《歷世真仙體道通鑑》Vol. 6

Mu Gong, also called Lord Dongyang and Father Dongwang, was formed from the primordial Qi of Azure Yang and was foremost among the gods. He wore a three-dimensional crown and a robe of nine-colored clouds, and was also called the Jade Emperor Lord. He lived among cloud chambers, with purple clouds for a canopy and blue clouds for walls. Immortal youths stood in attendance at his sides, while jade maidens scattered incense. His true officials and immortal companions numbered in the tens of millions, each fulfilling their duties and obeying his commands. Thus, after a man attained the Dao, his name was entered in the registers under Mu Gong’s authority. Mu Gong assessed his cultivation achievements and reported them to the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, then awaited Lord Lao’s instructions. Another account says that Mu Gong was the Azure Youth Lord, who governed Mount Fangzhu in the Eastern Sea.

Jiuyuanzi

Jiuyuanzi refined the Purple-Gold Elixir of Harmonized Spirits and thereby attained the Dao and became immortal. The scripture recording this is called the Jingxin Scripture.

Master Shanghuang

Master Shanghuang practiced the art of pacing the Dipper—stepping in the Yu-step pattern and performing rites according to the positions of the stars—and learned the method of becoming invisible.

Changshengzi

Changshengzi often mixed water used for rinsing his mouth with powdered jade and swallowed it; in this way, he ascended to immortality.

Changcun Zi

Changcun Zi successfully cultivated the Dao and became an immortal lord of Xuanzhou.

Zhang Muzi

Zhang Muzi practiced the method of the Supreme Origin Calendar of Taiji, attained the Dao, and became immortal. Later, he passed this method on to Gong Shujin, Wang Wenqing, and Yin Zifang, all three of whom attained the Dao through it.

Gaoqiuzi

Gaoqiuzi was from the Yin-Shang period and loved cultivating the Dao. He entered the mountains of Liujing to practice. He lived there for 520 years, reading only the Daoist scriptures written on yellow silk and taking medicines made from herbs. Later, he compounded the Grand Elixir and became a terrestrial immortal, roaming among the Five Sacred Peaks for more than 200 years. Afterward, he obtained the Golden Elixir and ascended to Taiqing. He is now the Perfected One of the Central Sacred Peak. The Declarations of the Perfected says his tomb is in Wenxi County, Zhongshan. A note says that Zhongshan had a Nüxi County, while Wenxi belonged to Hedong.

Master Pu

Master Pu often rode a white deer and gathered lingzhi mushrooms on Mount Mao.

Master Tongzi

Master Tongzi studied the Dao on Mount Di and practiced the Bathing Covenant Bell Scripture. Through this, he attained the Dao and became immortal.

Venerable Jiuyuan

Venerable Jiuyuan served as the master of Fangzhang Palace, commanding the water gods throughout the world, as well as spirits such as Yin Jing, water beasts, jiao dragons, and whales.

Master Wanqiu [The original text ends here; no account of his deeds is recorded.]

After taking the Destiny-Controlling Pills, Master Wanchiu attained the Dao. It is said that by the end of the Yin dynasty under King Tang, he had lived for more than a thousand years. He passed the pill formula to his disciple Jiang Ruochun. After taking it, Jiang’s appearance remained that of a fifteen-year-old boy for three hundred years. Master Pengzu also received this formula from Master Wanchiu.

Master Qingwu

Master Qingwu was a disciple of Pengzu. He received instruction from an enlightened master and devoted himself to studying the mysteries of the Way of the Immortals. Later, he entered Mount Huayin to practice the Way, where he cultivated for four hundred and seventy-one years. During this time, immortals tested him twelve times, and he failed three of the trials. Afterward, he took Golden Liquid and ascended to heaven. Lord of the Way Taiji held that, because he had failed three of the twelve trials, he could be counted as an immortal, but not as a perfected being.

Young Master Changsang

Young Master Changsang often wore his hair loose and sang as he walked: “Put on the golden headcloth and enter Heaven’s Gate; draw in and breathe out the long essence, and drink from the dark spring; sound the Heavenly Drum and nourish the Dantian (energy center).” When the Historian at the Pillar heard this, he said that Young Master Changsang was singing of the methods for taking in the Five Stars and guarding the Chamber of the Cavern.

