《歷世真仙體道通鑑》Vol. 17

Comprehensive Mirror of the Perfected and Immortals Who Embodied the Dao Through the Ages (Lishi zhenxian tidao tongjian), Scroll Seventeen

(Compiled by Zhao Daoyi, Daoist of the Sage Longevity Palace of the Myriad Years on Mount Fuyun)

Feng Liang

Feng Liang was a native of Guanjun County in Nanyang. In his youth he served as a county clerk, and at thirty he was appointed county commandant. Once, while escorting a superior to receive the Inspector of the Post (an official who toured the counties and commanderies), he felt he had no true aspiration. He broke the linchpin (the pin that secured the wheel) of the carriage, tore his clothes and headscarf, and left the government office. He then followed a teacher in studying the Odes, the Rites, the Changes, and the arts of the Dao (the Way), including divination by omens.

His family assumed he had died. Fifteen years later he returned home. He cultivated his aspirations and conduct, holding firm to his principles and remaining solemn and cautious. When the prefectural and commandery governments summoned him with ritual courtesy, he refused every invitation. When the court issued an edict calling for men of worthy and excellent rank, he set out but abandoned the summons halfway and returned home. The Three Ducal Ministers (the three highest-ranking officials at court) competed to yield their posts to him, but he never took office. At the age of sixty-seven he left the mundane world, crossed the water eastward, and entered the mountains. He is said to dwell now in the Deer Tracks Cave.

(Feng Liang lived during the reign of Emperor An of the Later Han. The deeds recorded in the Book of Han are broadly the same.)

Lang Zong

Lang Zong, courtesy name Zhongsui, was a native of Anqiu in Beihai. In his youth he entered office and served as magistrate of Wu County. He was skilled in the arts of the Dao and in the study of wind and omens. One day a sudden great wind blew through the windows, and from this he deduced that a great fire would break out in the capital and burn the Gate of Great Xia. He sent men to investigate, and matters turned out just as he had said.

When the officials heard of this, they memorialized the throne recommending Lang Zong. The court summoned him to serve as an erudite (an official in charge of the classics), but Lang Zong was ashamed to be called to office because of the efficacy of his divinations. At night he removed his official seal and sash, shouldered his book case, and fled. He lived at the foot of Mount Hua and took sesame pills. After attaining the Dao, he is said to dwell now in the Deer Tracks Cave on Mount Mao.

(The History of the Later Han records Lang Zong's deeds as follows. He studied the Changes of Jing Fang, was expert in astronomical calculation and wind-omen divination, could observe clouds and vapors and judge good and ill fortune, and often sold divinations to make a living. When Emperor An summoned him to court to answer questions on policy, he stood out among the Confucian scholars, and he was afterward appointed magistrate of Wu County. At that time a sudden wind arose, and Lang Zong predicted a fire in the capital. He recorded the year and month of the prediction and sent men to check, and later it came to pass as he had said. When the officials heard of this, they memorialized the court, which summoned him to serve as an erudite. Lang Zong, unwilling to be prized for his prognostications, hung his official seal and sash in the county hall when the summons arrived and fled, and he never held office again for the rest of his life. His son Lang Yi, courtesy name Zhiyuan, inherited his father's learning and studied it with single-minded devotion, and his disciples often numbered several hundred. In the second year of the Yangjia era of Emperor Shun, Lang Yi was summoned to court, submitted a memorial on eleven matters, and was appointed Gentleman of the Palace. After returning to his home district, he was murdered by Sun Li, a man of the same county.)

