The Ten Forbidden Books of the Ming and Qing Dynasties: A Record of Curses and Jujubes

A gust of wind blew against my face, and I couldn't see him when I looked up.
A thousand-foot wave
crashed across the river, and ten thousand bamboo stalks bent askew. The wind rose, and a heavy rain began to fall. The rain
, dripping and pouring, poured down relentlessly.
It churned up the ditches and broke the banana leaves.
The True Man Sa was on his way, with no village in sight, no inn behind, and no pavilion to rest in. He was in a rather awkward situation, so he had to open his raincoat to shield himself from the wind and rain. Unexpectedly, a gust of wind ripped the raincoat away, leaving the poor man soaked to the bone, his face and clothes completely wet. Wang E said, "Today, Shou Jian is being blown about by the wind and rain. If he has any intention of cursing the wind and rain, I'll certainly give him a lash." The envoy said, "Wait a minute, let's see what he does." What a fine True Man! He braved the rain and wind, his head soaked, his shins submerged in mud. This truly shows: "
A thousand days at home are good, but half a day on the road is difficult."
He didn't utter a single word of complaint, but a group of about twelve or thirteen travelers hurriedly caught up with the immortal and said, "Sir, why don't you have an umbrella?" The immortal replied, "I did have an umbrella, but it was blown away by the strong wind just now." One of the merchants said, "Today's wind isn't really wind, and today's rain isn't really rain." Another merchant said, "Why does it need such a strong wind at this time? It's not the Qingming wind, the fish fry wind, or the peach blossom wind." Yet another merchant said, "It doesn't need such heavy rain at this time either; it's not the bean sprout rain, the pear blossom rain, or the yellow plum rain." Yet another merchant said, "If I were an immortal, I would hang the wind god and the rain god in mid-air and beat each of them a thousand times."
You see, on the road, there are many people and many mouths, and what they say is neither true nor false; there's hardly anything serious about it. The Master said, "Gentlemen, this is ordained by Heaven. Don't complain so much." One of the merchants said, "Sir, you're soaking wet, yet you're so carefree. Don't you think about getting edema?" The Master said, "As the saying goes, 'Eczema doesn't harm travelers, and phlegm doesn't harm laborers.'" But that's not a problem. Another merchant said, "If the rain doesn't stop, I'm worried you won't have any clothes to change into." The Master said, "I don't think it will rain for long. This monk is soaked today, but tomorrow the sun will dry him. Heaven won't let us down." One of the merchants laughed and said, "Such a person is an old-fashioned gentleman."
Although the Master said this, the rain suddenly intensified. The merchants said, "Sir, the rain is getting heavier. You walk slowly, let's move on." The Master said, "It's not about being in a hurry, there's still a way forward." As the Master said, "A strong wind doesn't last all morning, and a sudden rain doesn't last all day." The wind and rain began at the hour of Si (9-11 AM) and stopped by noon. Looking out at the sky, the clouds dispersed and the fog cleared, revealing a bright red sun overhead. The True Man then went to a pavilion, took off his tunic, leaving only his short robe, wrung out the water from his sleeves, and dried them in the sun. He sat down in the pavilion and recited a poem: "
The rain is fierce, the wind is raging, heaven and earth are dark; the long journey is almost unbearable.
But now, the warm sun shines forth; I thank Heaven for its grace.
" The envoy saw this True Man, drenched and miserable in the rain, like a chicken beaten by the rain, his tattered robe soaked to the bone, yet without a trace of complaint. When the fog cleared, he recited a poem to thank Heaven. The envoy exclaimed, "What a good man! What a good man!" Wang E said, "My lord, my lord, don't praise him like that. There's a place for him; watch me take care of him."
One day, the True Man went to Yongning Prefecture, to a place called Zhuozhuo Township, where for twenty miles there wasn't a single tree. The mountain was treeless, just as Mencius said, "Therefore it is so barren." Hence the name Zhuozhuo Village. When the True Man arrived there, he suddenly needed to defecate. This was an urgent matter, how could he bear it? Wang Exi said, "The sun is high in the sky; if he defiles the three lights (sun, moon, and stars), he will be made a ghost under the whip." The talisman said, "Let's see what he does."
The True Man searched left and right, but there was no toilet or tree. He would defecate in the open, fearing it would defile the three lights. The True Man, having had his umbrella blown away by a strong wind, now had a new one. So, in the middle of the field, he opened the umbrella to shield himself from the sun before defecating. Afterward, he used his hands to thickly cover himself with clods of earth, then removed the umbrella and washed himself clean in the stream. He then recited a few lines of the "Nine Phoenixes Dispelling Defilement" mantra, and a few lines of "Qianluo Dana" and "Eternal Purity and Cleanliness Heavenly Venerable" to dispel the defilement. Seeing this, the envoy said to Wang E, "This man is meticulous and careful, without a single flaw. Can you still defeat him?" Wang E replied, "My lord, my lord, if we don't defeat him this year, we'll do it next year. Just wait and see."
Meanwhile, the True Man was traveling to Ganxing Post Station in Qujing Prefecture when he suddenly saw a bright pearl lying by the roadside. That pearl
was radiant and perfectly round, as brilliant as the stars Orion and the stars of the constellations Kui and Bi. It was lost at Chishui and obtained with a net; it was taken from Hepu and returned by Meng Chang. This pearl was once tied to the chin of a black dragon. This pearl was once hidden in the belly of an old clam. Wei Huiyu once hung it to illuminate his carriage; Wu Zixu carried it to cross the pass. Truly, it was as round as cinnabar washed in a medicine well, as bright as dew on a lotus plate. The snake's report to the Marquis of Sui was truly extraordinary; the ant's attempt to pierce Confucius's heart was indeed difficult.
