Ye Fashan叶法善

Style & Daoist names

Daoyuan, Taisu, Duke of Yue, Celestial Master Ye

Period

Tang

Dates

616 — 720

School

Zhengyi (Orthodox Unity) Daoism

Role

Daoshi (Daoist Priest)Master of Ritual Arts

Birthplace

Kuocang, Kuozhou (present-day Songyang, Lishui, Zhejiang)

Life

Ye Fashan, courtesy name Daoyuan, was a celebrated Daoist priest of the Tang, a native of Kuocang in Kuozhou, born into a family that had practised Daoist arts for four generations. The "Biographies of Masters of Techniques" in the Jiu Tangshu (Old History of the Tang) says of him that "from his youth he received talismans and registers, and was especially able to suppress and impeach ghosts and spirits." Summoned to the capital during the Xianqing era of Gaozong, he served through five reigns — those of Gaozong, Empress Wu, Zhongzong, Ruizong and Xuanzong. Under Ruizong he was appointed Chamberlain for Dependencies and enfeoffed Duke of the State of Yue; under Xuanzong he was further appointed Silver-Blue Grand Master for Splendid Happiness. He took part in exposing Zhang Yizhi and in the elimination of Empress Wei and of Princess Taiping, and won fame at court for his talismanic and ritual arts; later ages deified him as "Celestial Master Ye," and he stands as the representative at court of Tang Zhengyi talismanic ritual. He died in the eighth year of the Kaiyuan era (720) at the age of one hundred and seven (one account says 105), was posthumously granted the office of Area Commander of Yuezhou, and Xuanzong personally composed his stele inscription. He is venerated to this day at Mount Mao in Songyang and in the region of Lishui. His granduncle Ye Jingneng was likewise a famous Daoist priest.

Contributions & Influence

• Served five reigns through his talismanic and ritual arts, the representative at court of Tang Zhengyi ritual
• Took part in the politics of the reigns of Zhongzong and Xuanzong of the Tang, raising the political standing of Daoist priests

Legends

According to legend he took Xuanzong on the night of the Lantern Festival to view the lanterns at Xiliang and to hear music in the Palace of the Moon; he foreknew the An Lushan rebellion; and numerous tales of his subduing demons and binding spirits are found in the Taiping guangji (Extensive Records of the Taiping Era). All of these belong to legend.