《歷世真仙體道通鑑》Vol. 14

The Perfected of Ziyang was surnamed Zhou, named Yishan, and styled Jitong. He was from Ruyin and a seventh-generation descendant of Zhou Bo, the Han dynasty chancellor. He came from a prominent family whose members had served as officials for generations. His grandfather, Zhou Xuan, served as governor of Qingzhou in the first year of the Yuanfeng era under Emperor Zhao of Han. His father, Zhou Mi, had served as magistrate of Fanyang, and Zhou Yishan was born during that time. Later, Zhou Mi rose through the ranks on the strength of his administrative achievements and eventually became governor of Chenliu.

At the age of sixteen, Zhou Yishan lived with his father in the commandery and began studying the Classic of Filial Piety, the Analects, and the Zhou Changes. He was composed and sparing with words, and rarely smiled. He did not readily show joy or anger. He liked to spend time alone in quiet places and had little interest in socializing. He was meticulous and thorough in his work, and what he thought about often seemed to come true.

Every morning before sunrise, he would stand facing due east, rinse his mouth and swallow the saliva, then practice breathing exercises—a Daoist method of regulating the breath and inhaling and exhaling—more than a hundred times. He would then bow twice to the sun. He did this every day, year after year. His father found it strange and asked what he was doing. Kneeling upright, Zhou Yishan replied, “I love the sight of the sun’s brightness, so I pay my respects to it.”

At dawn on the first day of each month, he would visit the marketplace and secluded lanes. When he came across people who were poor and hungry, he would take off his own clothes and give them away, and he often distributed food as well. Sometimes, when he climbed a famous mountain, he would sigh and lament; at other times, when he entered a stone chamber, he would rejoice and laugh to himself.

The great scholars and learned men of Chenliu heard that Zhou Yishan was virtuous and had a quiet, gentle temperament, so they went to visit him. He often declined to receive guests, claiming to be ill. Cai Xian, a Han dynasty Attendant at the Palace and a notable figure from Chenliu, knew a good deal about Daoist arts. When he heard of Zhou Yishan’s virtue, he went to see him repeatedly, but was turned away each time.

Zhou Yishan’s father could not understand this. He even grew angry and reprimanded his son harshly, urging him to go out and receive the guest. Pressed by his father’s command, Zhou Yishan had no choice but to meet Cai Xian. Cai Xian spoke at length about the learning of stillness and purity, and also discussed the way of the immortals and the art of transformation. Zhou Yishan remained silent throughout, gathering his spirit and maintaining emptiness and stillness. He merely nodded in agreement and did not reply.

That year there was a severe drought. A measure of rice sold for a thousand coins, and the roads were full of people who had starved to death. Zhou Yishan gave away all his family’s wealth to aid the disaster victims, doing good in secret so that no one would know who had given the charity. He treated all things with the same tenderness one would show a newborn child. Such acts, accumulated over time, were an expression of building De and practicing benevolence.

Later, Zhou Yishan met Huang Tai, a man from Chenliu. Huang Tai said to him, “I hear that you delight in cultivating the Dao, secretly build De and perform good deeds, and that your good works have become widely known. You ponder the subtle and profound principles…”

Miaocheng (one whose sincere heart can reach the mysteries of the Dao) said, “That is why I have come to pay you a visit. I am Xu Lin, an immortal of Mount Song, with the courtesy name Zixuan. I was originally from the State of Wei and was born in the final years of Duke Ling of Wei. In my youth I took delight in the Dao and De. I once studied with Master Cen, who taught me Daoist methods for refining the body and dispelling misfortune. Later I met Lord Qiu and learned methods of taking in Qi—cultivating through regulated breathing and circulating Qi—as well as returning Shen and guarding the soul, so that the spirit and souls would become settled. I practiced these methods and saw clear results; they benefited me greatly.

“From a young age, I knew how to return Yang essence and prevent the loss of Jing. I also knew methods such as Daoyin, which nourishes the body through movement and breathing; subduing Qi; swallowing radiance; and swallowing fluid. I no longer needed the benefits of Yin-Dan internal techniques for replenishing the embryo. Yet at that time the Three Worms had not been eliminated, and the Three Corpses had not died. So I still had not mastered Daoyin and taking in Qi. One can begin by taking small pills that control the worms and kill the grain worms.

“The worms have three names: the first is Qinggu, the second Baigu, and the third Xueshi. Together they are called the Three Worms. When they are inside the body, they make a person restless and unable to feel at ease, scatter the mind, and prevent concentration. After giving up food, one becomes hungry easily; sorrow also stirs the emotions, and the spirit is hard to focus. This is still caused by eating without restraint and then suddenly giving up food. Even after grain abstinence—stopping eating—the body may remain heavy and sluggish, and the spirit weary and agitated. Dreams seem unreal and are often confused and inverted; evil and worldly thoughts are also hard to dispel. All this happens because the Three Worms disturb the Five Viscera from within.