The immortal, seeing the bright and lovely pearl, said, "A pearl of the bright moon has been abandoned by the roadside. Wouldn't a passerby draw their sword and look at it?" He then bent down, picked it up, wiped away the dust, rolled it up in paper, and hid it in his sleeve. Wang E saw this and raised his steel whip, saying to the talisman, "It is an ancient custom not to pick up lost items on the road. Shou Jian has picked up someone's pearl on the road. If I don't beat him to death, when will I?" The talisman quickly stopped him, saying, "How do you know if he will return the pearl?" Wang E said, "He already rolled up the paper and put it in his sleeve and returned it. I only gave him a lash." The talisman said, "The City God appointed me as the magistrate. If you kill someone indiscriminately, I will become your enemy." Wang E had no choice but to restrain himself.
Meanwhile, the immortal, having picked up the pearl, did not go but sat on the grassy slope, waiting for the person who lost the pearl to come so that he could return it to him. Looking left and right, he saw no one; it was getting late. He was about to seek lodging at an inn, but feared the person who had lost the pearl might come. This was another crossroads; he wondered where the person had come from and where they were going. Feeling somewhat awkward, he could only sit on the grassy slope for the night.
The person who lost the pearl was a traveler from Jiangxi. He had saved five or six hundred taels of silver while traveling in Guangdong. Upon seeing this pearl, he spent five hundred taels to buy it and one hundred taels for travel expenses, intending to sell it in Yunnan. However, the journey was long and the days were long. He kept the pearl pouch close to his chest day and night, and before he knew it, the thread had torn. Since the pouch had torn, the pearl, being slippery, slipped out and fell onto the road.
The traveler walked for half a day without noticing. At dusk, he stopped at an inn to rest, put down his bag, and bought two jugs of wine to ease his fatigue. After drinking, he untied the jeweled pouch at his chest to examine the pearl, only to find it gone! The guest burst into tears. The innkeepers were startled and said, "Sir, if you're going to get drunk, a little wine would have been fine, but why did you drink two?" The guest replied, "Master, it's not that I'm drunk. My clothes, my food, my marriage, my land purchases, and my house construction were all depicted on that pearl. Now it's gone."
The innkeeper said, "Sir, how could your piglet have married, bought land, and built so many things? The other day I slaughtered a large pig, which only cost a tael or two or three mace of silver. It wasn't even enough to make a garment, so I had to sell a piglet to make up the difference." The guest said, "My pearl can walk!" The innkeeper said, "I understand, how..." " Is there a pig that can't walk? My pig from the other day, as soon as it was let out of its pen, it ran three or four miles away. I had to hire several strong men to carry it back."
The guest said, "I'm not a pig, I'm a pearl that runs on a plate." The innkeeper said, "This is a treasure! You're so careless!" The guest said, "Sir, I'll entrust my belongings to you, and I'll search for it along the same route through the night." The innkeeper said, "Sir, you are so ignorant! This place is deep in the mountains, dense with snakes and insects, tigers, and mountain demons and ghosts. If you travel alone at night, you'll either be bitten by a snake or a tiger, or be possessed by a ghost. I'm afraid you won't survive. If you die tomorrow, you'll bring trouble to my inn. Please, please."
The guest had no choice but to wait until dawn to set off. That night, he sat with his eyes half-closed, filled with a thousand sorrows, muttering the name of that pearl in his mouth and thinking of that pearl in his heart. This is truly:
Joy makes the night seem too short, loneliness makes it seem too long.
Suddenly, the sound of a drum beating at dawn from the watchtower was heard, and roosters crowing and chirping. The guest then said to the innkeeper, "Sir, please watch over my luggage while I go to retrieve the pearl." The innkeeper said, "It's still early." The guest said, "It's almost dawn." So he left the inn.
At that time, the waning moon had not yet set, and the morning star was still bright. The guest searched for the old road, passing one long pavilion and then one short pavilion, weeping and crying all the way. He asked everyone he met, "Yesterday I dropped a bright pearl on this road. If anyone finds it and sells it, I'm willing to split the price with them." People replied, "You lost your pearl yesterday and are looking for it today. Where is there such a kind bodhisattva to return it to you?"
Hearing this, the guest became even more distressed. Just as the sun was about to reach noon, he arrived near Ganxing Post Station. Master Sa sat on a grassy slope and saw a man walking hurriedly, panting heavily, tears streaming down his cheeks—a truly pitiful sight. Master Sa quickly asked, "Sir, are you perhaps the one who lost the pearl yesterday?" The man replied, "Yes, I am. Yesterday, a bright pearl fell, and I don't know who found it. If anyone is kind enough to return it to me, I'm willing to split the pearl's price with them." Master Sa said, "You're quite careless, you merchant. I found this pearl yesterday at noon, waited for you for half a day, and then sat here all night waiting for you until today." He then took out the original pearl from his sleeve and said, "Is this the pearl?"
The man's sorrow turned to joy, and he said, "This is indeed the pearl." Master Sa then generously returned it to him. The guest said, "It's rare for you to be so kind, sir. Please come with me to sell this pearl, and we'll split the price equally." The master replied, "Of course, I'm a monk and won't take a single coin." The guest said, "It's rare for you to be so kind, sir, waiting for me for a whole day and night. Since you won't share the price of my pearl, please accept my humble bow." The master said, "No need. If you bow to me with your head bowed, I will return the favor on my knees. Just a simple bow and farewell is enough." The guest then took his leave of the master, deeply grateful. The guest went south, and the master went west—but that's another story.
Meanwhile, the talisman messenger, seeing this from the sky, repeatedly expressed his admiration, saying, "This Mr. Sa must be a reincarnation of Confucius or a Buddha, otherwise how could he have such a kind heart? Even the immortals would be incomplete without him. A good man! A good man!" Seeing the talisman messenger's envy, Wang E said, "My lord, my lord, I'll only follow him for nine years, there are still three years left. In these three years, you'll see if he deserves to die!"
But what will become of Wang E after this? Let's find out in the following chapter.
Chapter Nine: Li Qiongqiong's Disregard for Female Chastity, Master Sa Rejects Women.
