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Zhang Tian Ran Wikipedia

Image:ZhangGuangBi.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Zhang Tian Ran, the Father of I Kuan Tao


Zhang Tian Ran (?????????) (1889-1947) was the founder of I-Kuan Tao, a popular religious movement. He is usually referred to as the Father of I Kuan-Tao, or as Shi Zun, meaning the world honored one.

He was born under the name Kui Sheng, also known as Zhang Guang Bi. Zhang Tian Ran is his official religious name. He was also known as Kung Chang (Kung and Chang are the two readings of the character Zhang). Zhang was born on the 19th day of the 7th Lunar month in 1889, in the Jining prefecture, northern province Shandong. In 1908, Zhang married with a woman named Zhu, but Zhu died a year later. Two years later Zhang married again to a woman called Liu.

He left home and travelled to Nanjing and Shang Hai at age 24, joined the army as a low ranking military officer. Zhang was initiated in I-Kuan Tao in 1914. The 17th patriarch Lu Zhong I heard the talent of Zhang and invited Zhang to join. Patriarch Lu died in 1925. In 1930 he was officially ordained to be the 18th Patriarch of I Kuan Tao. There are various versions concerning the transfer of the 18th patriarch and the meeting of Zhang Tian Ran with Sun Su Zhen. The most simple version states that the Venerable mother transferred the 18th patriarchs to both Zhang and Sun.

The most widely accepted version in Western literature states that Zhang took Sun Su Zhen as his second wife. She was already member of I-Kuan Tao and according to reports Zhang married her after a divine message. Zhang was considered as the incarnation of Ji Gong, a lecherous Buddhist monk who was revered as a god by Taoists and as an incarnation of an Arhat by some Buddhists. Sun was then considered as the reincarnation of Yue Hui, Ji Gong's wife.

Under the Japanese occupation, I-Kuan Tao survived and centered in Central China. I Kuan Tao also attract a number of officials of the Chinese puppet government of Wang Ching Wei. Zhang died on the 15th day of the 8th Lunar Month in 1947 in the city of Cheng Du in SiChuan province.

Category:Religion in China
Category:New religious movements
Category:Taiwan

Last Modified:   2005-11-04