《孝道吴许二真君传》

Xu Zhenjun, whose personal name was Xu Xun and whose courtesy name was Jingzhi, was an unconventional cultivator of the Dao in the Jin dynasty. He had profound knowledge of the mysterious and subtle arts of immortality, and understood the finer points of filial piety. He could communicate with spirits, travel freely without obstruction, and often display wondrous transformations. Even the learned and worthy of his time could not discover the source of his abilities.

The Xu family’s ancestral home was in Gaoyang. In the early Eastern Jin, amid political turmoil and the rise of powerful contenders, the emperor held Xu Xun in high regard, Wang Dun took him as his teacher, and Guo Pu received his assistance. Nobles and officials at court associated with him respectfully and sought his company without tiring of it. Later, Xu Xun chose a residence in Yuzhang and settled there. The local people called it “Youwei Residence.”

At that time, Xu Xun was friends with twelve perfected beings, and especially took Wu Jun as his teacher. Wu Jun’s name was Meng, and his courtesy name was Shiyun. Wu and Xu each chose a place in the region to build a home. They encouraged one another in the arts of flying up to become immortals, while also aiding the people and ridding them of harm.

On the banks of the Shangliao River in Jianchang County lived a great serpent, several li long, which occupied more than forty li of the river course. Its poisonous breath could split rocks and darken the skies, terrifying the people. It had also devoured travelers passing by. The people toiled along the way to transport their tax grain, while merchant boats could not pass because the waterway was blocked. The officials of the prefecture and counties were powerless to deal with it.

To avoid the serpent, the authorities set up a transfer station more than forty li northwest of its lair, called “Red Granary,” where tax grain was stored before being carried overland across the mountains. This left the people utterly exhausted. Wu and Xu clasped their hands and bowed to one another, saying, “We accumulate De and cultivate ourselves in the hope of benefiting the people. If we cannot rid them of harm, how can our virtue be made manifest?”

Wu Jun then led about three hundred disciples, preparing to go with them to kill the serpent. Worried that their resolve might falter and they might hesitate at the crucial moment, jeopardizing the undertaking, he gathered firewood at Huamin Pavilion and lit a fire. He then took some charcoal and transformed it into human figures. In an instant, the three hundred disciples became women and mingled among the crowd. Early the next morning, Wu Jun assembled everyone to determine who was real and who was not. In the end, 299 people went to kill the serpent.

Xu Jun burned firewood for charcoal at Huamin Pavilion, using it to test those who had transformed themselves into beautiful women. In a short while, three hundred women had mingled among the crowd. Early the next morning, he summoned them to examine which were genuine and which were demonic: 299 had been stained with charcoal, while only Xu Jun’s mind remained clear and his thoughts settled. He understood the profound mysteries, held Heaven and Earth within his breast, and was attuned to the Nine Perfected Ones (Daoist deities). He was like the bright moon reflected in water, untouched by desire.

Lord Hao admired Xu Jun and exclaimed, “To rid the people of this scourge, there is no one but you.” He then invited Xu Jun to go with him. When they were ten li from the serpent, Lord Hao strode forward at the front. The serpent exhaled poisonous vapors, swallowing clouds and spitting mist until it blotted out the sun and dazzled the eyes. It raised its head, towering as high as the sky. Everyone who saw this was terrified. Who could join forces to destroy it, if not an immortal devoted to cultivating the Dao?

At the time, Lord Hao felt afraid. Xu Jun’s name was already entered in the registers of the immortals. His Dao accorded with the Mysterious Origin, the source honored by Daoists. He wore thirty-six thousand divine talismans and had mastered the wondrous arts of the supreme Perfected Ones. His divine might was unfettered, and he could adapt to every circumstance. He said, “How can I let you, poisonous serpent, run rampant like this?” He seized the serpent’s body, shouted at it, and raised his sword to kill it. Countless poisonous creatures scattered from the serpent’s belly, tearing through the earth and cutting across the river. The people therefore called the road “Serpent’s Offspring Path” and the place “Serpent-Bone Islet.” At the time, serpent bones lay piled like hills, and blood covered the ground. Their traces can still be seen today.

At that time, Lord Jia, the governor of Changsha, was ordered to leave the court and take up his post in Changsha. He governed well and understood the people’s needs. Lord Jia had only one daughter, who was beautiful and gracious in character. She had long sought a suitable husband but had not found anyone she favored. Her parents cherished her and worried about her marriage. One day, a man from a distant place suddenly came to ask for her hand. He was striking in appearance and exceptionally gifted in letters. Though no one knew his name or origins, his manner and bearing were extraordinary, and he seemed a remarkable man.

