Mao Shan is located near Nanjing.  The Lady of Highest Primordial appeared to emperor Wudi together with the Queen Mother of the West in an ethereal visitation. From this experience he became a great patron of Taoism.  The Queen Mother was also a teacher of the three Mao brothers, Han-era figures who gave their names to Mao Shan and are seen as patriarchs of the Highest Purity scriptures.
            During the Liang Dynasty (502-557) Wudi was a patron of the Taoist alchemist Tao, Hongjing (456-536).  The emperor founded a monastery on. Mao Shan for Tao to continue his alchemical experiments.
            A revival of the Highest Purity (Shangqing) sect at Mao Shan was led by Yang Xizhan (r. 1101-24) at the end of the Northern Song Dynasty.  The four saints were worshiped as demon-suppressing deities in the Great Rites of Youthful Incipience (Tongchu da fa) founded by Yang.

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