One day, Master Sa traveled to a place called Saihua Village. Why is it called "Saihua Village"? The village's mountains have a strange shape; there are ridges to the east, west, south, and north, resembling a beautiful woman lying on her back, commonly called "Beauty Saihua." The village is named Saihua Village because of its shape. Many of the women in the village are promiscuous. There was a woman named Li Qiongqiong who married Zhou Tianrong. Tianrong had a sworn brother named Yao Jiude, who was the prefect of Chengdu Prefecture in Sichuan. Tianrong visited Yao Jiude at his post, and upon seeing Tianrong, Yao Jiude was overjoyed to meet an old friend in a foreign land and stayed at his post for two years without returning home. Meanwhile, his wife Qiongqiong had two lovers at home. One was Liu Jiaolang, and the other was Shen Junlang. Jiaolang and Junlang considered each other good friends and classmates, sharing a refined and righteous friendship, like Guan Zhong and Bao Shuya. Liu Jiaolang was also a cousin of Zhou Tianrong, and called Li Qiongqiong his cousin's wife.
One day, Jiaolang went to Tianrong's house to ask if his cousin had returned from Chengdu. Li Qiongqiong came out to meet Jiaolang, and he saw that she was elegant and graceful, with a gentle and kind temperament, a waist as soft and tender as a willow branch, and a face as delicate as a lotus flower emerging from the water. Do not envy Qin Nongyu playing the flute in the tower, nor boast of Wang Zhaojun playing the pipa on horseback. Upon seeing her, the handsome young man bowed deeply and said, "Greetings, sister-in-law." Li Qiongqiong quickly returned the greeting, saying, "Uncle, please don't be offended." She then asked, "Uncle, since my cousin left, you haven't come to my house. What has upset you?" The young man replied, "Nonsense. It's just that the imperial examination is approaching, and we need to study, so I haven't been able to come."
Li Qiongqiong, having missed so many precious moments since her husband's passing, was captivated by the young man's handsome appearance and talented nature. This young man, Liu, was also moved upon seeing Qiongqiong, who was "more eloquent than flowers and more fragrant than jade." Truly,
a beautiful woman and a charming man, both worthy of praise.
The new willows are enamored with the orioles, and the beautiful flowers are captivated by the butterflies.
Li Qiongqiong then asked, "Uncle Liu, will you marry your wife this year?" The young man replied, "I'm ashamed, I'm ashamed, my marriage is still far off." Qiongqiong said, "With such a talented young man, how could you worry about not having a wife?" Seeing Qiongqiong's tenderness, the young man asked, "Sister-in-law, since your cousin left, you've been sleeping alone. Don't you often beat the bed and toss your pillow?" Li Qiongqiong just smiled and didn't answer. The young man continued, "If you don't mind, sister-in-law, I'll come to keep you company tonight." Qiongqiong again smiled and didn't answer.
Seeing that Qiongqiong seemed interested, the young man went closer, embraced her, and kissed her. The two of them, their desires aroused, acted like fish in water, like phoenixes seeking their mate. They went into the bedroom, unbuttoned their clothes, loosened their belts, and took off their garments, passionately making love. After their lovemaking, the young man took his leave. Li Qiongqiong then invited him to come early that night, but their intentions were uncertain—but that's another story.
Meanwhile, Liu Jiaolang went to the inn and told Shen Junlang about the matter, explaining the details in detail, which captivated Shen Junlang, making him lose all sense of wonder. After dusk, Liu Jiaolang said to Shen Junlang, "You sleep alone tonight; I'll go and stay with my cousin-in-law for the night." Shen Junlang said, "Go ahead." He said this, but secretly he was plotting something. When Jiaolang left, he tiptoed after her. Arriving at the Zhou family's house, he saw Li Qiongqiong sitting under the lamplight. Upon seeing Jiaolang, the two embraced, repeatedly calling out, "My darling!" Suddenly, Shen Junlang stepped forward, saying, "Good brother-in-law, good brother-in-law!"
Li Qiongqiong was startled. Liu Jiaolang said, "What the hell? Why are you here?" Li Qiongqiong then asked, "Uncle Jiaolang, who is this?" Jiaolang said, "This is Shen Junlang, whom I've befriended." Li Qiongqiong then bowed to Junlang. Shen Junlang saw that this woman indeed had "cherry lips like Fan Su, a willow waist like a slender willow. Her face resembled Wenjun's beauty, beyond the reach of painting." He couldn't help but be captivated. Li Qiongqiong also saw that Shen Junlang was handsome and gentle, yet Cui Yingying loved Zhang Sheng, just as Xiangru of Han loved Wenjun.
Shen Junlang said to Liu Jiaolang, "Brother, brother, tonight we can share the pleasures of the night. How can you monopolize the beauty of Shanglin Garden?" Liu Jiaolang replied, "What do you have to say to my lover? Just ask my sister-in-law Qiongqiong." Qiongqiong said, "Since Master Shen is Uncle Jiaolang's confidant, I can't refuse." So the three of them slept in one bed. Li Qiongqiong slept in the middle, Shen Junlang slept on the inside, and Liu Jiaolang slept on the outside.
That night, it was Shen Junlang who first made love to Li Qiongqiong. Look at these two newly acquainted lovers, so much affection, so much tenderness, so much caressing. Their kiss is sweet on the tongue, their breath fragrant. This is truly: "Nothing is more joyful than meeting a new friend." Shen Junlang's lovemaking is over, now it's Liu Jiaolang's turn. Look at them, they've already made love once, now their love deepens, their affection grows stronger. Liu Jiaolang keeps calling her "Jiaojiao's sister-in-law," and Qiongqiong keeps calling her "My dear uncle"—how wonderful! Then, Shen Junlang asks Qiongqiong, "Is it over? Is it under?" Qiongqiong replies, "I see it in front, then suddenly it's behind." So, facing outwards, she embraces Liu Jiaolang; facing inwards, she embraces Shen Junlang. This is truly:
The bridal chamber is like a sea of spring, every moment worth a thousand pieces of gold.
