王遠知 后(hou)為揚(yang)州人(ren)。又名遠智,字德廣。《唐國(guo)師(shi)升(sheng)(sheng)真先(xian)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)王法(fa)(fa)主(zhu)真人(ren)立觀碑》、《歷世真仙體(ti)道(dao)(dao)(dao)通鑒》卷(juan)二五(wu)載:生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)于(yu)世宦之(zhi)家。年(nian)(nian)十五(wu),師(shi)事陶(tao)弘(hong)景,得上(shang)清(qing)派道(dao)(dao)(dao)法(fa)(fa)。弱冠,又從宗(zong)道(dao)(dao)(dao)先(xian)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)臧矜學,得諸秘訣。遂游歷天(tian)下(xia),后(hou)歸(gui)隱(yin)茅山。專(zhuan)習辟谷(gu)休糧、上(shang)清(qing)道(dao)(dao)(dao)法(fa)(fa)。陳主(zhu)詔入(ru)重陽殿,在山宣揚(yang)法(fa)(fa)味,開(kai)(kai)度后(hou)學。隋開(kai)(kai)皇十二年(nian)(nian)(592),楊廣據(ju)揚(yang)州,厚禮敕見(jian)。大業七年(nian)(nian)(611),隋煬(yang)帝(di)召見(jian)于(yu)涿州臨朔宮,親執弟子(zi)禮,問以仙道(dao)(dao)(dao)事。煬(yang)帝(di)歸(gui)朝,扈(hu)駕洛都,奉敕于(yu)中岳修齋(zhai)儀,復詔移居洛陽玉清(qing)玄壇。唐太宗(zong)為秦(qin)王時,親授三洞法(fa)(fa)策(ce)于(yu)官邸。太宗(zong)即位,以疾(ji)固(gu)辭(ci)還山,時人(ren)稱為“王法(fa)(fa)主(zhu)”。敕于(yu)茅山造(zao)太平觀居之(zhi),未(wei)畢,卒(zu)。史稱年(nian)(nian)一百二十六歲(sui)。高宗(zong)調露二年(nian)(nian)(680)追贈(zeng)“太中大夫(fu)”,謚(shi)“升(sheng)(sheng)真先(xian)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)”。則天(tian)武后(hou)嗣(si)圣(sheng)元年(nian)(nian)(684)追贈(zeng)“金紫光祿(lu)大夫(fu)”,改(gai)謚(shi)“升(sheng)(sheng)玄先(xian)生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)”。著《易總》十五(wu)卷(juan)。事見(jian)《舊唐書·隱(yin)逸傳》。
道士王遠知(zhi),瑯邪人也。祖景賢(xian),梁(liang)江州(zhou)刺(ci)史。父曇選,陳揚(yang)州(zhou)刺(ci)史。遠知(zhi)母,梁(liang)駕部(bu)郎中丁超女也。嘗晝(zhou)寢,夢靈鳳集(ji)其(qi)身,因而有娠(shen),又聞(wen)腹中啼(ti)聲,沙門寶志(zhi)謂曇選曰:“生(sheng)子當為(wei)神仙之宗伯也。”
遠(yuan)知(zhi)少聰敏,博綜群(qun)書(shu)。初入茅(mao)山,師(shi)事(shi)陶(tao)弘景,傳其(qi)龍騰辟(pi)谷(gu)道(dao)(dao)法。后又(you)師(shi)事(shi)宗道(dao)(dao)先生臧兢(jing)。陳主聞(wen)其(qi)名,召(zhao)入重陽殿,令講(jiang)論,甚見(jian)(jian)嗟賞(shang)。及隋煬(yang)(yang)帝為晉王,鎮揚(yang)州(zhou),使王子相(xiang)、柳(liu)顧言相(xiang)次召(zhao)之(zhi)。遠(yuan)知(zhi)乃來謁見(jian)(jian),斯須而須發(fa)變白,晉王懼而遣之(zhi),少頃又(you)復其(qi)舊(jiu)。煬(yang)(yang)帝幸涿郡,遣員外(wai)郎崔(cui)鳳舉就邀之(zhi),遠(yuan)知(zhi)見(jian)(jian)于臨朔宮,煬(yang)(yang)帝親執弟子之(zhi)禮,敕都城起玉清玄(xuan)壇(tan)以處之(zhi)。及幸揚(yang)州(zhou),遠(yuan)知(zhi)諫不宜遠(yuan)去京國,煬(yang)(yang)帝不從。
高祖之龍潛也(ye),遠(yuan)知(zhi)嘗密傳符命。武德中(zhong)(zhong),太(tai)(tai)宗(zong)平王(wang)世充,與房玄(xuan)(xuan)齡微服以(yi)謁之。遠(yuan)知(zhi)迎(ying)謂曰(yue):“此中(zhong)(zhong)有(you)圣人,得非(fei)秦(qin)王(wang)乎?”太(tai)(tai)宗(zong)因以(yi)實告。遠(yuan)知(zhi)曰(yue):“方作太(tai)(tai)平天子,愿(yuan)自惜也(ye)。”太(tai)(tai)宗(zong)登極(ji),將(jiang)加重位,固請歸山。至貞(zhen)觀(guan)九年,敕潤州于(yu)茅山置(zhi)太(tai)(tai)受(shou)觀(guan),并(bing)度道士二十七人。降璽(xi)書曰(yue):“先生操履夷簡(jian),德業沖粹(cui),屏棄塵雜(za),棲志(zhi)(zhi)虛玄(xuan)(xuan),吐故(gu)納新,食(shi)芝餌(er)術,念眾妙(miao)于(yu)三(san)清之表,返華(hua)發于(yu)百(bai)齡之外,道邁前烈(lie),聲高自古。非(fei)夫得秘訣于(yu)金壇(tan),受(shou)幽文于(yu)玉笈者(zhe),其孰能與此乎!朕(zhen)昔(xi)在籓朝(chao),早(zao)獲問道,眷言(yan)風范,無(wu)忘寤寐。近覽來奏,請歸舊(jiu)山,已(yi)(yi)有(you)別敕,不違高志(zhi)(zhi),并(bing)許置(zhi)觀(guan),用表宿心。未知(zhi)先生早(zao)晚已(yi)(yi)屆江外,所(suo)營棟(dong)宇,何當就功?佇(zhu)聞(wen)委曲,副茲引(yin)領。近已(yi)(yi)令太(tai)(tai)史薛(xue)頤等往(wang)詣,令宣朕(zhen)意。”
其(qi)年(nian)(nian),遠知謂弟(di)子籓(fan)師正曰(yue):“吾見仙格(ge),以吾小(xiao)時誤損(sun)一(yi)(yi)童(tong)子吻,不得(de)白日升(sheng)天。見署少室伯,將行在即。”翌日,沐(mu)浴,加冠衣,焚香而寢。卒,年(nian)(nian)一(yi)(yi)百(bai)二(er)十六歲(sui)。調露(lu)二(er)年(nian)(nian),追贈遠知太中(zhong)大夫(fu),謚曰(yue)升(sheng)真先生。則天臨朝,追贈金紫(zi)光祿大夫(fu)。天授二(er)年(nian)(nian),改謚曰(yue)升(sheng)玄先生。