Cai Qiong

Cai Qiong, courtesy name Boyao, once studied under Laozi, learning the Great Mystery Yang-Life Talisman and the Reverted Elixir formula. After refining and taking the elixir, he attained the Dao and ascended to heaven in broad daylight. He often used the Yang-Life Talisman to revive the dead: as long as a corpse’s bones remained, casting the talisman onto it would bring the person back to life.

Liezi

Liezi was from the state of Zheng. His surname was Lie and his personal name was Yuko. He once asked Master Guanyin about the Dao, studied under Master Huqiulin and Master Laoshang, and befriended Master B Gao. After deeply understanding the Way taught by his two teachers, he was able to command wind and rain and ride the wind within nine years.

His disciple Yan Hui asked him, “When you speak of seeking the Dao, is it in order to seek wealth and status?” Liezi replied, “Jie and Zhou despised the Dao and valued profit. That is why they perished.”

Liezi once lived in seclusion in a garden in Zheng for forty years, unknown to anyone. After attaining the Dao, he wrote the book Liezi, which was passed down through the ages. Emperor Xuanzong of Tang posthumously honored him as “Perfected One of Empty Serenity” and titled his book the True Scripture of Empty Serenity. Emperor Huizong of Song bestowed on him the title “True Lord Who Attains Emptiness and Contemplates the Mystery.”

Zhuangzi

Zhuangzi was from the state of Song. His surname was Zhuang, his personal name Zhou, and his courtesy name Zixiu. He was born in Meng County, Suiyang. He studied the Way of Laozi. During the reign of King Hui of Liang, he served as a minor official in the lacquer garden of Meng County, but considered the post too lowly and refused to remain in office.

King Wei of Chu sent gifts of jade and silk to invite him to serve as prime minister. He dispatched two senior officials to visit first, saying that he was willing to entrust Zhuangzi with the affairs of the state. Zhuangzi…

Zhuangzi was fishing by the Pu River, holding his rod. Without turning his head, he said, “There is a divine tortoise in the state of Chu that has been dead for three thousand years. The king of Chu keeps it in a bamboo case and treasures it in the main hall of the ancestral temple. Would this tortoise rather die, leaving its bones behind to be honored by others, or live and drag its tail through the mud?” The two ministers replied, “It would rather live and drag its tail through the mud.” Zhuangzi said, “Then go on your way. I will drag my tail through the mud.” The two ministers thereupon departed.

The king of Song sent envoys to invite Zhuangzi to serve at court. Zhuangzi said, “Have you ever seen an ox used in a sacrifice? It is dressed in brocade and fed grain and beans. But when it is led into the Grand Temple, even if it wishes to become a calf again, it cannot. Hurry away, and do not come and defile me. How could I let myself be bound by those who hold the power of the state?” Zhuangzi therefore never took office for the rest of his life.

Later, Zhuangzi attained the Dao and wrote a book called the Zhuangzi. The Zhen’gao says that Zhuangzi studied under Master Changsang and received his profound teachings, and that this was why he was called Zhuangzi. He lived in seclusion on Baodu Mountain, took the Northern Nurturing Fire Elixir, ascended to Heaven in broad daylight, and served as a registrar in the Taiji Gate Bureau. A note to the Zhen’gao says, “Changsang was Bian Que’s teacher.” Related accounts appear in the Wei Biography and the Records of the Grand Historian. If people knew that Zhuangsheng (Zhuangzi) had such experiences, they would value his writings all the more. Emperor Xuanzong of Tang posthumously honored Zhuangzi as the “Perfected One of Southern Florescence” and called his book the Scripture of Southern Florescence. Emperor Huizong of Song bestowed on him the title “True Lord of Subtle Wonder and Primordial Communion.”

Liu Yue

During the Zhou dynasty, a man named Master Kuang Xu cultivated the Dao on Mount Nanzhang. Later, a young man came to visit him repeatedly. The young man spoke in an unusual and remarkable way, and Master Kuang found him intriguing. He asked, “I have been observing you for some time and would like to know where you come from and what your name is.” The young man replied, “My surname is Liu, my given name is Yue, and I live on the left side of the mountain.”

