and worldly ties.
Is it suitable to read as Daoist history?
Not entirely. The book tells the stories of Quanzhen figures and their spread in a narrative form; it is suitable as an introductory read for learning the figure genealogy and traditional narrative, while scholarly verification needs should turn to specialized works.
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About the author
黄永亮
Author
Huang Yongliang is an author about whom public information is limited; his life, native place, and dates of birth and death all remain to be further verified. Judging from the works held in the collection, he mainly organizes and writes on the theme of the Seven Perfected, with several titles including The Tale of the Seven Perfected, The Causality Tale of the Seven Perfected, and a classical popular reader also titled The Causality Tale of the Seven Perfected. These works are generally classified under classical literature, social fiction, and folk literature, suggesting that his writing favors traditional narrative and karmic moral instruction, uses accessible language, addresses general readers, and carries a strong flavor of folk storytelling and popular historical romance. On the available evidence, Huang Yongliang's contribution lies chiefly in transmitting and popularizing the stories of the Seven Perfected, and his works offer reference texts for studying how such folk narratives circulated.