Li Qiongqiong is so happy! Liu Jiaolang is so happy! Shen Junlang is so happy! The two of them went out at night and returned the next day, but that's another story.
Now, let's talk about Master Sa, who was traveling and arrived at Saihua Village. It was already late when he arrived. The Master looked ahead and saw no signs of life in the village. He wanted to proceed, but then he saw high mountains and dense trees. He just arrived at the gate of the Zhou residence and saw a small gate. The Master dared not disturb those inside and quietly sat down under the gate, intending to spend the night there and continue his journey the next morning. Little did he know that Li Qiongqiong, who was inside, saw him and thought, "I have arranged to meet Liu Jiaolang and Shen Junlang for a rendezvous tonight, but this Taoist priest is at the gate; it's very inconvenient." She then called a servant named Zhou Bao, whom Tianrong had hired to supply firewood and water when he went to Chengdu. Qiongqiong said to him, "There's a Taoist priest under the gate outside; tell him to come in and sleep."
Zhou Bao then went to the Taoist priest and said, "Sir, it's getting dark, and it's not comfortable sitting here. Please come inside to sleep." The Taoist priest replied, "I am a monk, and this is not an inn. I cannot go in." At that moment, Li Qiongqiong said from inside, "Sir, it's not convenient outside. Please come in and sleep." The Taoist priest simply said that this family was virtuous and followed the servant inside to rest, without even asking if there were any men in the house.
Meanwhile, Shen Junlang and Liu Jiaolang went to a tavern for drinks earlier that day. In the middle of their drinks, Liu Jiaolang said, "Tonight, let's go to Li Qiongqiong's house. Can I go first for our first time?" Shen Junlang said, "I want to go first." You see, the two of them argued and started fighting right there in the tavern. Shen Junlang smashed a cup in Liu Jiaolang's face, and the cup broke, cutting Liu Jiaolang's face and causing blood to flow. Liu Jiaolang then picked up a pair of chopsticks and hit Shen Junlang on the head, leaving his eyes swollen and bruised.
The two went to the library. Liu Jiaolang said, "Don't go tonight." He and Shen Junlang sealed their clothes, and the two sat facing each other, their eyes locked, only a dim lamp in the distance. Unexpectedly, Li Qiongqiong leaned against the door, gazing longingly at the two lovers, muttering to herself, "In the past, they came together every night, but tonight neither of them is here. If Liu Jiaolang isn't here, it would be good if Shen Junlang were. If Shen Junlang isn't here, it would be good if Liu Jiaolang were." She pondered and deliberated, growing more and more distressed, her longing so intense it seemed to break one's heart. As
they spoke until midnight, Li Qiongqiong, unable to contain her passion and burning with desire, cursed, "Those two short-lived fools, they're killing me!" Suddenly, she thought, "That Taoist priest who came last night was handsome and refined. Why not have some fun with him? Wouldn't that be wonderful?" So she took a lamp and went to where Master Sa was sleeping. The Master Shi hadn't bolted the door, and Li Qiongqiong pushed it open. Upon seeing him, the Master Shi bowed slightly. Li Qiongqiong then gave a polite greeting, saying, "Please don't be offended, sir." The Master Shi could only return the bow. Shi Wang'e then raised his steel whip, clenching his fists and teeth, and said to the envoy, "My lord, my lord, I've followed you for ten years and never encountered such a wicked creature. He's destined to die tonight. If he does anything wicked, give him a lash." Indeed: If
Yama has decreed death at midnight, he won't be spared until the fourth.
The envoy said, "This is a crucial point. If Lord Sa makes any mistakes, it's up to you to decide." But that's another story.
Now, Master Sa bowed to Qiongqiong and said, "Young lady, what brings you here so early?" Qiongqiong replied, "Last evening, sir, I was not attentive enough, so I came to keep you company." Master Sa said, "Young lady, you are mistaken. 'One should not adjust one's shoes in a melon patch, nor straighten one's hat under a plum tree.' In times of suspicion, one must be careful. Please leave. If someone finds out, it will be unpleasant." Qiongqiong said, "My husband is far away, and I have no parents-in-law. Only my servant is fast asleep. Sir, you must be sensible." Master Sa said, "A good woman is one who adheres to the three obediences and fulfills the four virtues. A good monk is one who purifies the six senses and empties the five aggregates. Young lady, let me be a good monk, and you should be a good woman." With that,
he turned to leave. Unexpectedly, Qiongqiong stood firmly at the door, saying, "Sir, once you enter my room, you can't leave. Where are you going?" The Taoist priest said, "Young lady, look at the sky. This humble Taoist priest truly dislikes doing such things." Qiongqiong said, "Youth fades easily, and good encounters are rare. Tonight, sir, you've met me... it would be foolish of you not to have some relations with me. I've met you, sir, and to let you escape would be foolish of me." She then moved closer to the Taoist priest, intending to have sex with him.
The Taoist priest had no choice but to draw his sword, hand it to Qiongqiong, kneel down, tears streaming down his face, and said, "Young lady, if you insist on having sex with me tonight, I wish to borrow your hand to cut off my head with this sword." Seeing the Taoist priest's words, Qiongqiong's heart was at peace. She said, "Sir, you are a good man. Please forgive my frivolous behavior." Then she took the lamp and left. At dawn, the Taoist priest, considering this woman immoral, left without saying goodbye.
The talisman shook his head, stuck out his tongue, and said, "Such a terrible scoundrel, it's a wonder that Master Sa escaped him! A rare find!" At this moment, Wang E was also somewhat convinced and said, "At this critical moment, I was prepared to give him a lash, but he escaped again. Let's follow him for another two years and see what happens."
But what will happen after that? The following is the next chapter.
