Pei Xiu
In the Tang dynasty (618–907), the imperial court established a granary in today's Laoliangcang Town. Buddhism was introduced into Ningxiang some time in the 9th century. According to "Wu Deng Hui Yuan" (), in 806, the prime minister Pei Xiu submitted a written statement to the imperial court, which was approved to found the Miyin Temple at the foot of Mount Wei. His son, Pei Wende (), a former zhuangyuan, received ordination as a monk with the Dharma name of "Jinshan Fahai" (). The character of Fahai in the "Legend of the White Snake" is based on him. Liu Dui, the first jinshi in the history of Ningxiang, also known as "jinshi of Ningxiang for the first time" ().