At the foot of the mountain stood a stone about two feet high. When it was struck, someone would come out to greet the visitor. Following the young man’s directions, Master Kuang went to visit him. After he struck the stone, it suddenly opened like a pair of doors. A young maid welcomed him and led him forward for several dozen paces. Then two attendants in blue robes, carrying crimson ceremonial standards, came to guide him. Gradually, he saw towers, terraces, pavilions, and halls arranged in graceful succession, their gold and green hues shining brightly. Rare birds and beasts, along with unusual plants, filled the grounds.

A Perfected One wearing a jade crown and a crimson ceremonial robe, with a sword at his side, welcomed Master Kuang. Master Kuang wished in his heart to stay and live there. The Perfected One sensed his thoughts and said to him, “Your hidden virtue will soon be complete, and the time will come for us to meet again. It will not be too late to return and join me then.” The Perfected One invited him to drink three cups of jade wine, then gave him a sip of the broth that prolongs life and preserves one’s years, and afterward escorted him out. Master Kuang looked back…

When the stone was struck, it looked just as it had before. Later, it was struck again, but gave no response. (Today, beside this stone outside the third gate of Taiping Xingguo Palace on Mount Lu, stands a pavilion with a plaque bearing the inscription “Immortal Stone.” The words “Liu Immortal” were already carved on the stone.)

Wang Guo

Wang Guo was a worthy man of the state of Chu. Weary of the world’s defilement and the turmoil of fame and gain, he withdrew to the mountains and forests, living in quiet seclusion. One day, he rode off on a cloud.

Master Guigu

Master Guigu lived during the reign of Duke Ping of Jin. His surname was Wang and his given name was Xu; no one knew where he came from. He received the Dao from the Old Lord (a Daoist honorific for Laozi), entered Cloudy Mountain to gather and consume medicinal herbs, and cultivated himself until he attained the Dao. His appearance was that of a young man. He lived in Ghost Valley by the Clear Stream, and so was known as Master Guigu.

Su Qin and Zhang Yi went to study with him. The master said, “Hearing about the Dao is easy; cultivating the Dao is hard. The worldly concerns in your hearts have not yet faded, so you may study the art of persuasion and adapt to the conditions of the time. You are certain to become ministers in the various states. If you fail to become ministers, you will lose your lives for it. If you are not afraid, I will teach you this skill.” The two asked to learn, and after three years, took their leave.

The master said, “You value the splendor and riches of a passing moment, yet think little of the way to long life followed by Song and Qiao (the legendary long-lived immortals Red Pine and Wang Ziqiao). What a pity.” Later, the master sent them another letter, which said:

“Gentlemen, you have labored tirelessly on your travels. Now you ride in chariots drawn by four horses, your fame and rank are illustrious, and all the Nine Provinces bow before you. Yet the splendor of spring cannot last into autumn. Your years are nearly spent, your fortunes nearing their end, and you are about to grow old. Have you never seen the trees by the riverbank? Servants and horses break their branches, and the waves wash away their roots, until they become places of refuge. Have you never seen the pines and cypresses on Mount Song and Mount Dai, or the catalpa and sandalwood trees in the Hua and Huo mountains? Their branches and leaves reach high into the blue clouds, while their roots descend deep beneath the earth. For thousands upon thousands of years, they have escaped the misfortune of being cut down by axes.

“Once, a black fox sickened and died. A bird like a crow brought a blade of grass and covered its face with it, and the fox came back to life. The officials reported this, and the First Emperor of Qin sent an envoy carrying the grass to ask the master about it. The master said, ‘In the sea are ten isles. On Isle of the Ancestors grows a deathless grass in fields like jade. It is also called Spirit-Nourishing Mushroom. Its leaves resemble wild rice grass, but it does not grow in clumps. A single stalk can bring one person back to life.’”

Master Guigu lived among human beings for several hundred years. Later, no one knew where he went. Some say that Ghost Valley lies in Yangcheng, south of Mount Song.

