Yuán 元 Daoist master, poet, and painter — one of the major Yuán-era Máo shān 茅山 Daoist figures. 1283–1350 (CBDB 28391). Also transcribed as 張雨 Zhāng Yǔ (omitting Tiān 天). Hào Zhēn jū zǐ 貞居子 (“Master of Upright Retreat”) or Gōu qū wài shǐ 句曲外史 (“Outer Historian of Gōu qū [i.e. Máo shān]”).
Origin. Native of Qián táng 錢塘 (Hángzhōu 杭州) — the former Southern-Sòng capital.
Daoist lineage. Zhāng Tiān yǔ was a member of the Máo shān 茅山 Shàng qīng 上清 lineage. He was associated with the circle of 張嗣成 Zhāng Sìchéng (39th Celestial Master, d. 1343) and became one of the most prominent Daoist scholar-officials of the Yuán period.
Literati accomplishments. Zhāng Tiān yǔ was celebrated as one of the foremost Yuán literati-poet-painters. His poetry and calligraphy were widely admired, and his work is preserved in various YuánMíng anthologies. He was personally close to the major Yuán literati Yú Jí 虞集 (1272–1348) and Zhào Mèngfǔ 趙孟頫 (1254–1322).
Works.
- Xuán pǐn lù 玄品錄 (DZ 781, 1335) — the Daoist hagiographic rank-record.
- Máo shān zhì 茅山志 (DZ 304) — the gazetteer of Máo shān.
- Zhēn jū wén jí 貞居文集 — collected poetry and prose.
- Various paintings and calligraphic works (preserved in museum collections).
CBDB: 28391. Primary source: Yuán shǐ 元史 199.4492.