Chunyu Zhen

Chunyu Zhen, courtesy name Shuxian, was a native of Shangyu in Kuaiji. During the reign of Emperor Huan of the Han, he once served as Xu…

Zhōu Xiànlìng (Zhou Xianling), an aide summoned by the Grand General (dàjiāngjūn) during the reign of Emperor Ling (Língdì), was fond of the arts of the Dao (dàoshù) from youth and well versed in the arts of number (shùshù). After taking longevity herbs such as sesame (húmá) and Solomon's seal (huángjīng), he withdrew to live in seclusion on Mount Wumu (Wūmù Shān) in the land of Wu, where he met the immortal Huìchē Zǐ (Huiche Zi). Huiche Zi transmitted to him the Classic of the Rainbow Radiance Elixir (Hóngjǐng Dānjīng). Having cultivated it to completion and attained the Dao, he now serves in the Cavern as Director of Executive Law in the Office of Fixed Registers (Dìnglù Fǔ).

The Kinship of the Three (Zhōuyì Cāntóng Qì) states that in the reign of Emperor Huan (Huándì), Chúnyú Shūtōng (Chunyu Shutong) of Shàngyú (Shangyu) studied the arts of the Dao under an official named Xú. He observed the heavens to foretell calamities and anomalies, and his predictions were repeatedly confirmed, which is why he became famous for mastery of the arts of number. The commandery recommended him as a fangshi (master of techniques), and he later rose to become Market Overseer of Luoyang. These accounts differ slightly from the preceding one. There was no Mount Wumu in the land of Wu, but both Lou County and Wuxing had a Mount Tianmu (Tiānmù Shān), so Wumu may be the same mountain as Tianmu.

Tao Jun

Tao Jun, styled Wēngzhòng (Wengzhong), was a native of Qiántáng (Qiantang). As a young man he served as a clerk in his commandery, then carried his book chest to the Imperial Academy (Tàixué) to study, mastering the classics and the study of portents and anomalies. Late in life he served as Governor of Jiāozhǐ (Jiaozhi). At the end of the Han, he abandoned his office, entered Mount Zēngchéng (Zengcheng) to cultivate the Dao, and met Dōngguō Yòupíng (Dongguo Youping). Youping was a man of the Qin dynasty who had long lived in seclusion at Zengcheng and had already attained the Dao.

Youping taught Tao Jun to take the Nine Essences (jiǔ jīng) and to refine qi (liàn qì), along with the method known as "the Assistant Star in the Heart" (fǔ xīng zài xīn). After practicing these methods, Tao Jun attained the Dao, and he now concurrently serves in the Cavern as Director of Fate of the Northern River (Běihé Sìmìng), overseeing the assessment and punishment of the water officials. Although this post belongs to the Office of Fixed Registers, in practice he takes orders from an official in the East Palace (Dōnggōng).

The Book of Han contains no such account. Tao Jun's tomb lies at Línpíng (Linping) in Qiantang, where the mound and terrace are still clearly visible and his descendants survive. Villagers have recently often heard drums and horns sounding beside the grave, so no one dares to damage the site, and it is known as the Tomb of the Director of Fate Tao. Dù Zhēngshì (Du Zhengshi) of Qiantang and Jīng Chǎn (Jing Chan), who both lived in seclusion in the district, wrote poems praising Tao Jun's virtue, and these are preserved in their collection. As for Dongguo Youping, no other notable deeds are recorded.

Liu Yi

Liu Yi, styled Zǐxiáng (Zixiang), was a native of Yǐngchuān (Yingchuan). In his youth he loved the study of the Dao and De (dào-dé zhī xué). His family was very wealthy, and he often gave to the poor, delighting in doing good and offering help quietly.

When Zhāng Jìzhá (Zhang Jizha) of Chénliú (Chenliu) was arranging the funeral of his teacher, his cart broke down and his ox was too exhausted to go on. Liu Yi met him within the borders of Rǔnán (Runan), spoke with him, and, without leaving his name, gave him his own cart and ox to use. Those who showed such compassion at funerals and relieved such distress were not rare; there was more than one.

Later, Liu Yi went to serve in Cháng'ān (Chang'an) and was recommended as jìyuàn (accounts clerk, an official in charge of account registers). The emperor admired his conduct and appointed him Gentleman of the Palace (lángzhōng). He was later promoted to Grand Administrator of Chénliú (Chenliu). When he left Cháng'ān, after going five hundred lǐ (li), he gathered the bodies of the dead for burial and gave relief to the destitute...

