Tao Hongjing

Tao Hongjing

 or T'ao Hung-ching

(born 451, Mo-ling, China—died 536, Hua-yang) Chinese poet, calligrapher, physician, and naturalist. He became a tutor to the imperial court while still a youth. In 492 he retired to a mountain retreat at Mao Shan to devote himself to the study of Daoism. His research in proper eating and living practices led him to write one of the major pharmacological works of China. He also edited and annotated the religious writings of his major Daoist predecessors, producing Declarations of the Perfected and Secret Instructions for Ascent to Perfection.