Lu Zhongyi

Lu Zhongyi (路中一) (1849–1925) was the 17th Patriarch of I-Kuan Tao, a Chinese religious sect. He was believed to be the incarnation of Maitreya. His religious titles were Tung Li Zu and Jin Gong Zu Shi (Golden Elder) 金公祖師. He was born on the 24th day of 4th Lunar month in 1849, in Jining, Shandong province, China.

He was said to be illiterate, his father died when he was young, left with his mother and sister Lu ZhongJie. He joined the army at age 22 and became an officer in the Manzhou DongBei (Manchuria) government. In 1895, at the age of 46 he was said to have a dream from God instructing him to become the student of Master Liu the 16th patriarch.

He became the 17th patriarch of I-Kuan Tao in 1905 in Qingzhou. I-Kuan Tao followers believe that he is the first leader of the "White Sun" Era, the era of apocalpyse, thus he is the incarnation of savior Maitreya or Hotei. In 1918, Lu brought I-Kuan Tao to his hometown Jining, within a few years, Lu managed to attract some 25 disciples, among them Zhang Tian Ran and Sun Su Zhen.

Lu died on the 2nd day of the 2nd lunar month in 1925. Thus, Lu's younger sister Lu Zhong Jie (also known as Lao Gu Nai Nai, Mistress of the Old Cave) who was believed to be the incarnation of bodhisattva Guan Yin, took over the leadership for 6 years.

Zhang Tianran and Sun Suzhen became the successor through spirit writing by the Heavenly Mater. However, the other seven major disciples of Lu once refused his succession. In 1930...
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