先生姓陈，名抟，字图南，号扶摇子，亳州真源人也，与老子同乡里。一云普州崇龛人，恐是后来隐居之所。生而不能言。始，四五岁戏涡水之滨，有青衣媪召置怀中，乳之，自是能言，聪悟过人。及长，经史一览无遗。一云自束发不为儿戏。年十五，诗礼书数至方药之书，莫不通究。陈抟喜好渎《易经》，手不释卷。少时落第，隐居名山，觐见周世宗、宋太祖二帝，通易能预，北宋端拱初年石室仙逝。

Chen Tuan was said to be a native of Hao Zhou, another version said Pu Zhou; Pu Zhou might be his secluded residence in his later years. When he was born, he could not speak. When he was about four to five years old, he went to play in Wo Shui; a woman in green attire came to feed him with her own milk and he recovered his speech. He was talented and was fond of classics and history. At the age of fifteen, he was conversant with Yi Jing (易经), philosophies, medical principles, astronomy and geography. Later, failing the Imperial Examinations made him realise that he was not a person for worldly affairs, so he ended up giving up his ambitions in the government. He traveled around to different famous mountains and started a life of seclusion. Despite his isolation from the society, he was still highly recognised by Emperor Shi Zong of the Late Zhou Dynasty (周世宗) and Emperor Tai Zu of Song Dynasty (宋太祖). He was being summoned to the Court several times for consultation and advice. In 989 A.D., Chen Tuan passed away in a stone room.