“The recipe for the worm-controlling pills is as follows: five liang of aconite, seven sheng of hemp seed, six liang of Rehmannia, seven liang of atractylodes, a seven-inch section of the root of large Cornus, four liang of cinnamon, and five liang of Yunzhiying: seven ingredients in all. First boil calamus root to make a strong wine. Let it settle, then take one and a half dou of the wine, rich and full in flavor. Chop the seven ingredients and put them in a vessel to soak in the wine; they may also be left unchopped. After three nights, take them out and dry them in the sun, then soak them again in the original wine for three nights and dry them once more. Repeat this until the wine is used up, then dry the ingredients thoroughly. Put them in an iron mortar and pound them very finely. Sift the powder and mix it with white honey to form pills.

“Each morning, face east and take two pills, each the size of a red bean. Gradually increase the dose by one pill at a time, up to a dozen or more. This formula treats tightness and hardness in the abdomen, Qi rising upward, and blockage in the heart and chest. It can also nourish the skin, making the body light, healthy, and radiant. The text says that after one batch has been taken, the Three Worms will die; once they are dead, the Three Corpses will wither and fall away of their own accord. The formula may also be made and taken repeatedly; one batch is not the limit.

“After that, prepare the Four Stabilizing Pills, adding one liang each of azurite and Yellow Essence, and use them to practice grain abstinence. As for Daoyin and taking in Qi…”

If the practitioner has not yet mastered the correct methods, they may first take any one of various herbal medicines, such as sesame, poria, atractylodes, cinnamon bark or twig, asparagus root, coptis, rehmannia, rhubarb, peach resin, or peach bark. Taking these medicines can strengthen the body, but without the Nine-Turn Divine Elixir and the Way of Golden Liquids—terms from Daoist alchemy—one cannot become a flying immortal and can only prolong one’s life.

Take these medicines in sequence. After five years of taking atractylodes, your body becomes radiant and lustrous, and you can see inside yourself and perceive the five viscera. You then go to an immortal to seek the essentials for becoming a flying immortal. The immortal says, “Medicines come in different kinds, and immortals in different ranks. Some immortals ride clouds and dragons and ascend to heaven in broad daylight. They become companions of the Perfected of the Supreme Ultimate and are invested as leaders among the immortal officials, with status equal to that of the Perfected Lord, Lord Dingyuan, Lord Dasheng, the Yellow Central Grandee, the Elder of the Nine Qi, and Lord Xiandu. These are all high-ranking immortals.

“Some serve as immortal ministers or grandees, ranking just below the high immortals. They roam the Five Sacred Mountains, revered in Daoism, sometimes journeying to the realm of Great Clarity and commanding ghosts and spirits. These are middle-ranking immortals. Others are invested with authority over a mountain and command its ghosts and spirits, or roam and gather in the Lesser Youqun or the palaces of Clear Emptiness. They rank below the middle immortals. Some attain longevity by subsisting on grain and cast no shadow at noon; these are low-ranking immortals. Others undergo corpse liberation in broad daylight—the Daoist transformation in which the body is released and disappears—and enter the realm of Great Yin after death, becoming immortal only later. They rank below the low immortals.

“I received Juanzi’s secret essentials and rank only as a middle immortal. Your name has already been entered in the upper Golden Register, and you are destined to become a Perfected One. My Daoist methods are not what you, a future Perfected One, should study. I will now give you the method of guarding the Three Ones, a practice of visualizing and protecting the Three Ones within the body; the two hundred secret instructions in the Book of Numinous Marvels and the Lesser You; and medicines such as stone fungus, cinnabar branches, and various kinds of zhi. Take these medicines. My Daoist methods end here; you may travel far in search of other teachers.”

You bow again to receive his instruction, then withdraw and take divine zhi for five years. Your eyes can see a thousand li into the distance, and you can travel five hundred li in a day. You then journey through famous mountains in search of immortals. Hearing that Master Luan of Meng Mountain can read the Dragon-Stride Scripture, you go to visit him. On the way, you meet Yanmengzi, who transmits to you the Dragon-Stride Scripture and the Inner Text of the Three Sovereigns. You climb Mount Wangwu and meet Zhaotuozi, from whom you receive the Sixteen Songs of the Zhi Diagram and the Secret Talisman of the Five Phases. You also meet Master Huang and receive the Divine Formula on Yellow Silk, the Five Emperors and Six Jia, the books of Left and Right Numinous Flight, and forty-four essential instructions. You climb Mount Bosong and meet Lord Shangwei, from whom you receive the Transmission of Great Simplicity, the Register of Left Yi’s Muddled Cavern of Dongmeng, and the Statutes of Right Geng’s Plain Writ for Capturing and Slaying. You climb Mount Songgao and meet …

The Central Lord Huang-Lao met an immortal within the gate of the Great Chamber Grotto. The man prostrated himself in greeting and begged to be granted the method for attaining long life and transcending the world.

The Lord Huang-Lao asked, “Have you ever seen Lord Baiyuan in the Cavern Chamber—the place within the body where Daoist practitioners visualize the inner deities?”

The man replied, “Indeed, I have seen Lord Baiyuan while visualizing within the Cavern Chamber.”

