The Fairy Tale

*The Tale of the Meeting of the Fairy Maiden*
(written by Li Hu, Ming
Dynasty, in his work *The Immortal Historian of Xuanyang*) Having heard of the story of the meeting of the fairy maiden in his youth, he laughed and said, "This is utter nonsense," and thus dismissed it. Later, seeing it frequently mentioned in unofficial histories, he sighed again, "This is a perpetuation of error. Believing everything in books is worse than believing in divine texts," and thus closed his books without reading. In the year Xinmao of the Jiajing reign (1541), when I was just over twenty, I was alone in the Xuanyang Grotto when I suddenly encountered a fairy maiden. The event was truly extraordinary, and I began to believe that what I had heard and seen before was not mere fantasy. Therefore, I recorded twenty-four poems of *Heavenly Questions*, one poem of *Ode to the Fairy Maiden*, and one poem of *Song of the Immortal Historian*, collectively titled *The Tale of the Meeting of the Fairy Maiden*.
Written by Li Hu, the Immortal Historian of Xuanyang, on the fifth day of the third month of the year Renzi of the Jiajing reign (1542). a.
Question about the
solar and lunar eclipses: The Immortal Historian of Xuanyang, just over twenty, was reading the *I Ching* in the Xuanyang Grotto. Profound and far-reaching, transcending worldly affairs, I concentrated my spirit and embraced oneness, delving into the mysteries of the universe. On the day of Xinmao in the Jiajing reign (1541), the sky was clear and bright, moonlight streamed through the curtains, a strange fragrance filled the room, and purple smoke rose. Opening the door, one could see a young woman, about sixteen or seventeen years old, with soft, smooth skin, her hair tied up in a black bun, her demeanor elegant and refined, her bearing dignified. Dressed in white, she walked slowly around, and as she approached, she closed the door and sat quietly, lost in thought. A moment later, there was a knock at the door. The immortal said, "Whom are you, immortal?" The woman replied, "I am a virgin." He said, "Are you a virgin who has run away with a lover, or have you been transformed into a demon or ghost?" She said, "I am a celestial spirit from Penglai, and we are destined to meet. I wish to serve you." He said, "A man's infatuation can be explained. A woman's infatuation cannot. You came before me, and you will surely be banished by Confucius. Running away at night will ultimately bring shame upon the people of the country. I am engaged to a woman of the Chen family, but I have not yet married her; she is also a virgin. If I, a virgin, were to run away with a lover, the people of the country would despise me for despising her. You must return home quickly, lest you bring shame upon yourself." He said, “You are a frivolous youth, disregarding moral principles, indulging in pleasures, stealing jade and fragrance, peeping from towers, and scaling walls.
Do not be attracted to my beauty, for you know I am no ordinary person to be spoken to. I will discuss with you the secrets of the universe, revealing the mysteries of heaven and earth, and elucidating the essence of yin and yang. Do not doubt that I am a lewd and wicked creature.
I hope you will learn from Zhan Qin and be accepted, rather than from Lu Man and reject the profound.” He said, “You can discuss metaphysics and reveal mysteries, which I am happy to hear, but I fear you are not capable of doing so.” He said, “May I try?” I then lit a candle, opened the key, and invited him to the outer hall. We sat in rows to the east and west, sipping tea and discussing in detail.
Upon examining the meaning and reasoning behind it, I found it to be something beyond the mortal realm. I composed myself and raised my hand, saying, “You claim to be a celestial being from Penglai, perhaps a fairy maiden?” She replied, “Yes.” I said, “You are indeed a fairy maiden. Where do you come from?” She said, “The celestial bodies are pure and ethereal, neither extinguished nor born. The essence of the stars is both turbid and pure. The turbid becomes stone, the pure becomes spirit. Therefore, when concentrated in birds and beasts, they become phoenixes and unicorns. When concentrated in plants and trees, they become lingzhi and ailanthus. When concentrated in a mother’s womb, they give birth to sages and saints.
They are wise and intelligent, on earth as humans, in the heavens as stars. They ride the constellations of the stars, their existence clearly documented. My birth has a source; who can discuss it, Wei Zi?” She said, “Stars have transformed into humans countless times from ancient times to the present. I wish to recount them all.” He said, “Fairy maidens descended to earth, mingling with the dust of the mortal realm. Records in books foreshadow my heart. The Horned Maiden and the Weaver Girl were dutifully married to Dong Yong. The Fairy Maiden of Shaoshi sought to marry Feng Sheng. The River Goddess met Zheng and untied her jade pendant on the riverbank. Pei Zi of Lanqiao encountered Xuan Ying on the road. I cannot recount all those similar to her.”
He said, “Dong Yong met a fairy maiden who wove to help the poor. I am also a poor scholar; can you weave?” He said, “Yin and Yang are in harmony, and kinds of things gather and are grouped. The Horned Maiden and the Weaver Girl were dutifully married to Dong Nong. I am well-versed in literature and know you are a man of great talent. I seek a marriage based on your abilities and wish to follow you for life. The Way leads to wealth, and profit is not for you. Weaving to help you is something I have never heard of.” He said, “You are a banished fairy of extraordinary abilities; Heaven will surely understand. I have a question for Heaven; why don’t you answer it?” He said, “Yes.” Then he rose and asked.