He often gave away his own money and goods to help others. Later, while traveling to Yangping (Yangping), he met an immortal named Mr. Ma Huang (Ma Huang Xiansheng). Mr. Ma Huang said to him, "Your benevolent heart has moved Heaven, and the good virtue you have quietly accumulated is known to gods and ghosts alike. The Most High (Taishang), a revered deity in Daoism, is about to commend your sincerity, and so he has sent me to lead you in learning the Way of long life. I am an immortal official. Are you willing to follow me?"

Yi listened, bowed his head to the ground, and struck himself with his hands. He replied, "I have loved the Way of long life since I was young. I am fortunate to have met an immortal, and I beg you to let me serve you."

Mr. Ma Huang then led Yi into Mount Tongbo (Tongbo Shan) and taught him the "Eight Arts of Hidden Earth" (Yindi Ba Shu) and the "Method of Ingesting the Blossoms of the Five Stars" (Fu Wuxing zhi Hua Fa), a Daoist cultivation technique whose specific contents are not recorded here. Later, Yi was entered into the registers of the immortals under the name "Dong Hua" (Donghua) and held the post of "Right Overseer of Registers, Central Supervisor of Order" (Dinglu Youli Zhongjian), an immortal office within the cavern.

The Book of Han says: Yi, courtesy name Zixiang (Zixiang), was a native of Yingyin (Yingyin). His family was wealthy, and he often gave aid to others without regarding it as a favor. On one occasion, he passed through Runan (Runan) and met Zhang Jizha (Zhang Jizha) of Chenliu (Chenliu). Zhang was traveling far to mourn his teacher, but on the road he encountered ice, his carriage broke down, and he was stranded. Seeing this, Yi said to him, "You are going to handle the funeral arrangements carefully and to fulfill your duty of righteousness. You should hurry on your way." He immediately got down, gave Zhang his carriage, left without giving his name, and rode away on horseback. Zhang guessed that he was Zixiang, and later went specially to Yingyin to return the borrowed carriage and horses. Yi, however, shut his door, declined, and refused to see him.

Yi kept to his principles at all times. He claimed illness, stayed in bed, and refused every summons to office. The Shenjun commandery of Henan (Henan Shenjun) summoned him to serve as commandery Gongcao (gongcao), a clerk responsible for the commandery's affairs. Later, when the Yellow Turban rebels rose, Yi relieved those who were in dire straits and supported several hundred people with food. When someone in his village or clan died, he arranged the funeral for them. When widowers and widows lacked support, he helped them find spouses.

When Emperor Xian of Han moved the capital to the Western Capital (Xijing), Yi was recommended to serve as Shangji Yuan (shangji yuan), an official responsible for reporting local affairs to superiors. At that time, the roads were cut off by bandits, so Yi traveled by night and hid by day, and at last reached Chang'an (Chang'an). The emperor praised his loyalty and diligence, appointed him as Yilang (yilang), an imperial counselor, and later promoted him to Grand Administrator of Chenliu (Chenliu).

Later, Yi gave away all his treasures and kept only his carriage and horses, intending to ride east to return home. After traveling several hundred li beyond the pass, he saw a gentleman of rank who had died of illness by the roadside. He traded his horse for a coffin, took off his own clothes, and used them to lay out the dead man for burial. Then he met an acquaintance who was hungry and exhausted on the road. Unable to bear leaving him behind, he killed the ox that pulled his cart and gave it to feed him and others. When the crowd tried to stop him, Yi said, "To see others about to die and not save them is not what a man of purpose does." In the end, he and the others starved to death together.

The above accounts are largely the same, but there are differences in details, so all of them are recorded here. As for the character "Yi" (Yi), judging from the examples of the characters, it matches the character "xiang" (xiang) in the courtesy name "Zixiang," and the meaning of "Yi" is also similar. It is unclear, however, which of the two records is correct.

