A native of Lintzhi (now Shandong Province) in the Eastern Han Dynasty. Also known as Ma Mingsheng, his original surname was He and his courtesy name was Junxian. The Ma Mingsheng Zhenren Zhuan (Biography of the True Man Ma Mingsheng) and Shiji Waiji (Miscellaneous Poems) record that when he was young, he was a county official who was injured while arresting a thief. He met the wife of the King of Taizhen, who cured him with a magic potion. He then abandoned his post and followed the wife to serve her. Later, he was given the Taqing Jinye Shendan (Golden Liquid Divine Elixir of the Supreme Purity) and after taking it, he and his disciple Yin Changsheng both became immortal and departed.

东汉时齐国临淄（今属山东）人。一作马鸣生，本姓和，字君贤。《马明生真人传》、《诗纪外集》载其少时为县吏，捕贼受伤，遇太真王夫人，用仙药治愈，乃弃职随夫人执役。后受授太清金液神丹，服之后与其徒阴长生俱得仙而去。