Wang Dongting belongs to the Western School. He studied with Wu Baichuan along with Ke Zaishu and Ke Huaijing. He has written books such as "The Essentials of Life", "Tai Chi Extraordinary Biography", "Annotations on Tai Chi Illustrations", and edited "Tao Tong Dacheng" . It is said that when Wang died in the sixth year of the Republic of China, he lamented that he could not achieve great success. If Wu Baichuan had not come at the end, he would have been reincarnated and his body would not be guaranteed. This is what Wang Boying said. There are last words that I must respond to in Wudang. He also said that among more than ten friends from Hubei, only Ke Huaijing succeeded, and the rest were not allowed. Wang himself was a member of the Pure Purity Sect of the Western School, so he was refuted by many other methods, and was especially refuted in the book "Jiaowai Biezhuan". Wang had many disciples, among whom the more famous ones were Wei Yao, Xu Songyao (Hai Yinzi), Wang Zhenqing (Yu Xun) and Cai Qiangu. (Written by Sheng Keqi)
Wang Dongting (1839-1917) was a native of Fenghu, Xiuning County, Anhui Province. His name is Wang Qiyi, his courtesy name is Dongting, and his nickname is Zhenshanren. He studied Confucianism at a young age, but became obsessed with metaphysics and Taoism. He collected alchemy classics and read extensively in classics, history and Taoism. At the age of twenty-two, he visited a friend to seek a master. At first, because he had not learned the secrets of the true master, he failed in his cultivation, so he wandered around the world and visited five provinces, looking for a master for twenty-two years. One day while passing by Kuanglu (Lushan), I met Master Wu Tianzhi by chance. Seeing his rich and free spirit, he must be a very special person. Therefore, when I asked about Xuanzhi, I replied: "Although I have a destiny to be immortal, I am afraid that I will be diligent at first but lazy in the end." Following the disciple's rituals, he asked again about the elixir secrets, and then taught him the method of returning the gold liquid seven times and nine times, as well as the secret of the order of fire. Then he understood it from his heart, and suddenly realized that the great road is found within himself, and he never seeks it from outside. Later, when I went to Wuhan, I met Ke Huaijing, Ke Zaishu, Li Yunlan, Zhou Junfu and others, and formed an "eight-person talk meeting". They studied together and understood the whole purpose. Later, he was invited by his disciples and stayed in Shanghai to preach for many years. (According to "Xiuning County Chronicles", "Essentials of Life and Life - Preface", "Three Religions Consistently - Preface", and "Quotations of Tizhenshanren") It is said that in his later years, Wang Dongting received Patriarch Li Hanxu's personal visit to Shanghai to instruct him on the secrets of Taoism and "reincarnation" "Seize the enemy" method. When he died, he told his disciples to look for him at a certain time and place, but because it was during the war, he was unable to look for him. Therefore, it is not known whether this is true or not. (Note: Haiyinshanren’s "Fuzhi Zhenhan" says: "Because my master asked me to come to Wudang ten years later before he died, there must be a response. It has been more than twenty years since the sixth year of the Republic of China, and it is unknown. Whether the fairy traces are still in Wudang, you have to go and find out in person." From "Chinese Immortal Studies: True Letters of Fuzhi", page 863, Taiwan Zhenshanmei Publishing House.) Wang Dongting was born in 1839 (the 18th year of Daoguang's reign). Xiuning, Anhui. I was addicted to metaphysics when I was young. I collected alchemy books and read extensively in classics, history and Taoism. I have been studying it for many years, and I understand its principles quite well, but I have not yet obtained its secrets.
In 1860 (the 10th year of Xianfeng, Gengyou), he wandered around the world, visited famous mountains, looked for masters, and read all over five provinces. He was 22 years old. In 1881 (the 7th year of Guangxu, Xinsi), one day when I was passing by Kuanglu (Lushan), I met Wu Tianzhiweng by chance. Seeing that he was rich and free and easy, he must be extraordinary, so I asked Xuanzhi, treated him with courtesy as a disciple, and asked for his secrets. , then he passed on the method of returning gold liquid seven times and nine times, and the wonderful sequence of fire. He was 43 years old. When I went to Wuhan, I met four or five Taoist friends, including Ke Huaijing, Li Yunlan, Zhou Junfu, and Ke Zaishu, and formed a "Taoist Talking (Visiting) Association". They studied together and understood the whole purpose.
In the first month of 1884 (the 10th year of Guangxu, Jiashen), Ke Huai Jing wrote the "Automatic Preface" to "Yang Xing Bian", saying that he and other Taoist friends such as Wang Dongting, Zhou Junfu, Li Yunlan, Ke Zaishu, etc. had read and understood the whole story. purpose. 46 years old.
In 1887 (the 13th year of Guangxu, Dinghai), Wang visited Hangao (now Wuhan City, Hubei Province) and met Ke Huaijing and Ke Zhaoping and their sons. Wang lamented that the great road was unclear, so he wrote "The Essentials of Life". In August, he wrote a "preface" to Wanyue Xuan in Beixue Caotang and presented it to Ke Zhaoping. In December, Ke Zhaoping wrote "Postscript" for it. 49 years old. In 1889 (Ji Chou, the 15th year of Guangxu), Cheng Shouyi visited Hangao and met Ke Huaijing and Wang Dongting. The two men then published two books, "Yangxingbian" and "The Essentials of Life". I urge you to publish it and combine the two volumes into one volume. On June 6, Cheng Shouyi wrote the preface to "The Essentials of Life" at the age of 51.
In 1895 (the 21st year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu, Yiwei), Zhao Baozhen of Yuzhang entrusted him with Han Gao. When he heard that Wang Dongting was bowing in Baodao, he performed the disciple ceremony and kowtowed to the secret decree of nature and nurture. Wang Dongting came back and showed it in "Zhou Zi Tai Chi Illustrations and Commentary", he was 57 years old.
In 1896 (the 22nd year of Guangxu, Bingshen), in the first month of spring, Zhao Baozhen wrote the preface to "Annotations on Tai Chi Pictures" at the age of 58.
In 1899 (the 25th year of Guangxu, Jihai), Xia wrote "Jiaowai Biezhuan". In autumn, I lived in Shenjiang and met Mrs. Li (Cao Zhenjie) in Sanshui, Guangdong. I was pleased with her erudite knowledge and ambition, and wrote "Nv Dan Jue" as a gift to her. 61 years old.
In 1900 (the 26th year of Guangxu, Gengzi), "Tao Tong Dacheng" was published. He was 62 years old. In 1912 (the first year of the Republic of China, Renzi), he wrote "Ti Zhen Xin Yi", with a preface by Meng Dong. He was 74 years old.
In March 1913 (the second year of the Republic of China, Guichou), Cai Fuyang of Ningbo published "Ti Zhen Xin Yi" at the age of 75.
In 1914 (the third year of the Republic of China, Jiayin), Xu Songyao became a disciple of Wang Dongting. He was 76 years old.
In the first month of 1915 (the 4th year of the Republic of China, Yimao), he wrote the "Automatic Preface" to "Three Religions and Oneness", at the age of 77.
In 1916 (the 5th year of the Republic of China, Bingchen), "Tizhenshanren Danjue Quotations" recorded that Cai Qiangu became his teacher at this time, and he was 78 years old.
In 1917 (Ding Si, the 6th year of the Republic of China), Wang Dongting passed away. Before his death, he said to his disciples: "Please ask me to come to Wudang in ten years." He was 79 years old.