The original first-name of Zhang Jingding was ‘Zong Ren’ (宗仁) whilst his Daoist-name was ‘Wu Wo Zi’ (无我子). His family came from the ‘Yuhang’ (余杭) area of Zhejiang province. In the Chinese-language text entitled ‘Golden Canopy (of the) Mind Lamp’ (金盖心灯 - Jin Gai Xin Deng) it states that he came from generations of Confucian scholars – whilst being skilled in the theory of ‘Essense’ (性 - Xing) and ‘logic of the underlying foundation of nature and its manifestation’ (理 - Li). During the reign of the Emperor Yongle (1402-1424) - Zhang Jingding studied the ‘Bright Classic’ (明经 - Ming Jing) - a text used to prepare the best Confucian candidates for placement in posts within the Chinese Imperial Civil Service. Despite being an outstanding scholar, however, Zhang Jingding decided to stay in relative seclusion and he took a simple teaching post in ‘Shaoxi’ (苕溪). After the death of both his parents, he abandoned his family home (and his studies) and took to a wandering existence – where he sought-out knowledgeable Daoist Masters. This journey took him as far as ‘Mount Tiantai’ (天台) and the ‘People’s Way Gate’ (人道门 - Ren Dao Men). Here, he studied the ‘Essential Nature Eight Sources’ (精八元 - Jing Ba Yuan), as well as the ‘Yang Classic’ (阳经 Yang Jing), and the ‘Self-Cultivation of the Transformation Energy Centre’ (丹诀 - Dan Jue). There were many more such titles, but over the years these special Daoist texts have become lost or destroyed. After returning to ‘Mount Qingcheng’ (青城山 - Qing Cheng Shan) he encountered ‘Zhou Yuanpu’ (周元朴). Zhou Yuanpu was impressed with the virtue and moral rectitude of Zhang Jingding – and advised him to continue to live in self-isolation and refine his neidan. Zhang Jingding stated that he would ‘know’ without being in his presence when his practice had matured. In the first year of the reign of Emperor Jingtai (1450) - Zhou Yuanpu sent one of his disciples to invite Zhang Jingding back to Qingcheng – where he transmitted the ‘Longmen’ (龙门) lineage to him. During the first year of the reign of the Emperor Jiajing (龙门) [1522] - Zhang Jingding passed away. He is considered the fifth-generation inheritor of the Longmen lineage.
Chinese Language Text:
https://baike.sogou.com/v4303691.htm