Guangchengzi

Guangchengzi (simplified Chinese: 广成子; traditional Chinese: 廣成子; pinyin: Guǎngchéngzǐ; Wade–Giles: Kuang ch'eng-tzu) is a character featured within the classic Chinese novel Fengshen Yanyi.

From the idea of Taoism, Guangchengzi was the avatar of Taishang Laojun (also named Daode Tianzun) during the period of Yellow Emperor in ancient Chinese history. According to Zhuangzi's recording, Guangchengzi lived in Kongtong Mountains, the Yellow Emperor visited him there for his teaching. Guangchengzi gave the Yellow Emperor several books that talked about the moral, natural, and philosophical issues, which helped the Yellow Emperor create the early Chinese civilization. It is said that Guangchengzi had a long life of 1200 years. There is another saying that Guangchengzi was the avatar of Dao, who appeared in the human world three times – the first time as Guangchengzi during the Yellow Emperor time; second as Laozi during the Spring and Autumn period; and third time as Zhang Daoling in the Han Dynasty.

From the novel of Fengshen Yanyi, Guangchengzi is the student of Yuanshi Tianzun, who is the co-founder of Branch Chan of Taoism. Guangchengzi ranked the first of the Twelve Golden Xian (十二金仙) along with Yuanshi Tianzun's other eleven students: Chi Jing Zi, Yuding Zhenren, Taiyi Zhenren, Huanglong Zhenren, Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun (also known as Manjusri), Puxian Zhenren (also known as Samantabhadra), Cihang Daoren (also known as Guanyin), Lingbao Dafashi, Ju Liu Sun (also known as Kakusandha Buddha), Daoxing Tianzun, and Qingxu Daode Tianzun. The twelve Xians and their students worked together with Jiang Ziya to support King Wu of Zhou conquer King Zhou of Shang (who got the support of the Branch Jie).

...
Wikipedia