Question: "The Way of the Three Powers: Heaven, Earth, and Man. What are the Five Elements that constitute the essence, and how did men and women come to be?"
Answer: "In the beginning, there was no beginning, only primordial chaos. Before creation, there was neither Yin nor Yang. From change came existence, and the Supreme Ultimate (Taiji) emerged from emptiness. Heaven opened the position of Zi (子), and Earth opened the position of Chou (丑). Man was born at the hour of Yin (寅), and the Three Powers were unified. The Five Elements were manifest, and all things were universally encompassed. The teachings of Zhou and Zhu are not to be believed."
Question: "Heaven and
Earth are separated by tens of millions of miles. What is missing, what number can be recorded?" Answer: "Heaven is too high to climb, and too far from Earth. Who can ascend it and clearly measure the sun's shadow? It is vast and mysterious, exceeding two hundred million miles, and its true extent cannot be determined. As for the four cardinal directions, do not believe them deeply." "
Question: 'Heaven is white, earth is yellow. What is
the meaning of heaven, and what is hidden within earth?' Answer: 'When heaven and earth were first separated, yellow and white were initially distinguished. In the beginning of time, the concept of "mao" (卯) became clear. Heaven is clear above, earth is turbid below. Heaven encompasses earth, yet heaven itself condenses below. Heaven seems to be below earth, becoming increasingly turbid, not clear. This is the ultimate theory of heaven, and its examination should be meticulous.'
Question: 'The celestial body covers all things, making them light and clear. A single breath pervades all, so why does the northwest tilt?' Answer
: 'A single breath rises, vast and boundless. The way of heaven rotates counter-clockwise, changing swiftly. East, west, south, and north, their old positions are hard to maintain. Looking up, all is clear and blue. What is west, what is north, what is waning, what is waxing, who can see the northwest?'" "I see you are leaning. People say you don't believe it, but you have faith."
She asked, "The celestial bodies are a unified whole, seemingly without flaws. You mended the sky with stones; dare I inquire about this profound mystery?"
She replied, "Light and pure rises, a unified whole. Originally without flaws, why wait for a patchmaker to mend it? There are no steps to pass through. Before the heavens were established, there was only primordial chaos. Nuwa mended stones, and the five colors began to separate. Eastern wood was green, southern fire was red, northern water was black, yellow was central, and gold was white. The five directions are different.
Mending the heavens reveals the way of heaven; what a great achievement for the emperor!"
She asked, "The celestial bodies cover the sky, the earth condenses below. What do the sun and moon rely on to rotate and revolve?"
She replied, "The sun and moon are the essence of yin and yang. A single breath rotates..." " Turning, the painting never stops at night. Like blood and qi, circulating throughout the body. Empty and without support, moving up and down. Why must it depend on anything, forcing the world to unite?"
He asked, "The sun and moon are immense, their celestial phenomena shining brightly. What virtue does the moonlight possess, that it dies and is reborn?" He replied,
"It is the spirit of the moon, the light of the sun and moon. Shining brightly above, people observe from below. Like a silver ball, each sees its own side. Reflected in the air, its reflection is visible even in the smallest detail. Its yin essence is pure and clear, unharmed by the waxing and waning of the moon. I know you are well-read, your profound words are hidden."
He asked, "The sun is the yang essence. How can the crow have three legs, the moon die and be reborn, and the rabbit reside in its belly?" He replied,
"A person lives a hundred years, how much of that can last? Time flies swiftly, rabbits run and birds fly." The story goes that rabbits raid birds' roosts. Four-legged animals are even, three-legged animals are odd. The moon doesn't have three burrows, so where do rabbits live?
The questioner asks, "Yi's wife, E'e, is also human. What elixir did she steal to escape to the moon palace?"
The answer is, "The moon possesses yin essence, and E'e possesses yin spirit. The celestial body is without human form, hence this name. What elixir did she steal to escape to the moon palace? Why does E'e complain, why does she sleep alone? This is vulgar and crude; I hope you will not listen."
The questioner then asks, "The cassia tree in the moon, what is its spiritual root? Where does its fruit come from?"
The answer is, "The autumn cassia blossoms, its beauty enhanced by literary brilliance. With great talent and swift action, the cassia tree reaches high. Like ascending to the heavenly palace, it is extremely difficult. The cassia tree in the moon palace is its name. " Zhang. The Lingyin Temple is a place of absurd association, with the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms. Planted and bearing fruit, its taste is spicy and fragrant. Xu Zizhi's discourse has already refuted this absurdity. "
Question: '
The moon's black and white intertwine, their reflections uneven. How can the shadows of mountains and rivers dispel doubts?' Answer: 'The images of the sun and moon embody the essence of black and white. Black and white are clearly distinguished, allowing for the discernment of appearance and color. Eyes with bright black pupils are easily mistaken for having more white. Eyes with more white pupils suffer from dizziness and confusion. Observing the phenomena with one's own eyes reveals the ultimate truth. The shadows of mountains and rivers are not bound by any fixed pattern. How can fabricated and base ideas dispel doubts?'