Lü Zihua (Lü Zihua)

Lü Zihua was a native of Shanyang (Shanyang). He was a disciple of the Yin Lord (Yin Jun), and had already taken the rainbow elixir (hongdan), a Daoist elixir.

He had not yet read the Neijing (Inner Classic) when he came to follow Dongqing (Lord of the East) in studying the Taixiao Yinshu (Hidden Book of the Great Void), and he recited it. He delighted in quiet, secluded Fangtai (Square Platform) and had no wish to take up an office in the immortal realm.

Cai Tiansheng

Cai Tiansheng was a native of Shanggu. When he was young, he followed a man named Xiaofu, and together they made a living selling various kinds of incense in the countryside. He was naturally kind and never spoke ill of others.

One day he met a young woman from Hebei on the road. She asked him to sell her incense. Cai Tiansheng sensed that she was no ordinary person, so he bowed to her twice and presented her with a full load of incense. Moved by his sincerity, she taught him the method of worshipping Heavenly Emperor Yuhuang (the Jade Emperor). From then on, Cai Tiansheng attained immortality and could entrust his body to his shoes and staff, appearing and vanishing at will. He withdrew to live at Fangtai, and even today the young woman still visits him. Cai Tiansheng also took her as his teacher.

Liu Ping'a

Liu Ping'a would not reveal his personal name, so no surname was recorded for him. In the late Han he served as magistrate of Ping'a County in Jiujiang, and people therefore called him "Ping'a." He was skilled in medicine, and when treating illness he always tended to the patient as diligently as if it were his own illness.

While traveling, he met the immortal Zhou Zhengshi, who taught him the art of concealing his body and manifesting his form at will. Liu Ping'a was able to lodge his form in his shoes and hat, and afterward he came to live at Fangtai on Mount Mao (Maoshan). (To the southwest of Mount Mao stands a peak called Mount Siyan, which common people call Fang Mountain. At its foot is a cave named Fangtai.) He often absorbed the sun and moon and the essential qi of early morning, and his complexion was like jade, so that he appeared to be about thirty years old.

Zhang Jizi

Zhang Jizi, whose given name was Zhang Feng, was a native of Henan, with the courtesy name Gongxian. "Jizi" was his name in youth. He showed his talent early, and the Grand Tutor Yuan Wei praised his lofty integrity and gave him his daughter in marriage. At first his wife dressed in luxurious fashion, but Zhang Feng did not value wealth and treated her coldly, as if she were a stranger on the road. Only after she changed into plain clothing did the two become a harmonious couple.

Later, Zhang Feng left the mundane world and entered Mount Shan, where he met Young Master Shantu. Shantu had been a grandee under King Ai of Zhou and was also an immortal. He taught Zhang Jizi the "Nine Clouds Qiangliang Jade-Refining Method" (a Daoist cultivation technique). After practicing it, Zhang Jizi attained the Dao, and he now resides in the Donghua Palace, his appointments granted by the office of the Taiji (Supreme Ultimate). At times he serves as Minister of the Nine Palaces, working with the Marquis of the Northern River to manage water affairs and oversee the Director of Fates of the Northern River. At other times he serves as Marquis of Prohibition and Protection. These offices all relate to his duties. The Director of Fates of the Northern River also serves in the cavern-heavens and works alongside Zhang Jizi.

(The Book of Wei records that Zhang Fan, courtesy name Gongyi, was a native of Xiuwu in Henei. His grandfather Zhang Xin had served as Minister of Works under the Han, and his father Zhang Yan had served as Grand Commandant.)

Yuan Wei wanted to marry his daughter to Zhang Fan, but Zhang Fan declined and did not accept. He was calm and quiet by nature and delighted in cultivating the Dao. When the court summoned him, he did not respond. He later served as Yilang and took part in managing the armory under the Chancellor Cao Cao, earning great respect.