The Lord Huang-Lao said, “Your cultivation of the Dao is not yet sufficient; you have not seen Lord Wuying. You must continue your travels and receive various essential teachings. When the time comes, I will transmit to you the Scripture of the Supreme Perfected Dao. Seeing Lord Baiyuan belongs to the realm of a lesser immortal, who may live for three thousand years. Only after seeing Lord Wuying can one be called truly accomplished in the Dao and live for ten thousand years.”

The man bowed again in thanks, received the instruction, and departed. He traveled through the world’s famous mountains and great marshes:

He went west and climbed White Sky Mountain, where he met Master Shaye Bo and received the Supreme Clarity Upper Scripture. He climbed Mount Emei, entered the Golden Palace of the Empty Cavern, met Master Ning, and received the Hidden Book of the Great Elixir and the Eight Endowments and Ten Essentials. He climbed Mount Min and met Master Yin, receiving the Nine Red-Spotted Talismans. He climbed Mount Qi and met Zang Yanfu, receiving the Essential Teachings of Sorrow and Joy in Plain Silk. He climbed Mount Liang and met Zicheng of Huainan, receiving the Three Diagrams of the Heavenly Pass. He climbed Ox-Head Mountain and met Zhang Zifang, receiving the True Scripture of Supreme Clarity. He climbed Mount Jiuyi and met Li Boyang, receiving the Hidden Scripture of the Li Family. He climbed Bell Mountain and met Master Gaoqiu, receiving twenty-seven Golden Elixir formulas. He climbed Crane-Cry Mountain and met Lord Yang’an, receiving the Scripture of the Golden-Fluid Elixir and the Divine Elixir of the Nine Cauldrons. He climbed Fierce Mountain and met Master Qingjing, receiving the Transmission on Yellow Silk. He climbed Mount Luhun, secretly entered the cavern chamber by the Yi River, and met Li Zier, receiving the Eight Arts of the Hidden Realm. He climbed Rong Mountain and met Zhao Boxuan, receiving the Twenty-Nine Arts of the Plain-Silk Maiden. He climbed Mount Yangluo and met Lord Youyang, receiving the Azure Essentials and Purple Writings. He climbed Mount Huo and met Lord Siming, receiving the Blue Chart of the Mandate of Life and the Register of the Supreme Sovereign’s People. He climbed Bird-and-Mouse Mountain and met Master Mo Di, receiving the Inner-Vision Diagram and Central Scripture of Purple Measure and Flaming Radiance. He climbed Mount Yaoming and met the Great Emperor’s night-watch divine youth, receiving the Scripture of the Golden Root. He climbed Mount Weiyu and met Sima Jizhu, receiving the Stone Essence, Golden Radiance, Concealment of Form, and Transformation of Shape. He climbed Mount Dadu and met Liu Zixian, receiving the Seven Transformations of the Divine Method. At the Jianmu tree in Duguang, he met Master Guxi and received the Method of Yellow Qi, the Art of the Great Void, and the Essentials of the Three Paths of Yang Essence. He climbed Mount Tongbai and met Wang Qiao, receiving the Plain Memorial and Vermilion Talisman. He climbed Mount Taihua and met the Red Lord of the Southern March…

Songzi, whose name means “Pine Seed” and who was an immortal, transmitted the True Text of the Upper Origin. When he climbed Mount Great Darkness, he met the Lord of the Nine Elders and Immortals of the Capital, who transmitted to him the Four True Methods of Yellow Water and Lunar Radiance. When he climbed Mount Heli, he met the August Man, who transmitted to him the Scripture of the Eight Qualities. When he climbed Mount Jing, he met Master Wanbi of the Yellow Terrace, who transmitted to him the Central Scripture of the Nine Truths. When he climbed Mount Xuanzhong Yushan, he met ten Jade Youths and the Elder of the Nine Qi, who transmitted to him the methods of the White Feather and Purple Canopy, and of the Eye’s Yellow Water and Lunar Radiance. He then went to Sangmu and climbed Mount Fuguang, where he met the Lord of the Azure True Youths, who transmitted to him the secret characters of the Golden Book. Traveling south to Zhuo Fire, he climbed Mount Danling and met Gong Zhongyang, who transmitted to him the True Record of Immortal Taboos. Traveling west, he climbed Mount Kong and saw the Lord Wuying. From the west, he saw the Cavern Chamber—the chamber of the spirits within the human body. The Lord Wuying dwelt on its left, the Lord Baiyuan on its right, and the Lord Huanglao in its center.

The Lord Wuying wore a layered robe of golden essence, vermilion, and blue-green jade silk. Its radiance, like the red dawn clouds, shimmered and flowed, illuminating the horizon. He governed the registers of the Most High’s numinous Qi, carried the Nine Emperors’ measures for driving away evil, and wore the Emerald Upper Purple Numinous Crown. He commanded the Great Mystery’s Elixir Spirits and was the grandfather of the Upper Origin’s Red Child. On his left, he was linked to the Qi of the Azure Palace, which commanded the myriad spirits. He had already emerged from emptiness before Heaven and Earth took shape.

