Sima Chengzhen

Sima Chengzhen (born 647—died 735) was the sixth patriarch of the Shangqing school of Daoism, who had many associations with famous poets such as Li Bai and Wang Wei during the Tang dynasty. Called to court during the reign of the emperor Ruizong (reigned 710–712), Sima recommended a government that followed the principles of wuwei, or “nonaction.” He was influential with the emperor Xuanzong (reigned 712–756) and was known as an accomplished calligrapher. He is especially famous for blending Daoist, Confucian, and Buddhist methods of mental cultivation. Generally, he recommended religious methods that emphasized “inner alchemy” (neidan) over the external practices and drugs of “outer alchemy” (waidan).