Qiu Chuji, courtesy name Tongmi, Taoist name Changchunzi, was born in Qixia, Dengzhou (now part of Shandong Province). He was a Taoist priest in the Jin Dynasty and the early Yuan Dynasty, and one of the "Seven Northern Truths" of the Quanzhen sect of Taoism. He is famous all over the world for going to the Western Regions at the age of 74 to persuade Genghis Khan to stop killing and love his people.
Life
Qiu Chuji became a monk at the age of 19. The following year, he became a disciple of Wang Chongyang and followed him around. Ziqiu Chuji, Yuyang Ziwang Chuyi, Guangningzi Hao Datong, and Qingjing Sanren Sun Buer are collectively known as the "Seven Sons of Quanzhen". After Wang Chongyang became immortal, he lived in the Fengxi Cave in Shaanxi for 6 years and practiced Taoism painstakingly. Later, he lived in seclusion in Longmen Mountain (southeast of today's Baoji City) and practiced intensively for 7 years. In the first year of Mingchang (1190), Jin Zhangzong issued an edict to ban Taoism on the pretext of "confused and causing chaos among the people", so Qiu Chuji returned east to Qixia. In the autumn of the second year of Zhenyou (1214), he asked for orders to recruit Yang An'er's rebel army in Shandong and succeeded. Jinting and the Southern Song Dynasty successively sent envoys to summon him, but neither of them responded. When Emperor Taizu of the Yuan Dynasty heard of his name, he sent an envoy from Naiman (in present-day Mongolia) to summon him. Qiu Chuji resolutely led 18 of his disciples to set out from Laizhou and traveled thousands of miles. After going through many hardships, they arrived at the Snowy Mountains of the Western Regions two years later. Taizu asked him how to govern the world, and he replied that "respecting heaven and loving the people" should be the basis; when asked about the way to live forever, he answered that the key is to be pure and have few desires; and he also said that those who want to unify the world "must care about not being addicted to killing people." Taizu understood his words deeply, treated him with great courtesy, and respected him as a god. Later, Qiu's disciple Li Zhichang wrote "Changchun Zhenren's Journey to the West", which recorded the events in detail. After Qiu Chuji returned to Yanjing (today's Beijing City), Taizu gave him a tiger talisman and a seal, ordering him to take charge of Taoism in the world, and issued an edict to exempt Taoist temples and Taoist priests from all taxes and services. Qiu Chuji then issued ultimatums widely and established eight churches including Pingping, Changchun and Lingbao. He built a large number of palaces and temples and set up altars for worship. At that time, there were four sects and Taoist followers gathered, and Quanzhen Taoism developed greatly. In the 22nd year of Emperor Taizu of the Yuan Dynasty (1227), Qiu Chuji came to power in Baoxuan Hall and was buried in Chushun Hall of Baiyun Temple (today's Qiu Zu Hall of Baiyun Temple in Beijing). In the sixth year of the Yuan Dynasty (1269), Emperor Shizu of the Yuan Dynasty issued an imperial edict as a gift to "the real person of Bishop Yandao of Changchun". In the third year of Emperor Wuzong's reign in the Yuan Dynasty (1310), he was conferred the title of "Changchun Quande Divine Transformation Mingying Zhenjun", and later generations were called "Changchun Zhenren".
The Longmen Sect founded by Qiu Chuji is the main sect inherited by Quanzhen Taoism. He basically inherited Wang Chongyang's thoughts and advocated a pure heart and few desires as the foundation of Taoism. He has written two volumes of "Da Dan Zhi Zhi", which systematically expounds the theory and methods of his inner elixir cultivation. In addition, he also wrote six volumes of "Fengxi Collection", which was collected in "Orthodox Taoist Canon"; and one volume of "On Health Preservation News", which was included in "Essential Records of Taoist Canon". Qiu Chuji had many disciples, such as Yin Zhiping, Li Zhichang, Song Defang, etc., all of whom were well-known scholars. Books such as "The Journey to the North" written by Yin Zhiping creatively inherited and developed Qiu Chuji's thoughts on the unity of the three religions, and were one of the most important theoretical works of Quanzhen Taoism in the Yuan Dynasty.
Main achievements
Revitalizing Quanzhen Taoism and Integral Taoism
Although Qiu Chuji has been engaged in religious activities for a long time, he has a keen insight into social issues. He knew that the development of education must receive the full support of the ruling class. In the twenty-eighth year of Dading (1188), he first gained the favor of Jin Shizong, who believed in Taoism at that time, promoted his ideas to the supreme ruler, and achieved success. Jin Shizong not only gave him a big peach as a compliment and asked him to preside over the Spring Festival rituals, but also ordered that a statue of Wang Chongyang, the founder of Quanzhen Taoism, be built in the palace to commemorate it, so that Qiu Chuji could expand the influence of Quanzhen Taoism and improve his own reputation. Social status undoubtedly plays an important role.