The Lord Baiyuan wore a layered robe of vermilion jade, brocade, and cloud-patterned gauze. Vermilion shone through its white light, whose colors reflected across the horizon and whose radiance penetrated the mysterious depths. He governed the registers of the Most High’s numinous essence, carried the measures of the Primordial Mystery for subduing demons, and wore the Black Crown that summons dragons. He commanded the Cloud Court of the Jade Chamber and was the father of the Upper Origin’s Red Child. He also presided over the cycles of transformation and generation in the chamber of Right Ying and Bright Azure.

The Lord Huanglao, in the center, was the teacher of the Four True Kings of Taiji. Though old, he could reach up to govern the Nine Heavens and travel through the Yellow Gate of Kunlun; he came from outside, while the Purple Gate was within. Together with the Lords Wuying and Baiyuan, he entered the Cavern Chamber, which measured three inches across and was complete in all its solemn majesty.

Those who devoted themselves to contemplating the spirits and thereby came to see them could become Perfected Ones. Seeing the Lord Baiyuan could make one a Lower Perfected, with a lifespan of three thousand years; seeing the Lord Wuying could make one a Middle Perfected, with a lifespan of ten thousand years; and seeing the Lord Huanglao could grant a lifespan equal to Heaven’s and admission among the Upper Perfected, whose names were listed on the Golden Terrace.

The lord came before the Lord Huanglao, bowed again, and earnestly begged him to transmit the highest secret. The Lord Huanglao said, “You may return and examine your own Cavern Chamber.” The lord then closed his eyes and gazed inward for a long time. Sure enough, he saw two spirits in the Cavern Chamber: the Lords Wuying and Baiyuan, dressed in…

The Yellow Elder Lord smiled and said, “So subtle, so profound! You have already grasped its essential meaning and mastered the method of ascending to Heaven in broad daylight. Return to Mount Chang; there I will teach you the Daoist arts of the Highest Realms.”

The Yellow Elder Lord then returned to the stone chamber on Mount Chang to observe purification and cultivate the Dao. More than ninety years later, the Lord of White Origin, the Lord of No Excellence, and the Yellow Elder Lord finally sent someone to teach him the thirty-nine chapters of the Great Cavern True Scripture. Twenty-one jade boys and twenty-one jade girls attended the Perfected Spirit and burned incense for him. He studied day and night. After eleven years, he finally rode clouds and dragons and ascended in broad daylight, traveling to the Palace of Great Subtlety. There he received the Heavenly Books and became the Perfected Man of Purple Yang.

He wore a yellow banner and a staff of eight powers, with a flowing-gold bell at his waist. Clad in a robe of naturalness, he ate sweet cakes made from jade nectar and drank a broth of golden liquid. He governed the Golden Court and Bronze City of Mount Geyan, the place known as the Palace of Purple Yang.

The Palace of Purple Yang had eight Perfected Ones, and he held a place on the right. Three times each day he ascended Mount Kunlun, and each morning he paid court to the Sovereign Lord of Great Subtlety. Mount Bozhong was an auxiliary palace of the Palace of Purple Yang, also known as the Hidden Palace beneath Dongting. A cavern in Mount Bozhong contained concealed, interconnected passages that led to the Clear Void, Lesser Blessed Heaven of Mount Wangwu, and secretly also to Langfeng.

I, Daoyi, say: Zhou Yishan feigned illness and withdrew from public life, concealing his brilliance and cultivating virtue through good deeds. His sincerity never wavered, and he widely explored the mysteries of the Dao. He was indeed a learned Perfected Immortal. Cai Xian, a Chamberlain of the Han dynasty and a learned man from Chenliu, once went to visit him. Cai Xian spoke at length on refined and profound subjects, discussing the way of the immortals and the transformations they undergo. Zhou Yishan, however, remained silent and absorbed, gathering his mind and keeping it empty and still. He merely nodded in agreement and did not answer a word. This illustrates what the Dao De Jing says: “True words are not ornate; ornate words are not true. Those who are skilled in the Dao do not argue; those who argue are not skilled in the Dao. Those who truly know are not widely learned; those who are widely learned may not truly know.” This was Zhou Yishan’s intent.

Wang Bao

The Perfected Man of Clear Void, Lord Wang, was named Bao and styled Zideng. He was from Xiangping in Fanyang and a seventh-generation descendant of the Marquis of Anguo. Lord Wang was born on the twenty-seventh day of the ninth month in the third year of the Jian Zhao era under Emperor Yuan of Han. His family had held high status for generations and possessed great wealth. His father, named Kai, was renowned in his native district for his virtuous conduct. He was recommended as a Maocai and later served in succession as Gentleman of Discussion, Commandant of the Central Rampart, Governor of Shangdang, Attendant of the Yellow Gate, Chamberlain, General of the Left, and Governor of Yanmen. Wang Kai was upright and stern, frank and forthright, bold in offering remonstrance, and skilled in managing the affairs of the imperial court…

During Mao’s time in office, he governed the people personally, serving with candor and dedication. He taught them through ritual propriety and moral conduct, abolished cruel punishments, and reduced taxes. Without relying on harsh discipline, he was still able to command their respect. The Son of Heaven recognized his talent and promoted him, appointing him as one of the Three Elders at court—an honored title for men of advanced age and virtue—and asking him to tutor the Crown Prince in the Spring and Autumn Annals, the Book of Documents, the Analects, the Book of Rites, the Book of Changes, and other classics.