Chapter Ten: Master Sa Cares for the Elderly and the Young, Uses Thunder and Fire to Exorcise the Plague Demon
. It is said that Master Sa was traveling to a place called Xipu one day. In the wilderness of Xipu, there was an old man who was eighty or ninety years old. There was a young child who was only two or three years old. At that time, Wang E and the talisman arrived at the place first. Wang E said, "If Sa Shoujian comes here and does not care for the dead or the child, this is heartless and unreasonable. He should be lashed." The talisman said, "Caring for the young and pitying the dead is indeed a great principle. If he does not have this heart, I cannot tell you not to refrain from lashing him. Let's see what he does." Before he finished speaking, Master Sa came. On the crossroads, an old man lay dead, leaving behind a young child. How pitiful was the dead old man!
His long beard was like snow in the depths of winter, his short hair like frost in September. His eyes were wide open in death, his body bare and gleaming. He wore neither tattered old socks nor fine clothes. What kind of lonely, destitute elder was this? What kind of pitiful old man was this? Why did he not die peacefully in his bed? Why did he lie so forlornly by the roadside? Crows, seeing him, wanted to swarm down and peck at him; yellow dogs, hearing the sound, thought of leading their packs to attack. Such a sight was truly heartbreaking, a tragic and pitiful death. And how pitiful was the young child?
Tears streamed down his eyes, and his cries were mournful and plaintive. Like a helpless, starving ram, like a fledgling crow crying out for food. This isn't Deng Bodao abandoning his own son, nor is it Liu Shi's daughter leaving behind her orphaned child. Alas, this tender little chick is only two years old, why does he cry and wail at the crossroads? Other children are still wrapped in swaddling clothes, why is this child tossed about in the mud? Looking at his face, there's no sign of laughter or play; hearing his voice, he only cries for grandma and daddy. His cries for grandma are mournful and choked, his gaze for daddy is sorrowful and pleading. Seeing his pitiful and forlorn state, one can only feel sorrow and pity.
And why is the old man who died without clothes or shoes? Because a beggar passed by, saw the old man dying, and stripped him of his clothes and shoes, so he was naked. The Taoist priest arrived at this place and saw the old man with no end in sight and the young man with no one to care for him. Overwhelmed with sorrow, tears streamed down his face. Seeing that the deceased was naked and without shoes, he took off his two shirts and his shoes and socks, and gently clothed the dead man. Unable to bear the child's crying and fearing he would go hungry, he quickly gave the child a jujube to stave off his hunger. The child ate the jujube and stopped crying.
The Taoist priest then thought of burying the old man, but he could not prepare a coffin. Not only could he not prepare a coffin, but even digging a grave in the wilderness was impossible; there was no hoe or basket to lend him. Helpless, he could only slowly shovel the earth with his magic sword. As he shoveled more earth, it wrapped around the hem of his robe. What did this look like? It resembled the scene described in the poem, "How virtuous was the Zhao woman, who wrapped earth in her hempen skirt to build a tomb."
The pit was dug two or three feet deep. The Taoist priest then went east to cut some tree branches and west to cut some banana leaves. He first laid the branches and leaves in the pit, then placed the deceased on top of them, and covered the body with several more layers of banana leaves. Finally, he covered the remains with soil. After covering the body, he sharpened the sword, put it in its sheath, and wore it. He then carried the child on his back to find his relatives, thinking to himself, "This old man must be the child's father-in-law. Perhaps he was carrying his grandson somewhere, but he died here. The child must be no more than ten miles away."
So he went to ask in the east village, but no one there knew. He went to ask in the north village, but no one there knew. He went to ask in the west village, but no one there knew either. The Taoist priest had no choice but to go to the south village. He happened to arrive at a house where an elder over eighty years old lived. The elder
was leaning on a bamboo branch of medium length and wore a cloth robe that was neither yellow nor white. Wearing a woolen hat of moderate height and a hempen belt of moderate size, he was indeed one of the Five Elders of Xiangshan, and one of the Four Sages of Shangling. Though not a Qing Dynasty official residing in the imperial court, he was a veritable hermit living in seclusion.
Upon seeing the child, the old man asked the Taoist priest, "Sir, where did you bring this child from?" The Taoist priest replied, "Yesterday in Xipu, I saw an old man dead on a fork in the road in the wilderness, leaving behind this child. I buried the old man, and today I've been searching for his relatives with this child, but after a whole day, I haven't found him."
Upon hearing this, the old man exclaimed "Ah!" and tears streamed down his face. The Taoist priest asked, "Why are you weeping, elder?" The old man replied, "This is the deceased Zheng Deweng, and this child is his grandson. Deweng had accumulated a lot of good deeds throughout his life, but because he lived in a bad place and built a bad house, he attracted plague and disaster. Unexpectedly, this year his whole family contracted the plague, and one son and one daughter-in-law are seriously ill and about to die. Deweng was afraid that if this grandson also contracted the plague, the family line would end, so he probably took this child to his daughter's house to escape. Deweng's daughter's house is exactly thirty li away, and Deweng is a ninety-year-old man. He certainly couldn't walk that distance and died in Xipu. Alas! Alas!"
After saying this, he wept bitterly again. The Taoist priest asked, "May I ask your name, sir? Are you related to or from the same clan as Deweng?" The old man replied, "My name is Yang Fengji. I am neither Deweng's relative nor from the same clan. Deweng was my classmate when we were young. Now Deweng has died in Xipu, and I was unable to bury him. You, sir, buried him. I was unable to help this child, and you, sir, helped him. I am very grateful for your kindness." The Taoist priest said, "What are you saying?" Then he asked Old Man Yang, "Where does Deweng live?" Old Man
Yang pointed to the village ahead and said, "That house is his home, but you must not go there, sir." The Taoist priest said, "Sir, why do you tell me not to go?" Old Man Yang said, "I believe Deweng..." His daughter-in-law must die now, and now all the spirits are gathered at his house. Not only do they appear at night, but they also appear during the day. Or tie the tail on the house, or throw bricks upstairs. In that place, there are roads and no one is walking on them, and there is food and no one is eating them. "The real man said, "Pindao has some magic that can drive away evil spirits and save people from dying diseases. It doesn't matter if you go and take a look. "Mr. Yang said: "Since you have a wonderful way, sir, it's okay to go, but this baby will only be left in the old man's home. The real person said: "The one I carried is still there." If his father and mother are not dead, seeing this son would make him feel relieved, wouldn't it alleviate some of his symptoms? "Yang Laodao said; "That's right. "The real person said goodbye to Mr. Yang and left.
