Tales of the Taoist Immortals by Eva Wong

Author:Eva Wong [Wong, Eva]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shambhala Publications
Published: 2013-05-01T06:00:00+00:00

FEI CHANG-FANG lived during the latter part of the Han dynasty (206 BCE–219 CE) and is regarded as the patron of healers and herbalists. Huan Ching’s visit to the shrines has become a cultural tradition of China. Today, it is still customary for many Chinese to spend a day in the mountains on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month.

20

The Sorcerer Strategist

Kiang Tzu-ya

Kiang Tzu-ya was born into a poor family. Abandoned and left to die, he was miraculously kept alive and cared for by dogs, cats, horses, and oxen. One day, a noblewoman, whose family name was Kiang, saw the infant being suckled by a cow and said, “This must be a special child.” She took the infant home, adopted him, and named him Tzu-ya.

The boy grew up to be extraordinary. By the age of ten, he had mastered the arts of military strategy, divination, magic, astronomy, and geography. At eighteen, he left home to search for teachers to instruct him in the arts of longevity and immortality.

On one of his journeys, Tzu-ya met a celestial lord who told him, “You are not meant to live in the immortal lands. Your destiny is to help end the cruel rule of the Shang emperor. Use your gifts to advise the man who will become the new ruler.”

Kiang Tzu-ya returned home. As he entered the courtyard, a servant ran to him and said, “Duke Chi is waiting for you in the guest reception hall.”

“Tell the duke I won’t be able to see him,” replied Tzu-ya. “I’m going fishing today.”

Far from being angered by Kiang Tzu-ya’s behavior, the duke simply responded to his refusal by saying, “If it is inconvenient for Master Kiang, I will come another day.”

Three times Duke Chi asked to see Kiang Tzu-ya and each time Tzu-ya refused to meet him. On the duke’s fourth visit, Tzu-ya came out. He bowed before his guest, asked for forgiveness, and said, “The fortunes of the nation are a matter of life and death. Before I can offer you my service, I need to know if you are indeed the man destined to be the next emperor.”

Duke Chi was shocked. He had come to ask Kiang Tzu-ya for advice on running the day-to-day affairs of his fief and had not expected to discuss “treasonous” matters. The duke’s reaction confirmed Kiang Tzu-ya’s faith in him. Duke Chi was a benevolent, kind, and humble man who had no ambitions of becoming emperor. Tzu-ya did not want to see one power-hungry ruler replaced by another.

He tried to persuade Duke Chi that it was time to end the rule of the cruel emperor Shang Ts’ou, but the duke was hesitant.

“Many people will die if we fight Ts’ou,” he protested.

“More are dying under his rule,” replied Tzu-ya.

Eventually, it was Shang Ts’ou’s own actions that convinced Duke Chi that the emperor must be removed. Jealous of Chi’s popularity with the nobility and the citizens, Shang Ts’ou had Duke Chi’s son arrested and killed. Then, he summoned the duke and forced him to eat his son’s flesh.

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