He was kind and generous, guiding his students patiently and skillfully, and his reputation soon spread throughout the capital region. In his retirement, he often lamented the turmoil of worldly life: people competed for fame and profit, calculated their gains and losses, and attacked one another. Even the way swallows regard their elders, he thought, was inferior to the way the young phoenix regards its parents. So he resolved to take leave of his family and practice the Dao on Mount Hua.

He practiced in the mountains for nine years. One night, just after midnight, he suddenly heard the sounds of people and horses, flutes and drums, coming from the woods and marshes. The sounds drew closer. He looked up and saw a thousand chariots and ten thousand mounted attendants floating through the air. A divine being rode in a Three-Colored Cloud Chariot, carrying a tiger tally and an axe and battle-axe to clear the way. In the procession, some held tally-staves and others carried feathered banners; brocade flags filled the sky.

The divine being halted the chariot and said to him, “I am the Perfected of the Taiji, Xi Liangziwen. I have heard that you love the Dao and have labored in mountain forests to cultivate it, yet have not grasped its true essentials. This is truly regrettable. Your diligent pursuit of long life is indeed a worthy aspiration.”

He hurried to the chariot wheel, bowed, and declared, “I am only an ordinary person, ignorant and mediocre. I have loved cultivating the Dao since childhood, but do not know its secret instructions.” The Perfected said, “Without a teacher’s transmission and the right conditions, one cannot understand the Dao on one’s own. I, the Perfected of the Taiji, govern the offices of the immortals. I am charged with examining those who cultivate the Dao and recommending the upright. Your name has already been entered in the Golden Book of Shangqing and the Register of Donghua. You hold a place in the realm of purity and emptiness, and in time you will oversee precious registers of the immortals and serve as a Heavenly King. You need only devote yourself to cultivation and diligently pursue the highest Dao. You will naturally attain it.”

Later, he withdrew to Mount Yangluo. His cultivation drew the Lady of the Southern Pole and the Perfected of Xicheng to descend and transmit to him such texts as the Supreme Treasure Writ, the Hidden Book of the Eight Essences, the Great Cavern True Scripture, the Eight Paths of the Numinous Writ, Purple Measure and Fiery Radiance, Stone Essence and Jade Horse, the Tiger Writ of the Divine Perfected, and the Feathered Mystery of the High Immortals—a total of thirty-one scrolls. Following the rules for transmitting secret teachings, the two Perfected required him to swear an oath of allegiance before handing over the scriptures. They then took him to Xuanzhou.

In an instant, they arrived at an immortal isle surrounded on all sides by the sea. Waves towered a thousand zhang high. The island was filled with palaces and towers, jade halls and halls of precious stone, too many to count. The Perfected of Xicheng said, “This is the residence of the immortal capital, where the Elder of the Supreme Oneness lives.” Then he led him into the Palace of Purple Cassia to pay his respects to the Elder of the Supreme Oneness. The Elder wore a feathered robe of flowing clouds, a lotus crown, and at his waist he wore…

Shenguang held a fire bell, with hundreds of attendant maidens around him, while dragon-and-tiger guards lined both sides of the steps. The Grand Supreme Venerable and the Perfected of the Western City exchanged bows; then, hand in hand, they sat together. Wang Zideng stood in attendance at one side.

The Grand Supreme Venerable said, “Is that the one people call Wang Zideng? He seeks the Daoist teachings and has met a good teacher; he will soon attain the Dao.” The Perfected of the Western City smiled and ordered Wang Zideng to bow to the Grand Supreme Venerable. When the bow was finished, the Grand Supreme Venerable had him sit facing north.

The Grand Supreme Venerable then laid out a banquet. In the space of a breath, all the food was ready: a thousand kinds of wondrous delicacies, elixir wine filling cups and goblets; sandalwood was burned and its smoke curled upward, and grand celestial music and dance were presented. The music came from Qimang Kongtong, clear and melodious, resounding through the Heavenly Mound. Then dragons soared up the cloud crags, phoenixes cried among the ridges; giant whales stirred up waves, cloud vapor rose into the Great Void, and wind blew toward the vast distance. The Nine Perfected Immortals sang numinous songs, the Immortals of Emptiness and Nonbeing intoned elegant music; the Jade Flower Transcendent sang, and the Western Consort danced gracefully. The assembled immortals waved their sleeves, the hosts of deities moved slowly, feathered youths kept time and responded, and auspicious clouds coiled like brocade.