The Jia family welcomed Lord Xu into the family as their son-in-law with great joy. Several years had passed since the wedding. After that, Lord Xu would often take his leave and go away. He might be gone for ten days or so, or as long as a month, before returning. Each time he left, he went empty-handed, but when he came back he brought gold and silver, fine silks, and brocades. Lord Jia did not know where these things came from, and the whole family both respected Lord Xu and felt somewhat in awe of him.

The Jia household was filled with treasures, and its wealth was beyond counting. What greater good fortune could there be than to have a son-in-law like this? The family would sing: “Heaven gave us the prudent Lord Shen, a son of a distinguished house; he brings us pearls and jade—what a fine son-in-law!”

Later, Lord Xu learned that a flood dragon was harming the people. Determined to rid the country of this menace and bring relief to the people, he began killing ferocious beasts and putting an end to the serpent’s depredations. Fearing that this might bring disaster upon him, he went to the official residence to visit Lord Xu. The demon had bewitched a worthy man, attended a banquet, and then taken its leave at the post station to return home and rest at ease. It had not expected that, after drinking too much, the dragon’s radiance would show through its body. Lord Xu noticed something strange about it and exposed its true form. The demon immediately transformed and fled.

Lord Xu pursued it all the way to Longsha. The flood dragon turned into an ox, hoping to hide in that form, but Lord Xu saw through the disguise. He said to his disciple Shi Daoqi, “This flood dragon has harmed the people for a long time and can change its shape at will. Today, you and I will put an end to it. I am now forty years old, while that flood dragon has lived for a thousand years. I too will turn into an ox, and I fear you may not recognize me. I will tie a handkerchief over my left shoulder and become a white camel-ox to fight it. You can help by striking it with your sword.”

As soon as he had finished speaking, a dragon-ox appeared before them. Lord Xu also transformed into an ox and fought it. In the struggle, Shi Daoqi thrust at the dragon-ox with his sword and wounded one of its legs. The flood dragon, its strength spent, fled into a spring opening and burrowed underground. The passage led all the way to Changsha, and it eventually emerged at the Jia family’s home. People later called that spring opening “Hengquan Well,” and it remains there to this day.

The dragon serpent then took human form and went back to tell his wife. She reported to Jia Jun, saying, “Yesterday, I was attacked and robbed by bandits in Yuzhang, and one of my feet was wounded. The pain was so severe that it is hard to describe. If I hadn’t happened to meet you, I might not have survived.”

Jia Jun was horrified. He immediately sent people in every direction to find a doctor, and soon the roads were full of people searching for one. Xu Jun followed the dragon serpent’s trail to Changsha. At the marketplace, he learned what had happened and said to one of the messengers sent by Jia Jun, “I know how to treat her.” The messenger invited Xu Jun to the residence, where the prefect himself came out to welcome him.

Xu Jun explained the whole story in detail. Only then did the prefect realize that his son-in-law had been deceived by a thousand-year-old dragon serpent. Xu Jun asked to rid him of this menace. The prefect did not believe him and feared that Xu Jun might make matters worse. “My son-in-law, Shen, has relatives throughout the court and knows many people,” he said. “Go ahead and proceed at your own pace. I’m only worried that if something goes wrong, it would be a pity.”

“If you don’t believe me,” Xu Jun said, “you can tell him yourself that you’ve invited a doctor named Xu from Yuzhang.” The prefect did as he suggested, but Shen Lang showed no alarm. The prefect therefore thought Xu Jun’s story was false and would not let him enter. But Xu Jun had already reached the main hall. He shouted sharply, and the dragon serpent tore through the wall and fled.

Everyone in the residence was terrified and asked Xu Jun for guidance again. “Five feet beneath your house,” he said, “the dragon serpent has turned the ground into a pool.” The prefect sent people to dig. At a depth of five feet, they found water stretching down into unfathomable depths.

The dragon serpent already had two children. Xu Jun had them brought out and sprayed them with water; they too transformed into dragons shaped like boats. Xu Jun also said that the dragon serpent’s wife had a human upper body and a dragon’s lower body. When he sprayed her with water, she revealed her true form. Xu Jun initially wanted to kill her, but the prefect begged him to spare his daughter’s life. Xu Jun sprayed her with water once more, restoring her to her former appearance. He killed the dragon serpent and its two children on the spot.