When he arrived at Zheng's house, there were indeed many monsters, big ones, small ones, long ones, short ones, some with white faces, some with green faces, some with dark faces, some with shaggy hair, and some with rolled eyes. Those who threw bricks, those who made tiles, those who danced with sticks, and those who used fists. "Look, even in broad daylight, someone dares to appear here!
What a sage!" He held the child in his arms, focused his mind, made a hand seal, and conjured raging thunder in his palm and fierce fire on his fingers. The thunder roared and the fire blazed fiercely, striking the demons and monsters until their souls were scattered and their hearts were chilled to the bone. In an instant, they vanished without a trace, like snow being doused with hot soup.
The sage then entered the room and found that De Weng's daughter-in-law was on the verge of death. The sage then took the palm-leaf fan given to him by the immortal master Wang Fangping, and with one fan, the fever subsided; with a second, it cooled; and with a third, it stung his hair. The couple, though brought back from the dead, had been ill for more than half a month, without having eaten a single drop of porridge or soup. Where would they find any strength? The Taoist priest then chanted a spell over the dates, saying, "Sheep horn, sheep horn, deer roe, deer roe, ah hong ne he ba fu hong." The dates then appeared from his sleeve. The Taoist priest took them out and gave each of them two. The couple ate them and felt much better, so they got out of bed.
The child, seeing his parents, cried out. The Taoist priest then untied the child from his arms and returned him to the couple. The couple asked, "Sir, why is my child in your arms?" The Taoist priest replied, "Yesterday, I passed through Xipu and saw an old man dead on the road. This child was standing beside the old man's body, crying and sobbing. I buried the old man and, carrying this child, inquired about his relatives. Just now, I met Old Man Yang Fengji, who said that the deceased was your father and this child was your son. He also said that you and your wife were seriously ill, and that I exorcised the evil spirits and cured your illness. Now I am returning your son to you!"
Upon hearing this, the couple burst into tears. The husband cried, "My father died an untimely death!" The wife also cried, "He almost caused the death of my beloved child!" The couple then prostrated themselves on the ground to thank the Taoist priest, saying, "Our father was granted the grace of burial, our child was saved, and we, as a couple, were spared. We can never repay
this kindness, even if we were to be ground to dust." Seeing the couple prostrating themselves, the Taoist priest quickly helped the husband up and instructed him to help his wife up, saying, "I am a monk; helping the people and benefiting all beings is my duty. How can I express my gratitude? But your father died, and I only gave him a hasty burial. You must prepare proper clothes, a coffin, and proper burial for him." After giving these instructions, the Taoist priest took his leave. The couple saw him off at the gate, deeply saddened.
Seeing the True Man's actions, the talisman exclaimed, "The virtue of Lord Sa is unparalleled in ancient times and rare in this world; even immortals would find someone like him." At this moment, Wang E also agreed, saying, "This is indeed the most difficult thing to do." Then, the talisman said to Wang E, "I have followed Lord Sa for the past twelve years, and he has been without fault; he is truly a True Man and will soon ascend to immortality. Why don't you submit to him and become one of his generals? Wouldn't that be better?" Wang E replied, "I will obey your command." The talisman said, "I must return to see the City God; I must take my leave now." And so they departed. But this is another story. Now, the
True Man arrived at Longxing River one day. It was late autumn, a time when the water was clear and the cold pools were pristine. Seeing the clear autumn water, the True Man gazed upon it with admiration and composed a poem: "
Wild waters stretch to the sky, autumn is one color; the west wind is still, the blue waves are calm.
The vast expanse does not allow even a speck of dust to stir; its clear depths are inherently pure."
A vast expanse of cold water reflects the verdant green of Luo Dai; a river of chilly water ripples like duck's head blue.
If the human heart is free of impurities, one can be confident
that the jade mirror within one's heart is clear. The True Man recited these verses, for it is through the water that one sees the heart, and through the heart that one sees the Way. Suddenly, a divine figure appeared in the water. The god had a square face, wore a yellow turban, and was clad in golden armor. He held his sleeve in his left hand and a whip in his right, appearing before the True Man. The True Man asked, "What god are you?" The god replied, "I am the god of Guangfu Temple in Xiangyin, surnamed Wang and named E. I demanded sacrifices of young boys and girls, and the True Man burned down my temple. I have followed you for twelve years, secretly observing you, waiting to avenge my past transgressions. Now that the True Man's merits are complete, I should be included in the Immortal Records, and I humbly request to be one of your generals."
The True Man said, "You are a vicious god. If you were to fall under my law, your willful and reckless actions would surely damage my laws, and I would not accept you. Go! Go!" The god said, "I now repent of my past wrongdoings and have reformed. True Man..." "If you are not accepted, where is the meaning of 'a gentleman helps others to achieve good, not evil'?" The True Man said, "Since you say so, can you remain steadfast to the end?" Wang E then swore an oath, saying, "Today I repent and reform. If I do not remain steadfast to the end, may I be struck by lightning and eternally condemned to the hell of Yin Mountain." The True Man said, "Since that is so, you may change your name, replacing 'E' with 'Shan' (good). From now on, you shall be called 'Wang Shan'."
Wang Shan bowed and thanked him. The True Man said, "I now wish to travel to Fengdu to save some wandering souls. Will you accompany me?" Wang Shan said, "Since you have accepted me, True Man, I will not dare to leave your side even for a moment. If you go to Fengdu, I, your humble servant, am willing to go with you." The True Man said, "In that case, you may come with me." "
But I wonder how the True Man fared in Fengdu. The following will tell.