Mao Meng

Mao Meng, courtesy name Chucheng, was from the South Gate of Xianyang. He was the great-great-grandfather in the lineage of Mao Ying, the Eastern Minister of Fate, a divine immortal who governs the registers of life. He studied under Master Guigu, later entered Mount Hua to cultivate the Dao, and afterward rode off on a cloud…

Ascending to heaven in broad daylight while riding a dragon. Before this, a song circulated in the region: “The one who attained the Dao and became an immortal was Mao Chucheng. Riding a dragon, he ascended to heaven and entered Taiqing, the pure and lofty celestial realm, and often descended to wander in Xuanzhou and Chicheng. In later generations, others too attained the Dao one after another. Now that my generation’s ruler has come, if he wishes to learn the way of immortality, let him seek it during the twelfth month, at the time called Jiaping.”

When Qin Shi Huang heard the song, he renamed the twelfth month “Jiaping,” hoping to express his longing to become an immortal.

Ximen Jun

From a young age, Ximen Jun was fond of Daoist arts and well versed in chenwei, teachings that interpreted Heaven’s mandate through prophecies and mysterious signs. He presented the Kaishan tu to Qin Shi Huang, but the emperor did not heed it.

Xu Fu

Xu Fu, courtesy name Junfang, was from an unknown place. During the reign of Qin Shi Huang, people in the area of Dayuan would sometimes die suddenly for no apparent reason, their bodies lying by the roadside. Later, a crow-like bird would bring a kind of grass in its beak and cover the dead person’s face with it, whereupon the person would immediately revive. Someone took the grass to ask Guigu Xiansheng, who lived north of the city. Guigu Xiansheng said, “On Zuzhou grows the spirit fungus that nourishes the spirit.”

Qin Shi Huang thought it might be possible to find this fungus and sent people out to search for it. Later, in his earnest pursuit of the Dao, he encountered the Daoist Xu Fu. He then sent Xu Fu to sea with five hundred boys and five hundred girls (another account says three thousand of each), along with tower ships and other vessels, to search for Zuzhou. Xu Fu never returned, and no one knew where he had gone.

Later, when Shen Xi attained the Dao, Huang-Lao—the Yellow Emperor and Laozi, revered by Daoists—sent Xu Fu as an envoy. Xu Fu came to welcome Shen Xi in a white tiger carriage. From this, later generations learned that Xu Fu too had attained the Dao and become an immortal.

The Shixian Shiyi records that during the Kaiyuan era of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang, a scholar’s body had turned black and withered on one side. The imperial physicians, including Zhang Shangke, were unable to cure him. He summoned his relatives and said, “My body has become like this. How could I possibly remain whole for long? I have heard there are immortals in the sea. I should go in search of them; perhaps they can cure my illness.” His relatives could not dissuade him, so he took a servant and provisions and went to the coast at Dengzhou.

There he found an empty boat. He stowed his belongings, hoisted the sail, and let the wind carry the boat along. After more than ten days, it reached the vicinity of a solitary island. He saw several hundred people who seemed to be worshipping someone. Before long, the boat came ashore. A woman on the beach was washing herbs, and he asked who those people were. Pointing to a white-haired old man seated in their midst, she said, “That is Lord Xu.”

The scholar asked who Lord Xu was. The woman said, “Do you know Xu Fu, from the time of Qin Shi Huang?” The scholar replied, “I do.” She said, “That is he.”

A little later, the people dispersed. The scholar went ashore to pay his respects to Xu Fu, recounted his experiences in detail, and asked him for treatment. Xu Fu said, “You will survive, for your illness has brought you to me.” At first, Xu Fu fed him soup and rice, served in utensils that were all small and unusual. The scholar thought the meal too meager. Xu Fu said, “If you can finish it…”

“This is truly a splendid meal. I fear you may not be able to finish it.” The scholar ate bowl after bowl until he was full and had finished everything. Xu Jun then poured wine for him into a small vessel, and he drank until he was drunk. The next day, Xu Jun took out several black pills and had him swallow them. The medicine made him pass several dou of black stool, and his illness was cured.