The prefect remained terrified and mournful for a long time. Xu Jun told him only to move his entire household away. In an instant, the old residence sank, leaving a pool a hundred zhang deep. From then on, people called that place “Tanjiu.”

Xu immediately killed the Dragon Son and the Great Dragon. The prefect was terrified and mourned for a long time. Xu merely told him to move away as quickly as he could. Before long, the old residence sank beneath the water, which was a hundred zhang deep. For this reason, the place was called “Tanzhou.” The dragon’s blood seeped into the ground, then surged up again and became an iron pillar. The pillar still stands today at Nantang in Hongzhou, two hundred and forty paces from the city. An inscription on it reads: “If the iron pillar tilts, the dragon will rise again, and I too will reappear. If the pillar stands straight, the dragon will be destroyed forever.”

Nothing hidden or obscure can escape the vision of an immortal; immortals can transform themselves in myriad ways. Their intentions are clear for all to see: they act to rid the people of harm. How could strange spirits and illusions endure for long? A hundred-thousand-foot wall of ice melts when it sees the sun; a thousand-year-old demon perishes when it meets a sage of the highest holiness. If one can continue advancing in cultivation and penetrate the mysteries, the whole family can ascend together. Then one’s name will be remembered for ten thousand ages, and the teachings of the tradition can be passed down to later generations. Keep to the Great Dao and preserve your true nature. Understand that the body is an illusion; clear your thoughts and abide in emptiness and stillness. In this way, you can add to your brief span of life, and the Jade Terrace in the realm of the Nine Perfected Immortals will be just a step away.

The stories of filial piety begin here. In Jiuyuan Village, Gaoping Township, Gangfu County, Yanzhou, there was a realized man surnamed Lan who would not disclose his given name. People called him Lord Lan. He had more than a hundred people live together, guiding them to unite in heart and De and commit themselves to practicing filial piety. At that time, a Perfected One from the Dipper responded to their devotion and descended, bearing the title King of Filial Piety and Brotherly Devotion. He was the younger brother of the Former King and the elder brother of the Illustrious King. The Classic of Filial Piety says, “In ancient times, the Illustrious Kings governed the world through filial piety.” This refers to just such a case.

Lord Lan made filial piety his aspiration and thereby connected with the spirits. The spirits then revealed the foundations of filial piety. They said: “The Former King is the King of the Sun; the Illustrious King is the King of the Moon. The Former King represents the dark Qi of the Mysterious, which is the Great Dao; the Illustrious King represents the dark Qi of the Beginning, which is the Utmost Dao. The King of Filial Piety and Brotherly Devotion, meanwhile, arose through the dispersal and transformation of the primal dark Qi and represents the Dao of filial piety. The origins of all three lie in the three dark Qi of the Mysterious, the Primal, and the Beginning.” The King of Filial Piety and Brotherly Devotion, together with the Former King and the Illustrious King, made bronze tallies and iron contracts. These contracts summoned the Xu and Yang families.

Yang Ze was summoned to serve as magistrate of Shiyang County during the Jin dynasty. Shiyang County belonged to Shu Commandery. Yang Ze was a teacher who promoted filial piety, carrying on its teachings and instructing later generations. As long as one put aside wrongful thoughts and rebellious conduct, cultivated one’s nature, and strengthened one’s character, one would be close to the path of becoming an immortal.

The Bronze Tally and Iron Writ on Filial Piety and Fraternal Duty records the Zheng, Xu, and Yang families. The King of Filial Piety and Fraternal Duty went on an outing with Lord Lan in Shu Commandery. By the roadside, they saw three tombs standing side by side. The King said to Lord Lan, “These three tombs belong to immortals. You may report to the court that immortals lie in them. If filial piety is to be honored, notices should be posted and the road moved aside, so as not to obstruct the immortals’ passage.” With that, he vanished from sight, and no one knew where he had gone.

Lord Lan reported the matter as he had been told. But the authorities thought he was a strange and deluded man, so they arrested him. Lord Jia said to Lord Lan, “Since you speak with such certainty, I will honor filial piety as you say. But if this is nonsense, I will wipe out your nine degrees of kinship.” Lord Lan was imprisoned. He turned the King’s words over and over in his mind, and worried about what would happen if anything went wrong and he remained trapped in prison. He could not help feeling anxious.

