INTRODUCTION TO THE 18TH PATRIARCH ZHANG

Patriarch Zhang, whose first name was Kuisheng, was also known as Zhang, Guangbi. He was the incarnation of Jigong Living Buddha and became Tianran Ancient Buddha after his passing. Patriarch Zhang was born on the 19th day of the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar in 1889 in Jining County, Shandong Province, China. On the day he was born, the usually silty Yellow River became clear, which was a sign of the birth of a sage. 

When Patriarch Zhang was 27, he met a Teacher Geng, who was propagating the Great Tao. Patriarch Zhang had reservations at first, so he asked his mother to receive the Tao first. After his mother studied the Tao, she thought it was great. Only then Patriarch Zhang went ahead to receive the Tao. Patriarch Zhang heard that the Great Tao can give salvation to parents who passed away. Because his father had passed away when he was young, Patriarch Zhang diligently propagated Tao so that his father can attain salvation. 

After Teacher Geng passed away, Patriarch Zhang followed Patriarch Lu and continued to cultivate the Tao. Patriarch Zhang was regarded highly by Patriarch Lu, and he tirelessly propagated the Great Tao. After Patriarch Lu passed away in 1925, God mandated Patriarch Lu's younger sister to act as the person with the Divine Authority to propagate Tao. Patriarch Zhang respectfully obeyed this mandate. 

In 1930, God mandated Patriarch Zhang to be the 18th Patriarch and Matriarch Sun to be the 18th Matriarch to continue the Lineage of Tao and to execute the Mission of Salvation of the Three Realms. Patriarch Zhang and Matriarch Sun completely dedicated themselves to this important mission. The Great Tao was thus quickly propagated and was able to spread all over the China by 1945. 

In 1946, the Tao disciples in Sichuan Province, China invited Patriarch Zhang to Sichuan to propagate Tao. By that time, because of his total dedication to the propagation of Tao without regards to his health, Patriarch Zhang has become sick. He passed away at the age of 59 on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar in 1947 during his stay in Sichuan. God bestowed upon Patriarch Zhang the title "Tianran Ancient Buddha" after his passing. Although he has passed on, his virtues and vows are still benefiting living beings in all three realms.