The Three Patriarchs of Tongcheng are the three important early writers of the Tongcheng School, namely Fang Bao, Liu Dakui and Yao Nai. They played a vital role in the rise and development of the Tongcheng Sect.

Fang Bao, an essayist in the Qing Dynasty. The name is Fengjiu, the other is Linggao, and the name is Wangxi. A native of Tongcheng, Anhui. Jinshi in the 45th year of Kangxi reign. In the 50th year, he was implicated in Dai Mingshi's "Nanshan Collection" case and imprisoned. After he was pardoned, he was assigned to the banner of the Han Army and entered the Zhinan Study Room. From tired official to cabinet bachelor and minister of rites. He once wrote "Prison Notes", which exposed the darkness and cruelty of the judicial system at that time, which is of practical significance.

Liu Dakui, whose courtesy name is Caifu, also named Gengnan, and nickname Haifeng, was born in Chenzhou Township, Tongcheng County, Anhui Province. Liu Dakui was born in a family of farming and studying. Both his ancestors and father were scholars, and he was a tutor and engaged in farming. Dakui once said to himself, "My family background is on the side of Wanjiang River, in Susukian.