Timeline of Zhang Sanfeng’s Life

Song (宋) dynasty (from 960 to 1279)

1247—Born (either in the northeastern province Liaoning or in the southeastern province on Dragon-Tiger Mountain). Name Used: Quan Yi (全 一), birth name.

1256—At age nine, he started studying Buddhism under Chan master Hai Yun. Names Used: Jun Shi (君 室), Jun Bao (君 寶).

Yuan (元) dynasty (from 1279 to 1368)

1290—At age 43, he left his family and position as County Magistrate in Liaoning to cultivate the Dao. Name Used: Yu Xuzi (玉 虛 子), self-given cultivation name.

1294—At age 47, he met Xuan Du, initiated as a Daoist priest. Name Used: Zhang Tong (張 通).

1303—At age 56, he faked his death at Golden Terrace Monastery in western Shensi. Names Used: Zhang Tong, Xuan Xuan (玄 玄).

1325—At age 78, he met Fire Dragon Immortal on Ge Hong Mountain. Name Used: Xuan Hua (玄 化).

1329—At age 82, he left Ge Hong Mountain and entered the Wudang Mountains. Created Taijiquan during these years. Name Used: Xuan Hua.

1338—At age 91, he attained immortality. Names Used: Xuan Hua, Zhang Sanfeng

1339—At age 92, he left Wudang Mountain to cloud wander. Name Used: Zhang Sanfeng.

Ming (明) dynasty (from 1368 to 1644)

1379—The Jiang (姜) family reports Zhang (age 132) lived on their property in Sichuan province. Name Used: Zhang Sanfeng.

1381—Reports of a Daoist priest called Dirty Immortal Zhang (age 134) start circulating throughout Sichuan and Guizhou provinces.

1385—At age 138, he escaped from Emperor Tai Zu, went cloud wandering and eventually went into hiding in Yunnan province until 1399. Names Used: Qing Xu (清 虛), Zhang Sanfeng.

1403—At age 156, Zhang met with Prince Jun. Name Used: Zhang Sanfeng.

1410—At age 163, he reappeared (either on Dragon-Tiger Mountain or Wudang Mountain). Name Used: Zhang Sanfeng.

1417—At age 170, he ascended into the immortal realms.