Chapter Eleven: True Man Sa Travels to Fengdu, He Travels Throughout the Underworld
. Fengdu is a ghost kingdom, located at the very edge of the earth. How could True Man Sa, a living person, go there? It was because he met the Immortal Master Ge, who incantated dates with mantras every day. Having cleared his mind of worldly desires, his body became light and agile, traversing mountains as if they were flat ground, and floating on deep waters as if on land. Thus, he was able to go to Fengdu. What did the True Man want to do in Fengdu? Before he learned the Dao, he was a cunning official who caused the deaths of many, and a quack doctor who murdered many, failing to save any of them. Feeling guilty and uneasy, he wanted to go to Fengdu to save those dead. When the True Man arrived at that place, he saw a chilling wind and a thick black fog. In a small town, a blue-faced ghost messenger shouted, 'What living person dares to enter this pass?' The True Man asked, 'What is this pass called?' The ghost messenger replied, 'Can't you even look around?'" The True Man looked up and saw the three large characters "Gate of Hell" written above. He said, "
I am a wandering Taoist priest, traveling to Fengdu Kingdom. May the ghost messenger let me pass?" The ghost messenger replied, "Since you are a wandering Taoist priest, I will not accept the toll. You may pass, you may pass." The True Man then entered the Gate of Hell. The ghost messenger saw Wang Shan's strange appearance and saw him holding a steel whip. He asked, "What kind of deity is this? Do not disturb my underworld." The True Man said, "This is one of my generals." The ghost messenger said, "Do not bring spies." The True Man said, "I dare not." So the ghost messenger also let Wang Shan pass. After passing the Gate of Hell, the True Man traveled only a few miles and saw a towering pavilion:
majestic and towering, reaching into the clouds, with a horizontal white jade railing.
Incense burners wafted like clouds over the imperial robes, and crimson lanterns illuminated the palace.
To the left, a bull's head swung fiercely; to the right, the faces of mules and horses stood ruggedly.
The golden plaques, used to summon the dead and their spirits, are passed down through generations; white silk ribbons hang to guide the souls. This is
called the main gate of the Underworld, the Hall of Yama, where the King of Hell resides.
The True Man observes from the outside, and there, in the hall, are the ten generations of Yama Kings gathered, discussing matters. Who are these ten generations of Yama Kings? King Qin Guang, King Chu Jiang, King Song Di, King Wu Guan, King Yama, King Tai Shan, Lord Ping Deng, King Du Shi, King Bian Cheng, and King Zhuan Lun. Upon seeing the True Man, Ox-Head and Horse-Face reported to King Yama, "Before the Hall of Yama, there is a Taoist priest looking around, yet he is a living person, accompanied by a deity. I wonder where he came from?" King Qin Guang said, "This must be the True Man of He Sa from Shu." King Song asked, "How does Your Majesty know this?" King Qin Guang said, "The City God of Huguang Province recently described this man's virtues. This man wears the talisman of Zhang Tianshi and is named True Man, possessing great magical power. When he burned down Guangfu Temple, the True God Wang Shan followed him for twelve years, seeking revenge. Seeing that he had committed no wrongdoing, he begged the True Man to take him in as a general. The one who came here must be him, and the deity is Wang Shan." He then ordered Judge Cui Yu to question him.
Upon seeing the True Man, Cui Yu bowed to him and asked, "You have come here; may I ask your name?" The True Man replied, "My surname is Sa, and my given name is Shoujian. I am from Xihe in Shu. I have come to see King Yama." Cui Yu asked, "Who is this deity?" The True Man replied, "He is my general, Wang Shan." The judge said, "In that case, please wait a moment." He then reported to King Yama, "The one who has come is True Man Guo Sa." The Ten Kings of Yama then ordered the judge to invite him in.
As soon as the True Man arrived at the hall, the Ten Kings of Yama descended the steps to greet him. After the True Man and King Yama exchanged greetings, they sat down as host and guest. King Qin Guang asked, "What brings you here, True Man?" The True Man replied, "My father and mother died in the Underworld, and I have come here to seek an audience." King Yama said, "Your father and mother were of impeccable character in life and have now been reincarnated in Heaven." The True Man continued, "Fifty years ago, before I began my cultivation, I worked as a physician and an official. I never imagined that as a physician I would mistakenly administer some medicine, and as an official I would wield my pen carelessly, causing the deaths of several people. Today I humbly beg Your Majesty to grant them salvation, so that these unjustly deceased ghosts will not blame me." King Yama said, "I wonder if these ghosts have been reincarnated yet? True Man, you may inquire about them from the City of the Wrongfully Dead." The True Man said, "Would you please send a messenger to guide me?" King Qin Guang said, "I will have the Judge accompany me." Thus, the True Man bid farewell to King Yama and descended from the Hall of the Dead. But that is another story.
Meanwhile, Judge Cui Yu led the True Man on a tour of the Underworld, with Wang Shan accompanying him. On the left side, there was a high platform, about twenty feet high, with two paths, one on the right leading upwards and the other on the left downwards. Countless people were below, going up and down. Those going up were filled with worry, while those coming down wept bitterly. The Immortal asked the Judge, "Mr. Cui, what is that platform?" The Judge replied, "Immortal, you may not know, but when a person dies, the first day they are gathered at the local earth god temple, the second day they are taken to the Eastern Peak Temple to see the Heavenly Emperor, who registers their name. Only on the third day do they arrive in Fengdu Kingdom. Even here, their hearts are not at peace. King Yama has decreed that they may ascend this high platform to gaze upon their hometown, where everyone can weep, and only then will they be truly at peace. Therefore, this platform is called the 'Platform of Longing for Home.'" On the
right side, there was also a high platform, about twenty feet high, but only the left side had a path, and no one walked on it. The Immortal asked, "What kind of platform is that?" The Judge replied, "In this world, there are only two paths: good and evil. Those who do good, after meeting King Yama, are sent to Heaven by the Department of Rewards for Good Deeds, which prepares colorful flags, drums, and music. They ascend to Heaven via this platform. Therefore, this platform is called the Platform to Heaven." The Immortal asked, "Why is there only one path?" The Judge replied, "One can go up but not down, hence there is only one path." The Immortal asked, "Why do so few people use this path?" The Judge replied, "How many people in this world can ascend to Heaven?"