That night, Lord Lan dreamed that someone said to him, “Do not worry. Simply wait in peace.” The next day, the Governor of Shu Commandery and Lord Lan opened the tombs. The person from the dream had also told Lord Lan, “In the first tomb are the remains of an immortal, who has already ascended to become an immortal, leaving behind only a yellow immortal’s robe. In the second tomb is someone about twenty years old, with fair, beautiful features, as if fast asleep. In the third tomb, the bones are joined together. Though flesh has not yet grown upon them, this person will become an immortal in time. In view of this, there is no need to worry.”

When Lord Lan awoke, he was overjoyed and told them what he had seen in the dream. The Governor had him bound and taken along to open the tombs, then asked him, “What is in the first tomb?”

The prefect replied, “In the first tomb lies the remains of an immortal. He attained the Dao and ascended to immortality, leaving behind only a yellow robe.” They opened the tomb to look, and it was just as he had said. They then asked what was in the second tomb. The prefect replied, “Inside is someone about twenty years old, with a fair and beautiful face, as if asleep.” They opened it, and so it was. The immortal said, “Today is my birthday.” Another yellow robe was found in the tomb.

They next asked what was in the third tomb. The prefect replied, “Inside is someone about twenty years old, with a fair and beautiful face, as if asleep.” They opened it, and so it was. That immortal also said, “Today is my birthday.” There was likewise a yellow robe in the tomb. Later, they asked again what was in the third tomb. The prefect replied, “Inside are bones joined together; flesh and skin have not yet grown over them.” They looked, and this too was exactly as he had said.

The prefect picked up the yellow robe and tried to put it on, but could not bear its weight, so he handed it to Lord Lan. Lord Lan passed it to the immortal in the tomb to wear. The immortal immediately rose lightly into the air and flew away. The prefect was terrified and repeatedly kowtowed to beg forgiveness. Lord Lan asked him from then on to uphold filial piety. After that person ascended to immortality, he returned once every ten days or so. Whenever the prefect saw him at the government office, he hurried to welcome him. Later, the immortal sometimes returned only after ten or twenty days, but the prefect continued to treat him with respect and affection, unchanged.

Resolving to seek the Dao and drawing a response from the spirits are beyond the understanding of ordinary people. Doing good and receiving blessings is a principle passed down from ancient times to the present. From this we can see that, among all beings, humans are the most precious. As children, we should set aside what is wrong and follow what is good. The enlightened rulers of antiquity governed the world through filial piety; should gentlemen of later generations not also cultivate themselves through moral virtue?

By command of the Filial and Fraternal King, Lord Lan carried a bronze tally and an iron warrant to Huangtang Abbey. This was where Lady Chen lived. Lady Chen was a chaste and virtuous mother from Haozhong. She kept her surname and personal name undisclosed, and devoted herself in daily life to moral cultivation. In the market at Hao, Lady Chen saw a boy of four or five. She clasped her hands in greeting and asked to take him as her adopted son.

At Hao Market, Shenmu saw a boy about four or five years old. He bowed to her, then knelt and asked to become her adopted son. Shenmu told him, “When you are only fifteen, you should be serving the mother who gave birth to you. How can you leave your own mother to become my son? If I take you in, I will violate the rites.” The boy knelt to thank her and went away.

Several months later, he appeared again, this time as a child of about three. He came to Shenmu in tears, saying that no one would claim him. Seeing how young and alone he was, Shenmu felt great pity for him. She carried him home and cared for him tenderly, as if he were her own child. Their bond as mother and son grew even stronger than that between ordinary birth parents and children. As the child grew, he proved exceptionally bright, seeming to understand the spirits and the gods. The numinous wonders and auspicious signs he manifested dispelled calamities and danger wherever he went.

When he reached adulthood, he served Shenmu morning and evening, providing her with fine food and never growing lax. Shenmu loved him and wanted to find him a wife. The child bowed to her in the courtyard and said, “I am the younger brother of the former king and the elder brother of the Bright King. My name is King of Filial Piety and Fraternal Devotion. I lodged in your home, Mother, and was raised by you for many years, all to spread the way of filial piety. That is why I have remained among the living. Heaven is my father, Earth my mother, the sun my elder brother, and the moon my younger brother. Between Heaven and Earth, I alone am most exalted. Five-colored clouds cover me—why should I take a wife?”