The scholar asked to stay and serve Xu Jun. Xu Jun said, “You have an official salary and position, so it is not suitable for you to stay just now. I will have the east wind carry you home; do not worry about the distance.” He also gave him a bag of yellow medicine and said, “This medicine can treat all kinds of illness. If you meet someone who is sick in the future, scrape off a little of the medicine, mix it with water, and have them drink it.” After returning home, the scholar reached Dengzhou a few days later and presented the medicine to the court. At the time, Emperor Xuanzong ordered the sick to take it, and all the patients recovered.

Guo Sichao

Guo Sichao was from the Yan region in the Zhou dynasty. He and his three brothers studied the Dao together, and Sichao was the eldest. During the Qin dynasty, he attained the Dao and came to the southern side of Mount Gouqu. Near his dwelling, he built a pond to dam the stream and deepen its waters, and then raised a high wall. The remains of the site can still be identified today.

The Zhengao says, “There is now a pond in front of the dwelling; it was made by Guo Sichao.” A commentary suggests that “dwelling” here may refer to Xu Zhangshi’s residence. There is indeed a pond in front of that residence today, with an embankment wall to the west that was built to hold back the Liuqian River. However, this place is far from Guoqian. Guoqian lies northwest of the Northern Cavern, where there is now a large marsh pond. Guo Sichao may originally have lived there. The commentator says they still do not understand exactly what “in front of the dwelling” refers to. Some have also speculated that Xu Zhangshi later acquired fields near the marsh pond.

Guo Sichao would sail about the pond in a small boat, often tapping the gunwale and singing:

Clear waters surround the numinous mountain peaks,
And dense woods spread their lush green.
The swallows dwell in the secluded wilderness;
At ease, I talk with others.
I dip the oars and ride the wondrous waves,
Bowing in prayer for the wind of Jade Dawn in Highest Clarity,
The pure breeze of the immortals’ realm.
The time has not yet come for me to escape the world;
I can only roam freely among mountains, forests, and ravines.

My spirit roams beyond the nine heavens;
With my heart devoted to the Dao, I at last preserve my true nature.
I fold away the wings of the numinous phoenix
And conceal the scales of the splendid dragon.
I raise high the thing held within a square inch;
All the winds of the dusty world seem like filth.
I turn back with pity for those born at dawn and dead by dusk:
Who can complete the turning of your life’s wheel?

The commentary explains that the morning wind refers to the wind of Jade Dawn in Highest Clarity, not the bird called the “morning wind” in the Book of Songs. “Born at dawn” refers to the mayfly, used here as a metaphor for how easily human life passes away. The final two lines lament the brevity of human life.

Roaming freely through the air, borne along by the fierce wind; treading empty space above the ground, with no trace of one’s form. The scenery in every direction shines brightly, and the rosy clouds gleam like brocade. The Nine-Phoenix, a divine bird of legend, beats its wings in the morning sun. Tianjin, the name of a star that also refers to the region around the Celestial River, is shrouded in mist, while auspicious clouds soar overhead. Then one arrives at Taiwei, a celestial star region, and drinks the nectar of golden pears, wandering at ease in Xuandai—the Nine Heights, said to lie beyond the farthest reaches in all eight directions and atop nine layers of rosy clouds. Within that realm, one can be said neither to exist nor to have vanished.

A note says that the Nine Heights lie beyond the farthest reaches in all eight directions, atop the nine rosy clouds. They are also said to be where one flies up to Jupiter, and are called the Heights of Xuanlang Dongyang. Perhaps this is what Ruoshi meant when he said to Lu Ao, “Haman and I agreed to meet above the Nine Heights.”

Dancing as the Qi of the divine firmament suddenly rises, clothed in rosy light and bearing the radiance of nine suns. Gao Huang rides alongside in a dragon chariot, and together they arrive at the Northern Flower Chamber. Divine tigers emerge in a grove of jade trees, amid mingling fragrant breezes. The gate of the netherworld opens and closes; amid wondrous transformations, the figure vanishes without a trace.

