Ye Yunlai

Ye Yunlai, whose given name was Xizhen and pseudonym was Yunlai Zi, was from Kuocang County, Chuzhou (now southeast of Lishui County, Zhejiang Province). A Taoist priest of Wudang in the Yuan Dynasty. According to the "Great Mountain Taihe Mountain Annals", Ye was born on the fifth day of the third lunar month in the Xinhai year of the Chunyou era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1251 AD) in Jianning (about Jian 'ou County, Fujian Province), and was of the ethnicity of Ye Fashan, the "Celestial Master" of the Tang Dynasty. Ye Fashan (616-720 AD), styled Daoyuan, was from Kuocang, Chuzhou. The above three generations were all Taoists. (Note: In the south, many Celestial masters believed in Taoism but did not become monks. They were formerly known as Huoju Taoists, and that's it.) The family has passed down the techniques of yin-yang divination, 符箓, and nourishment, which can "impeach evil spirits". Emperor Gaozong of Tang issued an imperial edict to enter the capital to be granted an official position. Firmly refuse. During the reign of Emperor Zhongzong, he was also summoned to the capital from time to time. He was called the Celestial Master. During the reign of Emperor Zong, he was appointed as the Minister of Hong 胪 and was enfeoffed as the Duke of Yue. It is said that Ye Fashan once demonstrated the art of chasing souls, which was quite extraordinary. He passed away at the age of 105. Yun Lai, due to the family tradition of the Celestial Master Dao, was fond of the Dao at an early age and mastered the subtle and profound methods. At the end of the Song Dynasty and the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty, he fled to Wudang to practice seclusion. Together with Zhang Daogui and liu Daoming, he also studied under the high Daoist master Huang Dong of Wudang. Youdaoplaceholder0 (note: 囦, an ancient character for yuan.) The immortal, through the cultivation of the Innate Great Way, became a renowned Taoist of the Wudang Ben Shan School (also known as the Wulong Palace Shangqing School). In the year of Yiyou of Zhiyuan (1285 AD), Ye Yunlai was summoned to the capital and performed various Taoist rituals such as stopping the clouds and winds, quelling thunder and lightning, praying for rain and snow, and curing diseases. He was highly respected by the imperial court. The following year, he was appointed as the Taoist official in charge of the capital and important Taoist temples, and served as the guardian of Wudang Mountain. He returned to the mountains and soon retired, living in a secluded place where no one could see him. Eventually, he passed away without any illness. The year of death is unknown.