He bowed to Shenmu in thanks and asked her to convert the house where he lived into the “Gate of Filial Piety.” Loving and generous, Shenmu did not go against his wishes. She established the residence as the Gate of Filial Piety and named it Huangtang Temple, a Daoist monastery. The child then gave Shenmu a bronze tally and an iron warrant, bowed farewell, and departed.

When Lord Hao Meng and Lord Xu Xun, both revered figures in Daoist legend, heard of this, they went to Huangtang to visit Shenmu and ask her about the way of filial piety. Shenmu then passed the bronze tally and iron warrant on to them.

The Lady of Chen handed the bronze talisman and iron covenant to Xu Meng. The covenant summoned members of the Xu family to enter the Dao together, but Xu Meng’s name was not on it. So Xu Meng declined and then honored Lord Xu as his master. Lord Xu transmitted the wondrous Daoist methods to him, and also passed them on to twelve Perfected Ones: Zhou, Peng, Chen, Shi, Yu, Gan, Zeng, Zhong, Shi, Huang, Hao, Liu, and Shen. They upheld filial piety and often benefited the people through acts of kindness.

Heaven’s Dao shows no partiality; it assists only those with De. The people, too, are always mindful of those who are humane and virtuous. The twelve cultivated the wondrous Daoist methods inwardly, attuned themselves above to the Dao of the Boundless, and in the end the whole family ascended to immortality in broad daylight. Lord Xu alone, through a De that accorded with the Nine Perfected Ones, had his name entered in the register of immortals, as ordained by the August Sovereign. Later practitioners who cultivated diligently could also become Perfected. After Lord Xu transmitted the Daoist methods to the lords, they devoted themselves to practice and ultimately attained ascension.

Two hundred and fifty paces east of Youwei Abbey stands a place called “Dragon Offering,” an ancient site for sacrifices and the casting of dragon tablets and other objects into water. Beneath it lies a pool whose water is deep and clear, with no visible indication of its depth. A dragon has long dwelt in the pool, though no one knows how many years it has been there.

The local people built a weir to channel water from the pool and irrigate their fields, sowing crops in the hope of a plentiful autumn harvest. Sometimes, after a long drought without rain, the farmers would gather and pray earnestly for rain. Then life-giving showers would be near: dark clouds would gather, and the people would congratulate one another, hopeful that their community would reap a good harvest. If this place did not possess such numinous mountains and rivers and such beautiful scenery, worthy of being called an abode of immortals, how could it receive blessings that benefit people near and far?

From the second year of the Yuankang era of the Jin dynasty (292 CE), when the Perfected One’s whole family ascended, to the fourteenth year of the Yuanhe era of the Tang dynasty (819 CE), about 562 years had passed. The account was handed down through the generations. People from the surrounding countryside gathered at the abbey to hold a grand Yellow Register fast, a large Daoist purification ritual for seeking blessings and averting calamity. They invited Daoist priests to ascend the altar and present memorials for three days and three nights, conveying their petitions to the Mysterious Origin, a title for the Dao and related divine beings in Daoism. All performed rites, burned incense, and prayed sincerely, hoping that both the living and the dead would receive blessings. They dispersed only after the ritual was complete. The rusted covenant was cast into the Dragon Pool and came to rest within this pool-cavern.

In the first year of the Xianning era of the Jin dynasty, Emperor Wu summoned Xu Zhenjun and appointed him magistrate of Shiyang County in Shu Commandery. When Xu Zhenjun first arrived, he found the affairs left by his predecessor in disarray. The most important duty of an official was to serve the public and observe the law. Even if this might bring blessings in return, he had to settle the government’s business before taking rest. The rusted vouchers and the offerings cast into the river had all been gathered in this pool and cave.

After taking office, Xu Zhenjun found that people had suffered grievances with no one to hear their cases, official documents were piled high on his desk, and prisoners crowded the jails. He resolved all these backlogged matters. His discernment was like a precious mirror revealing a person’s features, and he judged cases with the decisiveness of a sharp sword cutting through rhinoceros and elephant. The wrongly accused were cleared, and those who had suffered injustice received redress. The people of the county praised his skill in recording the facts faithfully, saying he had rescued them from the misery of being turned upside down.