Zhang Fan was generous and kind, and he liked to give relief to and aid the poor, so his household had no surplus wealth. He died in the Jian'an 17th year (212 CE). His younger brother, Zhang Cheng, styled Gongxian, was also well known and was celebrated for his upright and dignified conduct. He served as Yilang, Jianyilang, Jianyidafu, and Governor of Zhaojun. Later, Zhang Cheng followed Cao Cao on a campaign west, and he died of illness after reaching Chang'an.

However, the names and deeds in these records do not fully agree with one another. Zhang Cheng and Zhang Feng have similar names, but they were not sons-in-law of Yuan Wei. If the account refers to Zhang Fan, his courtesy name does not match. A close examination of the deeds suggests that most of the records may in fact concern Zhang Fan's elder brother. The Biography of Wang Xiu in the Book of Wei also records that when Wang Xiu traveled to Nanyang, he often stayed at the home of Zhang Feng, and when Zhang Feng's whole family fell ill, Wang Xiu personally came to their aid. Yet Zhang Fan and his brothers are said to have fled the turmoil to Yangzhou to join Yuan Shu, which conflicts with the account that places them in Nanyang and dependent on Liu Biao. For these reasons, questions remain about these records.

Zhao Guangxin

A cultivator dwelt in the Xiaobai Mountains of Shan County. His name was Zhao Guangxin, a native of Yangcheng. Late in the Wei dynasty, he crossed the river and came to this mountain, where he studied fuqi (breath-regulation, the method of regulating the breath through guided movements and swallowing the qi) under Li Facheng. He also learned from his teacher Zuo Jun the Way of Guarding the Mystery (shouxuan, the practice of holding fast to the profound Dao), as well as the method of inwardly observing the Five Viscera and perceiving the interior of the body. He practiced in this way for seventy or eighty years, moving among the commanderies and kingdoms, and at times he sold medicines and moved among the common people, yet no one knew his true identity.

He often went to the capital markets to buy cinnabar, which he used to refine the Jiuhua Elixir. Once the elixir was complete, he swallowed a pill. Taiyi, one of the deities revered in Daoism, then sent people to welcome him. On the seventeenth day of the sixth month of the first year of the Yonghe era under Emperor Mu of the Jin, Zhao Guangxin remained on the mountain for three days, took leave of his fellow cultivators, and then, mounting a cloud and riding a dragon, ascended to heaven in broad daylight. It is said that he now dwells in the Donghua Sea.

Zhang Zukang

Zhang Zukang was a native of Pengcheng. In the Wu kingdom of the Three Kingdoms period, he came south from the north to Mao Mountain and entered the Fangtai Cave to cultivate the Dao. He feigned death by a fall from a carriage, and then he lived in seclusion in a quiet lodge, where he practiced shouyi (Guarding the One, the method of concentrating on holding fast to the original nature and unifying the spirit).

His teacher was Bao Cha of Shangdang. Bao Cha was the fifth-generation descendant of Bao Xuan, the Minister of Works of the Han dynasty. Bao Cha received the Dao from Master Wang. Bao Xuan had served as Colonel Director of the Metropolitan Area in the Han dynasty, and he was later killed by Wang Mang. His son was named Bao Yong, and his grandson was named Bao Yu. The subsequent generations are recorded only as "so-and-so."

Yu Wengsheng

A cultivator dwelt in Langwu Mountain. His name was Yu Wengsheng, a native of Kuaiji. In his early years he learned the method of shiriijing (ingesting the essence of the sun, the practice of absorbing the essential qi of sunlight) from the immortal Jie Jun. In the Wu kingdom, he came to live in seclusion on this mountain, and at the same time he practiced...

Ascending to Heaven by Cloud Qi Returning Form (yunqi huixing)

Through practices such as the "Cloud Qi Returning Form" (yunqi huixing), one who concentrates the mind, refines it, and persists for a long time will gradually find the body growing light and vigorous, and the complexion will become youthful, like that of a child.