At this time, the Grand Supreme Venerable met twenty-nine Perfected, all Lords of Great Perfection of Xuanzhou. Their leader called himself the Lord of the Dao Who Rules the Immortals. Pointing to Wang Zideng, he said to the Perfected of the Western City: “Look at this child: his heart and spirit are clear and profound, his spirit Qi is calm, his bodily form is concentrated; the radiance of Yuanchen flows in full splendor, and the Six Luminaries (six kinds of spiritual light) shine brightly. He is likely the most outstanding among the talented and virtuous; he may be called the worthy prince of Mount Xiaoyou.”

The Perfected of the Western City replied, “I have heard that one’s nature is bestowed by Heaven, while one’s allotted destiny is accomplished by oneself.”

Thereupon the Lord of the Dao Who Rules the Immortals ordered the attendant maidens Fan Yunhua, Zhao Junzhu, Wang Baotai, and others to open the jade book cases, take out the treasured scriptures, and hand two scrolls of The Shangqing Hidden Book: Dragon Script Eight Numinous True Scripture to Wang Zideng. He also bestowed on him two sheng of Cloud-Green Yang Water and Dawn-Flying Elixir Richness. After bowing, Wang Zideng ingested them.

The Perfected then led Wang Zideng back to the Western City. Nine years later, Wang Zideng had achieved success in cultivating the Dao. The Perfected bestowed on him a Flying Whirlwind Chariot. Wang Zideng traveled east, crossed the Qiming Azure Sea, ascended Mount Guangsang, entered the Court of First Radiance, and went to pay respects to the Great Emperor Lord, knocking his head and bowing twice. The Great Emperor bestowed on him the Dragon Radiance Nine Texts, the Purple Phoenix Red Writ, the Shangqing Divine Chart, and the Jade Register of the Eight Daos.

Then Wang Zideng traveled south, crossed the Bohai and Cinnabar Seas, ascended Mount Changli, and paid respects to the Lady of Purple Origin of the South Pole and the High Lord of Huagai. They bestowed on him Five-Cloud Night Radiance and Cloud-Gem Water Frost.

Afterward, Wang Zideng traveled west, crossed the Giant Sea of Yuqiu and the Ford of Sinking Feathers, ascended Mount Linong, and went to pay respects to the Purple ...

Lady Gai Chen received the Jade Way, Green Characters, Returning Radiance: Hidden Scripture of the Supreme Perfected from the Three Sovereigns’ Dao Lords. She then traveled north, crossed the Deep Sea of Diaorou, passed the Dragon-Drinking River and the Gourd Ford, and climbed Guangye Mountain, where she went to pay a visit to the Highest Void Emperor, the Great Way Jade Lord.

She encountered the Jade Lord while he was traveling. He rode the dawn light of the sun and moon and drove a purple, newly risen radiance. Yellow and white clouds swirled thickly around him. The Eight Radiances shone brilliantly, accompanied by countless flying Perfected Ones. Lady Gai Chen bowed twice beside the road, then went to pay a visit to the Jade Emperor Lord of Upper Clarity and the Mysterious Clarity Lord of the Six Subtle Origins. The two lords transmitted to her the Precious Cavern, Flying through the Skies: Mysterious Golden Chapter and gave her the Supreme Ultimate Hidden Scripture, as well as the Dragon-Bright Precious Pearl and crimson-and-harmonious cloud fungus. After bowing in thanks, she took these immortal medicines. At once, her whole body turned golden, a round halo appeared around her neck, and the radiance of the Seven Luminaries—the lights of the seven celestial bodies—shone forth, illuminating her form.

Next she climbed the Wilds of Langfeng and the Palace of the Mysterious Garden, where she paid a visit to the Central Emperor Jade Emperor and received the Jade Scripture of Shedding Form, Transforming, and Following the Flowing Radiance. She then crossed Yujue, traveled west across the Ruoshui River, and went to Guantai to pay a visit to the Lady of Ninefold Numina, the Supreme Perfected of Upper Clarity. After withdrawing, she observed purification and abstained from impurities for three months, receiving the Jade Writ in Three Blossoms and Precious Radiance, the Upper Register of Numina’s Radiance, and the Plain Scripture of the Seven Mornings.

Afterward, she observed purification for three years, crossed the vast river, and climbed White-Void Yushan. The mountain stretched thirty thousand li in every direction. After traveling around it for a day, she went to the Jade Tower of Purple Clarity and Great Simplicity. This was the dwelling and seat of government of the Great Lord of the Three Origins of Great Simplicity and the Upper Way. There stood the Vermilion Numina White Jade Palace, its splendor flashing and soaring, purple clouds dazzling, and seven-colored radiances interweaving and gathering above the cloudy heavens. The scene was strange and magnificent beyond words. Immortal youths and Jade Maidens stood in attendance, and the Perfected Ones were beyond counting.

Lady Gai Chen knelt beneath the Jade Tower and bowed twice. After a long while, the Great Lord of the Three Origins of Great Simplicity and the Upper Way sent an embroidered-robed envoy, Xilin Zao, westward to bestow on her the Golden Perfected Jade Radiance: Flowing Gold, Fire Bell, Expansive Fall, Seven Origins, and Eight Radiances Flying through the Rosy Clouds. He also sent Lady Guo Linggai of Clear Perfection on the left and Lady Zhong Feiji of Jade Splendor and Yang on the right, bearing a numinous tally and a jade seal. They bestowed on her the title “Perfected of Great Simplicity and Clear Void” and appointed her to govern the King of the Minor Grotto Heaven, the Right Protectorate High Duke of the Three Origins and Four Offices, and the Grotto-Heaven of Mount Wangwu.

