Zhang Yuchu likes reading since he was a child. In addition to being familiar with Zuo Fu's fasting methods, he also learned from others, and was especially good at ci fu and pen and ink, which was highly valued by scholars and celebrities at that time.
In 1377, it officially became the 43rd generation of Shi Tian. In the 13th year of Hongwu in Ming Dynasty, he was named as a "real man" by the emperor, who always led Taoist affairs in the world. Later, he was ordered to do various fasting ceremonies many times. In the fourth year of Yongle, he was appointed as an official of compiling Taoist scriptures because of his extensive words.
Shi Tian, written by Zhang Yuchu, is a great man of great literary talent and virtue in Shi Tian in history. His influence on later Taoism is far-reaching. These effects are mainly manifested in the following aspects:
First, vigorously rectify the tradition of righteousness. With the change of environment, the corruption of government, the darkness of officialdom, the unhealthy atmosphere of fame and fortune, intrigue and material desire have gradually entered the holy land of quietism, which is based on self-cultivation. In view of this, he used the precepts of Taoist Quanzhen School to write "Ten Rules of Doors" to purify the atmosphere of Zhengyi School.
Second, pay attention to the inner alchemy. Due to long-term fasting and taking orthodox internal alchemy. Therefore, in terms of personal cultivation and practice, it is obviously not as good as the Taoism and practice of Quanzhen School. Therefore, he proposed that orthodox Taoism must take "sitting still as the foundation of enlightenment". Emphasizing "double cultivation in life" is the foundation of enlightenment.
Pay equal attention to the three religions. In view of the social disadvantages at that time and the importance of considering the integration of the three religions, he put forward the idea of "paying equal attention to the three religions" and strengthened mutual learning, exchange and reference. This has played an important role in the development and prosperity of the three major religious cultures and the maintenance of social stability.
Zhang Yuchu's Shi Tian is diligent in writing all his life, and his literary achievements are quite abundant. There are four volumes of Du Fu, ten volumes of The Story of Longhu Mountain, one volume of Ten Rules, and twelve volumes of Xi Anquan's Poems and Proses. His paintings are mainly ink bamboo, Mei Lan and landscape. His painting "The Hidden Portrait of Lin Xia" shocked the world! Now it's in the Japanese Museum.