A note says that Sichao once served for four periods as a canopy bearer at the Jade Terrace, hence the phrase “Gao Huang rides in the dragon chariot.” It also says that a true official who administers the Three Officials’ rites may be promoted through the ranks after six hundred years without fault. When Sichao completed his four terms, he was promoted to Left Immortal Lord of the Nine Palaces and placed in charge of the Jade Terrace canopy bearers. This post had long stood vacant, until Sihe took it over. Even today, people living in the mountains call a stretch of flat land “Guoqian.” Guoqian is said to have been Sichao’s surname, preserved in local speech. Each year, whenever Sichao traveled, he passed through this place to inspect it. A note identifies it as the wilderness described in the biography of Lord Mao. From this it seems that Guoqian was only a place for cultivation, not a dwelling; the residence must have been the Senior Official’s house. The pond walls have now collapsed, and the water is no longer deep or broad. People treat the site as farmland. Yet the land still curves and opens out, and the low ground remains a pond where one can row and sing. It is a pity that no one today can follow in the footsteps of the ancients. The later account says that Sichao passed through and visited each year because, even after his promotion, he remained attached to his old home. He often held banquets there, cherishing his friends.

Zhou Taibin

Zhou Taibin was a Daoist in the Qin dynasty. He studied the Dao with Jiang Shumao on Gouqu Mountain. He grew the Five Fruits and Five Pungent Plants and bartered them for cinnabar used in refining elixirs. Many Chinese chives and Chinese scallions still grow in the mountains, said to have come from seeds he left behind.

A note says that locals call these chives “Mountain Chives.” They grow in great numbers west of Great Mao Mountain, and can also be found elsewhere.

The mountain where pungent plants such as garlic, scallions, onions, and Chinese chives grow is where Jiang Ba lived. Zhou Taibin and Jiang Shumao both attained the Dao and became immortals. Taibin was talented and skilled at playing the zither. He could perform with just one string, bringing every kind of musical tone into harmony. He once taught Mi Changsheng and Sun Guangtian. Sun Guangtian was Sun Deng.

Jiang Shumao

No one knows where Jiang Shumao came from. He often associated with Zhou Taibin, and together they studied the Dao and cultivated immortality. He now serves as Left Minister at Penglai, the legendary immortal island in the sea. The Jiang clan around Nanzheng are all descendants of Shumao.

Shumao once wrote to the officials of the Taiji Palace in Heaven, saying, “In the past, I studied the Dao at Ghost Valley and achieved the fruits of the Dao at Shaoshi. At Huayang, I cultivated my breath and awaited the right time; in the Land of Ease, I waited for a summons. In those days I rode a swift-wind chariot and feasted on Mount Gouqu. Thinking of how quickly the affairs of human life change—how all things remain while people pass away—I could not help sighing with grief.”

The Zhengao records: “In the Qin dynasty, the Daoist Zhou Taibin and Jiang Shumao, Marquis of Baling, came to live at the foot of Mount Gouqu. They also planted five kinds of fruit trees and five kinds of pungent plants.” Shumao was enfeoffed as a marquis during the reign of King Xiao of Qin. The place is now called “Jiang Ba,” and is said to have been named after Shumao. A note in the text says that the name is still in use today: a main road leading from behind Little Maoshan to Yanling is called “Jiang Ba Road.”

However, during the reign of Duke Xiao of Qin, the state of Chu had not yet been annexed, and Baling County was not established until the early Jin dynasty. It is therefore unlikely that “Baling” was a title at the time. The “Ba” mentioned here may refer to Ba in Shu.

Gong Zhongyang

Gong Zhongyang studied the method of “Pacing the Six Cycles,” a Daoist cultivation practice, under Shaotong of Mount Song.

Gu Xizi

Gu Xizi studied the Dao and became immortal, serving as a True Official of the Most High. Dongfang Shuo once became his disciple and received from him true-form maps depicting the immortal mountains and divine realms of Langfeng, Zhongshan, Penglai, and Shenzhou. The Zhengao says that Gu Xizi was the Right Immortal Lord of Taiji.

Wang Zhonggao

No one knows where Wang Zhonggao came from. He often told fortunes for people at the markets in Huainan. Local elders passed down the story through generations, saying they had seen him: though no one knew his age, his face looked youthful. Wu Bei once mentioned him to Liu An, the King of Huainan. Liu An was delighted to hear of him and immediately sent someone to invite him.

Wu Bei said, “Zhonggao often stays at Zhang Meng’s house, and he and Zhang Meng are close. Zhang Meng often says that Zhonggao is plain and upright in character and not easily persuaded to come. We cannot compel him with authority; I should approach him through Zhang Meng.”