She was granted three hundred Jade Youths and three hundred Jade Maidens, and was charged with overseeing the Jade Writs of Upper Clarity, the Precious Mysteries of Great Simplicity, the Supreme Ultimate, the Nine Heavens’ Numinous Writs, the Secret Books of the Six Directions, and the Wondrous Scriptures of Mountains and Seas.

He oversees all the radiant and beautiful sights within this cavern, along with the Three Treasures, the precious divine beings spoken of in Daoism. He rides a tiger banner, a dragon chariot, a golden canopy, a jade wheel, and the Eight-Splendors Flying Carriage, entering and leaving Shangqing, the Daoist realm of immortals. There he receives his duties and rests in Taisu, the realm of pure stillness and primal origin—that is, he dwells in the realm of Taiji.

Mei Fu, whose courtesy name was Zizhen, was from Shouchun in Jiujiang. As a young man, he studied in Chang’an and mastered the Book of Documents and the Gongyang Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals. He later served as an official in charge of literature in the commandery, then took up the post of deputy commandant of Nanchang County.

Emperor Cheng of Han entrusted the affairs of state to the Grand General Wang Feng, who wielded power and governed arbitrarily. Wang Zhang, the Intendant of the Capital Region, was known for his integrity. He had once criticized Wang Feng and was later killed by him. The Wang clan’s power steadily grew, and portents of disaster appeared repeatedly, yet none of the court officials dared speak frankly. Mei Fu submitted memorials again and again, sharply criticizing the Wang clan’s monopoly on power, but the emperor would not heed him.

Emperor Cheng of Han had no heir for a long time. Mei Fu believed that the Three Legitimate Lineages—the ancient idea that the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties succeeded one another in establishing their calendars—should be upheld, and that a descendant of Confucius should be enfeoffed as heir to the Shang dynasty. He submitted another memorial, but once again it was ignored.

After this, Mei Fu stayed home to study and cultivate his nature. During the Yuanshi era of Emperor Ping of Han, Wang Mang seized power. One day, Mei Fu left his wife and children behind, departed his home, and went to Jiujiang. According to legend, he served there as a gatekeeper at the Wu Market.

The Book of the Former Han records this episode. Daoist legend, however, says that Mei Fu attained the Dao, became an immortal, and rode off on a cloud.

According to the Gazetteer of the Administrative Divisions of Yuzhang Commandery, Meiling is in the western hills. Its slopes rise very high, and its winding paths twist like a sheep’s intestines; after climbing five li, one reaches the summit. Below the mountain is Mei Immortal Temple, now called Yangling Temple, with the Mei Immortal Altar above it. Tradition holds that Mei Zizhen, or Mei Fu, resigned his post as deputy commandant of Nanchang County and studied the Dao here. Below Meiling is Baishi Spring, from which water flows.

There is also a pool called Ink Pool, east of the Nanchang County seat. Tradition says this was once the former residence of Mei Fu, the Han deputy commandant of Nanchang County, and that it was later turned into a Daoist temple. Water, bamboo, and other lush vegetation grow thickly around the pool. When Wang Xizhi served as governor of Linchuan Commandery during the Jin dynasty, he often stopped here to wander and admire the scenery, reluctant to leave for a long time. For this reason, the place came to be called “Ink Pool.” Xie Lingyun of the Song dynasty also lived here for a year, writing the Hidden Commentary on the Laozi Jing and its annotations.

During the Zhenguan era of Emperor Taizong of Tang, the Daoist temple was called Taiyi Temple, and Master Wan was ceremonially invited to live there. In the second year of the Longshuo era of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Master Wan came to perform a Jiao sacrifice, a Daoist ritual offering. That evening, clouds descended onto the hall and did not disperse until dawn. The auspicious sign of an immortal lamp also appeared on the altar. During the Kaiyuan era of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, the temple was renamed Kaiyuan Temple, and Xuanzong personally wrote its plaque. In the second year of the Chongning era of Emperor Huizong of Song, its name was changed to Chongning Wanshou Temple; later it was also called Tianning.

The Treatise on the Ten Circuits and Four Borderlands records that lotus flowers grew in Mei Fu’s pool.

He lamented, “Life makes me suffer; my body holds me captive; my physical form brings me shame; even my wife is a burden to me.” Then he left his wife and entered Mount Hongya.

Is the place called Ink Pond this very pool? The Plum Immortal Temples at Meishan in Fuzhou and at Fengcheng County in Longxing Prefecture both have immortal altars and cinnabar wells. The Chengtian Palace on Mount Yusi in Xingan County, Linjiang Army, and the immortal shrine and Plum Immortal Temple at the Plum Mound residence in Xinchang County, Ruizhou, are also places that Meifu is said to have visited and where he cultivated the Dao.

