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, a renowned Tang-dynasty Daoist priest, a native of Kuocang in Kuozhou, from a family that had practiced Daoist arts for four generations. The Biographies of Masters of Techniques in the Old History of the Tang says of him that "from youth he transmitted talismans and registers, and was especially skilled at subduing ghosts and spirits"; he was summoned to the capital during the Xianqing era of Gaozong and served under five reigns — Gaozong, Empress Wu, Zhongzong, Ruizong and Xuanzong. Under Ruizong he was appointed Chamberlain for Dependencies and enfeoffed Duke of Yue; under Xuanzong he was further granted the title Silver-Blue Grand Master of the Palace. He took part in exposing Zhang Yizhi and in the elimination of Empress Wei and Princess Taiping, and became famous at court for his talismanic and ritual methods; later generations deified him as "Celestial Master Ye," and he stands as the court's representative of Zhengyi talismanic Daoism in the Tang. He died in the eighth year of Kaiyuan (720) at the age of one hundred and seven (some say 105), and was posthumously titled Duke of Yue, with Xuanzong personally composing his stele inscription. He is still venerated in the areas around Maoshan in Songyang and Lishui. His granduncle Ye Jingneng was likewise a renowned Daoist priest.

Contributions & Influence

• Served through five reigns using talismanic and ritual methods, representing Tang-dynasty Zhengyi Daoist methods at court
• Took part in the politics of the reigns of Zhongzong and Xuanzong of Tang, raising the political standing of Daoist priests

Legends

Legends recount that on the night of the Lantern Festival he took Xuanzong to view lanterns at Xiliang Abbey and to hear music in the Moon Palace; that he foresaw the An Lushan Rebellion; and numerous tales of subduing demons and spirits are recorded in the Extensive Records of the Taiping Era. All belong to legend.