If county officials distorted cases or accepted bribes, whatever the quantity of cloth or money involved, Xu Zhenjun could discover it in advance. He often earnestly warned his subordinates: “If you keep your intentions upright and follow the orders of your superiors, what task could you fail to carry out? I know how much money you took yesterday when reviewing documents and judging cases, and where you put it.” His subordinates admitted the truth and dared not conceal anything. Xu Zhenjun did not punish them for it, but instead advised them: “From now on, you officials should devote yourselves to serving your ruler. If you think only of distorting the facts and seeking private gain, you are failing in the proper duty of a subject.” From then on, the officials reminded one another to uphold what was right.

Xu Zhenjun, Lord Hao, and Guo Pu went to see Wang Dun. Wang Dun said, “I intend to make a major move. I want the three gentlemen to judge whether it will bring good or ill fortune. Do not speak carelessly: you may say only that it is auspicious, never that it is inauspicious.” The three immediately said it was an inauspicious sign. Wang Dun asked why. They replied, “Losing soldiers and generals, abandoning the proper course to follow the contrary path, a doubtful army, and a people who give no support—these are signs of great misfortune.”

Wang Dun was enraged and wanted to kill them. He then said, “Last night I dreamed of a tree bursting through the sky, yet you say this is not an auspicious sign. Why?” Lord Hao replied, “A tree bursting through the sky forms the character ‘wei.’ You would do well not to act rashly.”

Wang Dun’s expression changed, and he asked Guo Pu to perform another divination. Guo Pu said, “This undertaking will not succeed.” Wang Dun was displeased. “How much longer will I live?” he asked. Guo Pu replied, “If you raise troops in rebellion, disaster will soon befall you. If you return to Wuchang, your lifespan will be beyond measure.” Wang Dun then asked how long Guo Pu himself would live. “I will die at noon today,” Guo Pu said.

Wang Dun ordered his guards to seize Guo Pu and behead him. Xu Jun raised a wine cup and tossed it into the air. The cup turned into a white waterbird and circled around the roof beams. Wang Dun looked up, but the two Perfected Lords had vanished. As it turned out, Wang Dun was later defeated and met his ruin.

The open sea is too vast and deep to be measured with a ruler; the realm of the immortals, too, cannot be seen through by shallow intelligence. The two Perfected Lords, Wu and Xu, were guarded by divine powers, connected Heaven and Earth, and possessed unfathomable powers of transformation. They were masters of the ways of spirits. They appeared when the world had the Dao and withdrew when it did not. How could the limited understanding of ordinary, ignorant people judge their good or ill fortune? When the story was told, no one knew where they had gone.

At noon the next day, Wang Dun sent Wuyin’er to the riverbank to seize Guo Pu, intending to kill him. The river happened to be in flood, so the killing did not take place. Later, Wuyin’er escorted Guo Pu to a soapberry tree. As he drew his sword, he said, “Once, Master Guo gave me a brocade robe and saved me from hunger and cold. I have not yet repaid his kindness. How could I kill him now that we have met? How could I let his life be cut short for nothing? Now I have the chance to repay him.” He raised his sword and said to Wang Dun, “A man without the Dao raises troops in rebellion on his own authority and unjustly kills the innocent. Heaven will surely destroy him.” As it turned out, Wang Dun was later brought down by Wuyin’er.

Lord Xu and Lord Wu sailed from Jinling back to Yuzhang. They said to the boatman, “Just close the door and sit quietly inside the boat. We will steer it ourselves. Whatever you do, do not peek while we are sailing. If you disobey me, misfortune will follow.” Then the two Perfected Lords had two dragons lift the boat into the air and carry it away. The boatman heard only that the boat was moving with extraordinary speed.

When the boat reached the summit of Mount Lu, its bottom scraped against the rocks with a piercing sound. Fearing it had run aground and would be damaged by the gravel, the boatman quietly opened the cabin to look. He saw two dragons supporting the boat. When the dragons realized they had been seen, they were startled and scattered. Xu Jun departed riding a dragon, while Lord Hao returned, walking across the water.

At Falling Star Bay, a monster appeared in the water, its eyes as large as carriage wheels. Lord Hao said, “This monster has entrenched itself around Jiangnan, keeping the local people from prospering and obstructing merchants as they travel up and down the river. If I do not destroy it, how can I relieve the people’s suffering?” He cast his sword, striking the monster in the eye and killing it.

“If you wish to establish yourself, help others establish themselves; if you wish to make progress, help others make progress.” Without caring for the people and eliminating tyranny and evil, how could one attain the state of the Nine Perfected Immortals and Sages and establish accomplishments that would endure for ten thousand generations?