Mount Mei, three li south of Jianzhou Prefecture’s city, is recorded in the Fangyu Ji as the place where Meifu once refined elixirs and left behind an altar of ascension. The Meixian Shishi records: “Lord Mei sought a teacher and yearned for the Dao. He explored mountains such as Yandang, traveled through southern Min, entered Mount Zhiti, and then went to Mount Xianxia, east of the Wuyi Mountains. Later, he built a thatched hut among the mountain rocks and cultivated there for many years. He met the Immortal Lord Kongtong and learned the methods of Neidan (internal alchemy) and Waidan (external alchemy).”

Afterward, Lord Mei went to Mount Jilong to cultivate, but did not succeed. He then proceeded to Maizhu Cave, entered Mount Yanxian, and went on to Mount Yuhua, then Mount Wushi and the western ridge of the Jian River. There he met the Immortal Lord Kongtong again. When the Immortal Lord descended, he told him, “Your karmic bond with the Dao lies at Mount Feihong.” Lord Mei therefore went to Mount Feihong, built a thatched hut, and cultivated there. After a thousand days, his cultivation was complete: his spirit traveled beyond his physical form, and the light of his elixir illuminated the sky.

After taking the elixir, Lord Mei packed his belongings and set out, returning to Jiujiang. There, auspicious light shot straight toward the sun, purple mist drifted through the air, and clear, resonant immortal music came from the clouds. Golden youths bore ceremonial staffs, jade maidens carried banners, strongmen drove phoenixes, and attendant immortals held an imperial edict. Lord Mei bowed to receive the edict and give thanks, then rode a green phoenix into the sky and departed. From then on, Mount Feihong was called Mount Meixian.

In the seventh month of Yuanfeng 5 (1082), during the reign of Emperor Shenzong of Song, the court issued an edict:

“Meifu lived in a remote region during the Han dynasty, yet dared to speak frankly about affairs of state. How expansive his ambition was! In his later years, he lived at home, reading and cultivating his nature. After his death, he rose beyond the world. People say that he became an immortal. Even now, west of the great river, there are temples and images of him. People pray and make offerings, and their prayers are often answered; he is able to protect the people. Local officials reported this to the court, which has therefore bestowed upon him a distinguished title, so that the name of his spirit may never fade. In recognition of his merit and virtue, we hereby confer upon him the title Perfected One of Shouchun.”

In the intercalary fourth month of Shaoxing 2 (1132), during the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Song, the court issued an edict:

“Previously, when We traveled through the south, We established Yuzhang as the site of the Eastern Court. The Empress Dowager led the palace attendants on a boat journey, braving the dangers of wind and waves. In every matter…”

Cultivation is beset by hardship and danger, and so the spirits must surely offer their protection. Therefore, a special commendation is bestowed to repay the spirits for their favor. At the Shrine-Observatory of the Altar of Mei Fu’s Ascension to Immortality, on the north bank of the great river in Fengcheng County, Hongzhou (present-day Fengcheng, Jiangxi), offerings are made to the Perfected of Shouchun, Mei Fu, who once served as an admonishing official. He sought no fame or high office, wishing only to preserve his integrity in solitude. Grieved by the collapse of the Han dynasty’s moral order, he left the Wu market and never returned. Now that the court has repaired the shrine and observatory and bestowed a title upon him, adding an honorific now is a further act of grace, newly granted in his name. May he accept this special distinction, which will offer some comfort to the aspirations he held throughout his life. Mei Fu is hereby titled “Reclusive Official, Perfected of Shouchun.”

A memorial by Dao Yi says: “The Daode Jing states, ‘Those who would take the world and act upon it by force, I see, will not succeed.’” This refers to how Tang of Shang and King Wu of Zhou followed Heaven’s will and answered the people’s wishes when they changed dynasties. The Daode Jing also states, “The world is a sacred vessel; it cannot be controlled by force. Those who act upon it by force will fail.” This refers to Wang Mang of the Xin dynasty, who overstepped his rightful station and usurped the throne. Even benevolent and virtuous men like Tang of Shang and King Wu of Zhou could not escape criticism from later generations. How much more so those treacherous ministers and rebels who seize power, dominate government, and plot to usurp the throne and murder the ruler?

In his memorial, Mei Fu fiercely condemned the power of the Wang clan and pointed out the danger of its growing influence. He considered the coming calamity far ahead and carefully planned how to uphold the moral order. Sadly, the ruler of the time did not accept his advice. The result was upheaval, and a precedent was set for treachery and rebellion, so that figures like Huan Xuan and Hou Jing repeatedly appeared in later generations. The Daode Jing says, “Deal with things before they arise; bring order to upheaval before it begins.” Was Mei Fu not trying, through this principle, to uphold the Three Bonds and Five Constant Virtues, the traditional ethical order? Sadly, he did not achieve his wish. The Daode Jing also says, “Only when the Great Dao is abandoned do people call for benevolence and righteousness; when cleverness appears, deceit follows.” These words express the matter completely.