Question: 'The sun and moon eclipse, sometimes bright and sometimes dim. This is not recorded in the Spring and Autumn Annals; why don't you explain it all?' Answer: '
The heavens have nine paths, with the ecliptic in the center. The sun and moon pass through the same path, their shadows uneven. '" "When the moon is obscured, the sun is obscured. When the sun is above the moon, the moon obscures the sun's shadow. When the moon deviates from its usual course, the sun is obscured from the moon's palace. The degree of obscuration varies depending on the location of the eclipse. If an eclipse occurs but does not, the calendrical calculations are incomplete."
He asked, "In the first year of Emperor Yao's reign, why did ten suns appear, and how could Yi shoot them down, surviving only one?"
He replied, "Emperor Yao's reign was prosperous, and the records are accurate. His son, Zhi, ruled in chaos, and calamities ravaged the land. The sunlight was dazzling, unbearably intense. It appeared as if ten suns, and the crops were all destroyed. He ordered Yi to rescue and shoot down the sun. Yi's body flew like a drawn sword, like a halberd being wielded. The Huainan people spread falsehoods to arouse doubt among the masses."
He asked, "The sky is filled with stars, vast and boundless. The five directions are in different positions; what do they symbolize?" " What is the name?"
he asked. "The essence of all things is the constellations above. The primordial energy is formless and nameless. Songs praise its brilliance, and legends speak of its nighttime radiance. What is the Dipper, what is the Winnowing Basket, what is the Void, what is the object of divination and observation? They are merely names. It is not Venus in the east, nor is it Morning Star in the west. The five directions are distinct, according to what people call them."
He then asked, "The Big Dipper has seven stars, seven pigs in a row. Guan Lu, in white robes, what does he mean?"
He replied, "Taigong's hook and jade pendant, representing the virtue of water. Emperor Gaozu of Han slew the snake, claiming it was because the emperor wept. What god is the Big Dipper? He spreads food under the pine trees. In the abandoned garden, a jar, a servant with a staff, and two sons made a claim, wanting to make his magic divine. Could it be that Wang Lao's crime was punishable by a seven-day pardon? Could Zhao Yan's lifespan be increased by weeping?"
Question: "The Weaver Girl and the Cowherd, two stars in the sky. On the seventh night of the seventh lunar month, what is the meaning of their meeting?"
Answer: "The shape of the stars can be described in detail in the Book of Poetry. The Big Dipper and the Dipper revolve north and south. The Big Dipper produces winnowing, and the Dipper produces slurry. But this is already impossible, let alone celebrating the bridge over the Milky Way. The shuttle and the head of the weaver girl, the names of the two stars are well-known. What brocade do they weave, what borders do they cultivate, and is it a matter of men and women being intimate? Such talk is even more absurd."
Question: "Zhang Qian rode a raft, how did he ascend to heaven? How is the story of the Weaver Girl's loom stone passed down? "
Answer: "Zhang Qian... " A Han official, sent as an envoy to the Western Regions, traveled the heavens on a raft, a story of frivolous pursuits. There are no celestial maidens in heaven, so what loom or weaver would there be? The loom is empty, and what mechanism would there be for selling stones to divine? How could Zhang Qian's biography alone contain this story? Even the *Hua Zhi* and *Bo Wu* cannot match its fantastical tales. These are fanciful and unreliable tales; do not indulge in them.
He asked, "Where does thunder originate? What god is thunder? How does it incite death? How does it administer punishment?"
He replied, "Thunder is in the earth, before all things are born. Yin and Yang clash and collide, creating it. It is like fire..." The principle of the cannon is quite clear. Fire strikes from within, producing a sound. The flashing light dazzles the eyes. Things are damaged, though Heaven has no intention of harming them. It stirs up all things; is power merely a tool of punishment?
The question is asked: "Thunder and fire blaze fiercely, leaving only axe dust. What is the solution, what is the control?" The answer
is: "Thunder and lightning are intense, their impact fierce. Like a rolling vessel thrown into a well, it becomes solid ice. Thunder is not the drum of the earth, nor can it speak of axe dust. The sound of Heaven is majestic and swift, intertwined with divine power. Soaring and roaring in the sky, it sinks and murky near,
ultimately becoming dregs ." "The dust remains, its form indelible. Like a dragon soaring, snowflakes clump together. Its name is stagnant, a reflection of axe dust."
He asked, "Nothing is more powerful than the dragon; how can it bring rain, transform its energy, and absorb water?"
He replied, "When Yin and Yang are in harmony, clouds rise and disperse. Rain falls, the dragon follows the clouds. Rivers and seas are dragon's lair; there is no dragon spirit in the sky. The divine dragon transforms, soaring in the sky. Clouds rise and bring rain, but rain is not formed by dragons."
He asked, "Mountains and rivers generate clouds, formed by the condensation of energy. How can this be attributed to dragons, or to rain?"

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