Record of the Orthodox Lineage of the Golden Lotus金莲正宗记

Also known as

Record of the Golden Lotus

Author / transmission

Qin Zhi'an (styled Chuli Daoren)

Period

Jin and Yuan · Written by Qin Zhi'an (1188–1244), completed around the reign of Ögedei Khan of the Yuan (c. 1240). Qin was a disciple of Song Defang and took part in carving the Xuandu baozang at the Xuandu Temple in Pingyang. Five scrolls.

Canon division

Dongzhen Section, Records and Biographies Category

Collected in

Zhengtong Daozang, Dongzhen section, Biographical category

Category

Immortal Biographies

Fascicles

5 juan

Synopsis

The Record of the Orthodox Lineage of the Golden Lotus (Jinlian zhengzong ji) is the earliest formal historiographical biography of the Quanzhen tradition, providing biographies for the 'Five Patriarchs and Seven Perfected.' Scroll one records Wang Xuanfu (Donghua Dijun), Zhongli Quan (Zhengyang Dijun), Lü Dongbin (Chunyang Dijun), Liu Cao (Haichan Dijun), and Wang Zhe (Chongyang Dijun) — the 'Five Northern Patriarchs' venerated by Quanzhen. From scroll two onward it treats, in turn, the Seven Perfected: Ma Yu (styled Danyang), Tan Chuduan (styled Changzhen), Liu Chuxuan (styled Changsheng), Qiu Chuji (styled Changchun), Wang Chuyi (styled Yuyang), Hao Datong (styled Guangning), and Sun Bu'er (the 'Recluse of Clarity and Stillness'). The title 'Golden Lotus' derives from the prophecy of the 'seven golden lotus blossoms' transmitted by Wang Chongyang, symbolizing the Quanzhen dharma lineage. This work established the orthodox lineage of transmission running from Zhongli Quan and Lü Dongbin through Liu Haichan to Wang Chongyang, linking the newly founded order to the Tang and Song traditions of internal alchemy, with a strong intent to construct sectarian legitimacy. It also preserves a large body of stele inscriptions and biographical material from the Jin-Yuan transition, making it a core text for the study of early Quanzhen history and the tradition's self-understanding.

Key Ideas

• The earliest formal historiographical biography of Quanzhen Daoism
• Established the lineage of the Five Northern Patriarchs and Seven Perfected
• The Zhongli Quan–Lü Dongbin–Liu Haichan–Wang Chongyang lineage of transmission
• The 'seven golden lotus blossoms' as a sectarian symbol
• Preserves Jin-Yuan stele inscriptions and biographical material

Structure

Five scrolls: the Five Patriarchs first, then the Seven Perfected, each with biography and eulogy.

Editions

• Zhengtong Daozang edition
• Zhonghua Daozang edition

Full Text & Online Resources

• Shidian Guji: Jinlian zhengzong ji
• CTEXT Search

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