On the twenty-third day of the seventh month of the first year of the Yongho era under Emperor Mu of the Jin dynasty, the Eastern Great Emperor (Dong Dadi) sent envoys to receive this person. That same day, he ascended to heaven on a cloud, and he now dwells in Mount Yanggu. (Mount Yanggu is also called Mount Langwu. It lies in the sea, facing the shore and valley of Baizhang, and is called simply Mount Lang.)

Zhu Ruzi

Zhu Ruzi studied the Way in Mount Chishui. At the end of the Wu kingdom, he entered the mountains and took chrysanthemums and atractylodes (a medicinal plant) as ingested substances. Later he met Xiguizi, who transmitted to him the essential methods of cultivation. He entered a chamber and visualized the Mud Pellet (Niwan), the Palace of Spirit in the head, also called the Upper Dantian (Dantian), and practiced for thirty years, until at last he could summon clouds and rain within the Inner Chamber (dongfang), the inner realm used in visualization practice.

On the fifth day of the eighth month of the first year of the Yongho era under Emperor Mu of the Jin, the Queen Mother of the West sent envoys to receive him. That same day, he ascended to heaven in a five-colored cloud chariot, and he now dwells on the Jishi Terrace. Mount Chishui is said to lie a thousand li south of Yinxian, reached by entering three hundred li from the mouth of the Xixi stream. Its color is red, its circumference is fifty li, and its height exceeds a thousand zhang. Another view holds that it may be the Red Rock of northeast Yongjia in Linhai, that is, the Red Mountain where Master Xu lived, also called Burning Mountain.

Yin Qianzi

In Mount Huayin lived practitioners of the Way named Yin Qianzi, Zhang Shisheng, and Li Fangbai, all of whom lived in the time of Emperor Wu of the Jin. From the immortal Guan Chengzi they learned the methods of steaming elixirs (zhengdan) and ingesting medicinal substances (fushi). After taking these, they were able to prolong their lives and walk with vigor. Yin Qianzi further learned from Zhou Shouling of Sumen the practice of ingesting Danxia (Dawn Glow) to nourish the body.

After fifty years of cultivation, he concentrated on inner contemplation and ceased to eat. His body grew light and his complexion became like that of a child. On the twelfth day of the second month of the first year of the Yongho era under Emperor Mu of the Jin, Taiyi sent envoys to receive him. That same day, he ascended to heaven on a cloud, and he now dwells in Xuanzhou, having been appointed Perfected of Gaoshan. Zhang Shisheng was enfeoffed as Count of Dongyuan.

Zheng Jingshi

In the mountains of Qian in Lujiang lived practitioners of the Way named Zheng Jingshi and Zhang Chonghua. At the beginning of the Jin dynasty, they received oral instructions from the immortal Meng Deran and entered the mountains to practice. They guarded the Five Viscera (wuzang) and practiced the "Method of Containing the Sun" (hanri fa), a technique of visualizing and gathering the essence of the sun, and they also ingested sesame (hu ma) and the Mysterious Elixir (xuandan). Over time they ceased to eat, their bodies grew light and strong, and their original appearance was transformed.

On the nineteenth day of the fourth month of the first year of the Yongho era under Emperor Mu of the Jin, the Lord of the Northern Mystery (Bei Xuanlao) and Taiyi sent envoys to receive them. They ascended in broad daylight in cloud chariots, and they now dwell in Xuanzhou.

Ping Zhongjie

Ping Zhongjie was a Daoist adept from Hezhong, on the Yellow River. During the "Great Hu" (Da Hu) disorders, he crossed the river south to Mount Kuocang (Kuocang Shan) and became a disciple of Master Song, where he studied the method of inner contemplation and observation (cunxin guanzhao). He practiced a range of techniques for communicating with spirits and carried out his cultivation in an inner chamber (dongfang). After forty-five years of focused reflection on the transformations of the body, his form grew light and vigorous, and he generated true qi (zhenqi). On the first day of the fifth month of the first year of the Yongho era under Emperor Mu of the Jin dynasty, envoys from the Central Huang-Lao (Huang-Lao) assembly came to welcome him. That very day he mounted a cloud and rode a dragon, ascending to heaven in broad daylight. He is said to still dwell at Canglang Yuntai (Canglang Yuntai). The "Great Hu" disorders refer to the times when Liu Yuan and Liu Cong caused unrest; Shi Le was called the "Little Hu" (Xiao Hu).

