Sequel to the Comprehensive Mirror of Immortals历世真仙体道通鉴续编

Also known as

Sequel to the Comprehensive Mirror of Immortals

Author / transmission

Zhao Daoyi (Quanyangzi)

Period

Yuan · Compiled by Zhao Daoyi as a sequel to the Lishi zhenxian tidao tongjian, in five juan, recording thirty-four people.

Canon division

Dongzhen Section, Records and Biographies Category

Collected in

Zhengtong Daozang, Dongzhen Section, Biographies and Records category.

Category

Immortal Biographies

Fascicles

5 juan

Synopsis

The Lishi zhenxian tidao tongjian xubian (Sequel to the Comprehensive Mirror of Immortals), in five juan, supplements thirty-four Daoist figures of the Song–Yuan transition not covered in the main compilation, focusing on the Quanzhen lineage: Wang Chongyang, Ma Yu, Tan Chuduan, Liu Chuxuan, Qiu Chuji, Wang Chuyi, Hao Datong and Sun Bu'er — the Seven Perfected of the North — as well as second-generation heads of the order such as Yin Zhiping and Li Zhichang, together with figures of the Southern Lineage and other Daoist schools. Its material is drawn mainly from Jin- and Yuan-dynasty steles and inscriptions, recorded sayings, and internal biographies (such as the Jinlian zhengzong ji and the Ganshui xianyuan lu); its narration is more concise than that of the main compilation, but because it was written not long after the events it records, its factual content is comparatively high, making it important reference material for verifying the early history of Quanzhen Daoism. Together with the Later Collection of female immortal biographies, this Sequel completes the full scope of the Xianjian; after the three parts were published together they became the standard genealogical reference for perfected immortals current among Ming- and Qing-dynasty Daoists, and popular immortal biographies of the Ming such as the Liexian quanzhuan and the Xiaoyao xu jing also drew largely upon it.

Key Ideas

• Supplements thirty-four Daoist figures of the Song–Yuan transition
• The Seven Perfected of the Northern Quanzhen lineage and the second generation of order heads
• Drawn from Jin- and Yuan-dynasty steles and recorded sayings
• Written not long after the events, with comparatively high factual content
• Forms the complete Xianjian together with the main compilation and Later Collection

Structure

Five juan of short biographies.

Editions

• Zhengtong Daozang edition
• Zhonghua Daozang edition

Full Text & Online Resources

• Wikisource: Lishi zhenxian tidao tongjian xubian
• CTEXT search

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