Luo Menghong (Chinese: 羅夢鴻 / 羅孟鴻; pinyin: Luómènghóng), also written as “羅孟洪”, “羅孟鴻” or “羅梦宏”. He was also known as Patriarch Luo (羅祖) and his religious title was Luo Qing (羅清) or Non-Action Hermit (無為居士).^[1] Luo was the most important and most frequently venerated as founding patriarch figure by religious groups in the Ming and Qing dynasties.^[2] His teachings and scriptures became the model for countless new religious groups. No other popular sectarian religious teacher can compare to Patriarch Luo in stimulating the belief and knowledge of the common and educated peoples.^[2] Patriarch Luo is believed by his followers to be the direct successor of the 6th patriarch, Huineng[3] and is an incarnation of the Venerable Ancient Buddha (老古佛) or Wuji Shengzu (無極聖祖).^[4]

A wide range of religious organizations of traditional chinese religion either led by his descendants, disciples or totally independent groups whose teachings are derived from the teachings and scriptures of the Luo patriarch are known as Luoism/Luojiao (羅教).

Luo Menghong was born in 1443 in Zhumao Township in Jimo County, Laizhou, Shandong. He was born into a heriditary soldiers family, and lost his mother when he was 3 years old and lost his father when he was 5 years old.^[5]After growing up in his uncle's family, he joined the army at Miyun Guard Post in Zhili, about 70 km northeast of Peking.^[1][5] After he joined the army in Zhili, Patriarch Luo served at Miyun, Gubeikou, Simatai, Wulingshan, and Jiangmaoyu Guard Posts. In the period between the Jingtai and Jiajing years, the Mongols frequently invaded the Ming borders. Therefore, Ming troops gathered in the area of Miyun Guard Post, making Miyun an important guard point.^[1]

• Ma, Xisha; Huiying Meng (2011), Popular Religion and Shamanism, Brill, ISBN 978-9004174559{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Seiwert, Hubert Michael (2003), Popular Religious Movements and Heterodox Sects in Chinese History, Brill, ISBN 9004131469
• ter Haar, Barend (2015), Practicing Scripture: A Lay Buddhist Movement in Late Imperial China, Brill, ISBN 9780824853389