Wu Mu

Wu Mu was a native of Chang'an. In his youth he served as a county clerk, but while managing affairs he was unjust and extorted the common people. The people brought charges against him, and under the law he was liable to execution, so he fled and hid in the mountain forests. After going hungry for several days, he came upon a stone chamber where Master Sun was living in seclusion and studying the Way. Millet and sesame grew around the stone chamber, and food was usually plentiful inside.

Wu Mu begged Master Sun for food and remained for a full month without wanting to leave. Master Sun knew he was a fugitive but did not press him. He simply gave him food and looked after him, and he recited scriptures and discoursed on the Way, speaking of the principles of fortune and misfortune. After hearing these teachings, Wu Mu's mind opened and he came to understanding. He kowtowed, reproached himself, and confessed one by one his origins and the wrongs he had committed, pleading to reform his ways. He then stayed in the stone chamber, sweeping and cleaning for Master Sun and waiting to be given tasks, for a total of forty years.

Later, Master Sun transmitted the Dao methods to him. Together they gathered medicinal herbs and took sesame as food, and he devoted himself wholeheartedly to studying the scriptures and the teachings they contained. He lived for three hundred and twenty years, and after taking an elixir he ascended to heaven in broad daylight.

Guo Jing

Guo Jing was a native of Yingchuan. He lost his parents and brothers at an early age, his family was poor, and he had no one to rely on. At the age of sixteen, the county summoned him to serve as a clerk. Later he committed a crime, went into hiding, and for two months did not dare to step outside.

He then met Master Zheng. Master Zheng aided and transformed the people around him, guiding them through the methods of the Dao. Guo Jing therefore followed Master Zheng, carrying his loads and waiting on his orders, and for seven years he never grew lax. Later he learned the essentials of daoyin (daoyin), which is the practice of nourishing life through adjusting the posture and movements of the body. He also took mountain atractylodes (shanshu) and poria (fuling) and lived for three hundred years. Afterward, Chisongzi (Chisongzi) descended upon Mount Tianwei (Tianwei Shan) and transmitted to him and one other person the true methods of the Dao. Guo Jing now lives within Dayou Cave (Dayou Dong) and has become a Realized Person (zhenren).

Fan Boci

Fan Boci was a native of Guiyang, and his family had originally belonged to the scholar-official class. He suddenly developed a manic and deranged illness, and as it progressed he became bedridden for a full year. His family invited a master to remove the affliction, and spent……

Han Weiyuan

Perfected Han Weiyuan of Mount Jiuyi received his methods of cultivation from Song Dexuan at the Central Peak (Mount Song) in earlier years. Song Dexuan lived during the reign of King Xuan of Zhou. He attained the Dao by ingesting the Lingfei Liujia (Numinous Flying Six Jia), a practice that combined the Six Jia talismans with ingestion and visualization. He could travel three thousand li in a single day and often transformed his body into birds and beasts. He obtained the Way of the Numinous Spirit and now dwells on Mount Song. Han Weiyuan followed him for a long time and was thereby able to receive the methods and practice them. Having attained the Dao, he now lives on Mount Jiuyi.

Liu Shaoweng

There was once a man named Liu Shaoweng, who repeatedly entered Mount Hua (the Western Peak) and faced the mountain peaks in worship, persisting in this for twenty years. One day he suddenly encountered the Old Gentleman of the Western Peak (a legendary immortal said to govern the Western Peak), who transmitted the immortal Dao to him.

The above is from Volume Seventeen of the Lishi Zhenxian Tidao Tongjian (Comprehensive Mirror of Perfected Immortals Who Embodied the Dao Through the Ages).