Guan Yinzi ~ 關尹子

When he was the keeper of the Hangu Pass 函谷關 in Zhou Dynasty, Yinxi 尹喜 knew that Laozi , riding on a buffalo, would soon pass through there. He very respectfully prepared to welcome the great sage outside the city. Through his earnest request to leave behind his great wisdom to posterity, Laozi stayed behind and Guan Yinxi was indoctrinated with the sage’s great wisdom in his 5,000 characters classic, the Tao Te Jing.

Later, Guan Yinzi wrote down his ideas and comments so as to reveal what has not been clearly mentioned in the 5,000 characters classic. Tradition had it that he abandoned his official position as the keeper of the pass and accompanied his master in the journey westward and became great Taoist immortals. Another story was that he did not follow his master westward but instead, lived as a recluse to thoroughly understand all secrets of nature and Tao. Finally he ascended heavenwards as one of the greatest immortal.