On the fifteenth day of the eighth month in the second year of the Yuankang era of the Jin dynasty, the True Lord and more than forty members of his family, along with their residence, chickens, and dogs, ascended to immortality together. Everyone in the village and surrounding districts saw it with their own eyes, then bowed and prostrated themselves in reverence for a long time. That year, after the local authorities heard of the event and reported it to the imperial court, they were ordered to send people to build a residence and a Daoist temple. When the people of Shu Commandery heard, they traveled hundreds of miles to see for themselves. To repay the True Lord for his kindness, people specially built an altar to the immortals and, separately, a shrine called the Hall of the Immortal Sage. To this day, the shrine remains solemn and splendid. Each year, on the anniversary of the True Lord’s ascension, people come to pay their respects and observe purification rites, a practice that has never ceased.

Before ascending to Heaven, the True Lord had sat calmly inside a brocade canopy, intending to give it to Huangtang Temple. After the True Lord and his family ascended to immortality, the canopy descended from the sky to the site of their former residence. It drifted through the air, circling the surrounding area for three days, then rose back into the sky. People petitioned the imperial court to grant the temple a plaque, and built a Daoist temple where the canopy had floated. It was therefore named Canopy in Flight Temple.

After ascending to immortality, two volumes of verse and prose instructing people in the cultivation of the Dao remained in the jade casket, along with an ox cart, a stone mortar, two bronze swords, and a set of boxes for holding fans. At the time, Xu Deng was serving as Prefect of Yuzhang. He sent people to bring the ox cart into the city. He had not yet bathed, but wanted to inspect it at once. Someone urged him to wait until the next day, saying that the holy immortals did not wish to be offended and would not permit anyone to treat them with disrespect. Before long, the ox cart flew back to Youwei Abbey on a five-colored cloud. The prefect never saw it again.

To this day, though many years have passed, those relics are still preserved; only the two swords are missing. Celestial Master Wan once entered the abbey and said that the swords had been sent to the palace for veneration. The ox cart and the other objects remain in the abbey. On the fifteenth day of the first, fifth, and eighth lunar months each year, the abbey holds ceremonies of homage, purification, chanting of praises, and ritual procession, praying for the removal of calamities and the granting of blessings to the ruler, his ministers, and the people. This tradition has continued without interruption to the present day.

In the second year of Xianhe under the Jin, the Perfected One was summoned to serve as magistrate of Shiyang County. When his term ended, he returned home. The court summoned him repeatedly afterward, but he never accepted. Even when the court issued an edict appointing him, he remained undisturbed, devoting himself to the single-minded inner cultivation of the Dao and the arts of the immortals, while encouraging one another with twelve other immortal lords. Eight years later, on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month in the second year of Yuankang, his entire family ascended together. Their parrot and dog departed with them. The old residence, ritual platform, and well remained intact.

His grandnephew Jian Chengzong carried on the family tradition, became a Daoist, cultivated the Dao, and cared for his family, while widely teaching filial piety. In the third year of Yonghe under the Jin, the court again issued an edict establishing Xuan Abbey. By the first year of Zhenguan, the court no longer gave the matter much attention, and people gradually grew distant from it. The abbey buildings fell into neglect and became desolate.

By the third year of Yongchun (682), the Mandate of Heaven had been fulfilled, filial piety flourished once more, and the incense offerings were passed down from generation to generation. The line of succession was as follows: his nephew Jian; Jian’s son Qingchang; Chang’s son Fa Qiang; Qiang’s son Lingyao; Lingyao’s nephew Xiaotong; Xiaotong’s son Shusixi; Sixi’s son Fayin; Yin’s nephew Fagong; Gong’s nephew Jingyang; Yang’s son Xianlong; Long’s son Chengguan; Guan’s son Daochao; Chao’s son Yuanshu; Shu’s son Xuanji; Ji’s son Shaogui; Gui’s son Wenchu; Wenchu’s son Wang Xian, and his nephew Fazhen; and Fazhen’s nephew Haoran.

This concludes The Account of the Two Perfected Lords Wu and Xu of the Filial Way. A note at the end of the scripture states: “The character ‘yao’ may be a mistake for ‘yao’ [with a different tone]; according to the sense of the text, ‘four or five years old’ may be a mistake for ‘fifteen years old.’”