Liu An then ordered a carriage and horses prepared and sent Wu Bei to Zhang Meng’s house to invite Zhonggao. Zhang Meng said, “Mr. Wang said yesterday that he was going out for a while. He went somewhere nearby.”

This passage recounts several extraordinary tales of ancient Daoist practitioners. First is the story of Zhong Gao, who claimed to have lived over six thousand years. He studied longevity secrets with Zhu Xiangjun, the teacher of the Yellow Emperor (Huangdi), and later attained the Way of immortality under Huang Dongjun. Eventually, Zhong transmitted these Daoist methods to a man named An before disappearing without a trace.

Next is the account of Gongsun Qing, who cultivated the Dao on Mount Dongliangfu (also known as Mount Ziye). Within the mountain's palace lay elixirs capable of instantly transforming a person into an immortal. When refining these medicines, one had to recite an incantation: "The Jade Maiden comes to blend the medicine, the toad governs its harmony. One pill forms the human body, two preserve eternal youth." During Emperor Wu of Han's search for the mythical Penglai Island, Gongsun Qing claimed to have met an old man leading a dog—an encounter the emperor believed to be with a true immortal.

Lastly, there is the anecdote of Li Shaojun, a master of grain-avoidance (bigu) and life-nourishing techniques. While gathering herbs on Mount Tai, he encountered the immortal An Qisheng, who cured his severe illness with "Divine Tower Powder." Later, Li demonstrated his supernatural abilities before Emperor Wu by recognizing artifacts from the era of Duke Huan of Qi and declaring himself hundreds of years old. He informed the emperor that by making offerings to the Stove God, one could obtain treasures and even transform cinnabar into gold. Utensils made from this gold, he claimed, could prolong life.

Li Shaojun told Emperor Wu of Han: “Make eating and drinking vessels from gold refined from cinnabar, and you will be able to prolong your life. Once your life is extended, you will be able to see the immortals of Penglai. Then perform the Fengshan rites—the great imperial sacrifices to Heaven and Earth—and you can live forever without dying. The Yellow Emperor did just this. I once traveled across the sea and met An Qisheng, an immortal said to live upon the sea. He invited me to eat dates as large as melons.” Emperor Wu then began making offerings to the Kitchen God and sent alchemists—men who sought immortality and refined elixirs—out to sea to search for Penglai and immortals such as An Qisheng.

Another account says that Li Shaojun submitted a memorial: “I can condense mercury into silver and refine cinnabar, a principal ingredient in Daoist elixirs, into gold. After taking it, one can ascend to Heaven in broad daylight. With a single leap, one’s body can rise into the air; by crouching down, one can enter places without any gaps. One can command flying dragons and roam to the farthest reaches in all directions, or ride a white swan across the Nine Heavens. The dates in the sea are as large as melons, and the plums of Zhong Mountain are as large as jars. I ate them, and they gave rise to a wondrous radiance. My teacher, An Qisheng, taught me the secret formula, so I can guarantee that anything can be refined.” Emperor Wu held him in great esteem and built him a residence.

Ge Hong, a Daoist scholar of the Eastern Jin who went by the name Baopuzi, says: According to Dong Zhongshu’s Biography of Li Shaojun, Li Shaojun possessed an art for attaining immortality but was poor and could not afford to buy the necessary medicines. That was why he entered and left the imperial court: he used this avenue to obtain money, then departed once he had completed the Dao.

According to the Court Diary of the Han and Chu, as Li Shaojun was about to depart, Emperor Wu dreamed that he was climbing Mount Song with him. They encountered an embroidered-robed messenger riding a dragon down from the clouds, who said, “The Supreme One, the highest of the celestial gods, has summoned Shaojun.” When Emperor Wu awoke, he told those around him, “Judging by my dream, Shaojun is about to leave me.” A few days later, Li Shaojun died of illness and was placed in a coffin. The emperor ordered it opened and examined. There was no body inside, only his clothes and headgear.

(From volume six of the Comprehensive Mirror of Successive Generations of Perfected Immortals Who Embodied the Dao.)