After walking for a while, they saw two high mountains on the left and right. On one mountain, smoke and fire erupted, while on the other, swords and spears gleamed. The immortal asked, "What are those two mountains called?" The judge replied, "The one with billowing smoke and fiery flames is called 'Flaming Mountain,' and the one with its menacing blades and spears is called 'Blade and Spear Mountain.' There's a saying about Flaming Mountain: those who are cold-hearted, callous, and ruthless in life will be sent to Flaming Mountain after meeting Yama, where they will be burned to a crisp, their bones shattered, and their ashes scattered in the cold furnace overnight. There's also a saying about Blade and Spear Mountain: those who are two-faced, malicious, and treacherous in life will be sent to Blade and Spear Mountain after meeting Yama, where they will be hacked to pieces by blades and spears." Indeed:
In life, no matter how eloquent you are, in death you cannot escape the sword's wrath.
After walking a while, a river of blood flowed across the road. There was a golden bridge, a silver bridge, and a single-plank bridge. Under the single-plank bridge, someone had fallen into the water, bitten by many poisonous insects. The Master asked, "What is this river called? What is this bridge called?" The Judge replied, "This is called the Naihe Bridge. In this world, there are saints and virtuous people who, when they die, are guided across the Golden Bridge by banners and canopies. There are also loyal ministers, filial sons, righteous men and women, and upright men who are guided across the Silver Bridge by banners and canopies. If a person in this world corrupts human relations, goes against the principles of Heaven, and has a treacherous heart, then when they cross the single-plank bridge, they will fall into the river of blood, where golden dragons, silver scorpions, bronze snakes, and iron eels will come to bite and harm them. The person you just saw drowning is one of these wicked people." The Master said, "Good and evil will eventually be rewarded; it's just a matter of sooner or later."
After walking for a while, they came to a lonely embankment. All around was silent, a cold wind blew on their faces, and cold rain poured down, making them feel desolate. The Master asked, "Mr. Cui, what is the name of this ridge?" The Judge replied, "It is called 'The Ridge of Desolation.' Anyone in the underworld who crosses this ridge will shed tears of profound sorrow and desolation, hence the name 'The Ridge of Desolation.'
The ridge is about three to five li long. People come and go along it. There was a group of three or five, swaying from side to side, one muttering 'three coins,' another uttering 'two lies.' The Master asked, 'Who are these people?' The Judge replied, 'They are all drunkards.' Then came another group of three or five, raggedly dressed, with sallow faces and mouths, each clenching two large fists. The Master asked, 'Who are these people?' The Judge replied, 'They are all poor ghosts.'
Then came another group of five or seven, their eyebrows drooping, eyes closed, heads to the east, feet to the west, hands forward, bodies backward, neither alive nor dead. The Master asked, 'Who are these people?' " The judge said, "They are all plague ghosts." Then came another group of seven, eight, or nine, lying supine on the ground, their hands propped up, their legs kicking, their eyes rolling back, their mouths dry. The Master asked, "What kind of people are these?" The judge replied, "They are all ghosts struggling for their lives." Then came another group of eleven or twelve, each with a hat but no net, a shirt but no skirt, shoes but no socks, a top but no bottom, one holding a cane, another a coconut shell ladle. The Master asked, "What kind of people are these?" The judge replied, "They are all beggar ghosts."
Then came another group of six or seven, each carrying a roof beam on their shoulder, another carrying a rope. The Master asked, "What kind of people are these?" The judge replied, "They are all hanged ghosts." Then came another group of fourteen or fifteen, some holding yellow-edged coins, scattering them on the ground, others looking at the coins from left to right, putting them away and looking at them again, making a ruckus. The Master asked, "What kind of people are these?" The judge said, "The one scattering money is a miserly ghost, and the one watching the money is a stingy ghost." The desolate ridge was indeed long, with many ghosts of various kinds. The True Man asked each ghost a question, and the judge answered each question, and before they knew it, they had crossed the ridge.
But they didn't know where they were going. Let's find out what happens next.
Chapter Twelve: The Underworld Establishes the Platform for Rewarding Good Deeds; The True Man Visits the Branch Office of Rewarding Good Deeds. Now,
the True Man crossed the desolate ridge and looked up. He saw a main gate with the four large characters "Platform for Rewarding Good Deeds" on the gate tower. The Platform for Rewarding Good Deeds was a magnificent palace with jade pavilions and green tiles. Eight palaces were arranged on the left and right sides, each... The palace gates were all adorned with vermilion plaques in gold lettering. The first vermilion plaque bore the four large characters "The Abode of Filial Piety."
The judge led the immortal inside, amidst colorful banners and crimson banners, resounding celestial music, auspicious clouds, and fragrant aromas—it was said to be a divine abode. The judge and the immortal went to the main hall and invited several people out to greet them. They all wore crowns reaching to the heavens, brocade robes, and pearl-embroidered shoes. After the greetings, they sat down as host and guest, exchanged pleasantries, and were served tea. The judge said, "This is Mr. Sa, a mortal of the living, known as the Immortal. He has come to visit us today while traveling through the underworld." The others said, "We are honored by your presence." The judge asked, "Does Mr. Sa recognize these gentlemen?" The immortal replied, "We do not know them."
The judge said, “You are all virtuous gentlemen of utmost filial piety. This one is surnamed Meng, and his given name is Zong. When his mother was ill, he longed for bamboo shoot soup in the winter. He hugged a bamboo and wept, and bamboo shoots sprouted. Later, the court commended him and appointed him as Guanglu Dafu (Grand Master of the Palace). This one is surnamed Jiang, and his given name is Shi (Poetry). He was extremely filial to his mother. His mother loved to drink river water and ate raw fish. Suddenly, a spring appeared near their house, tasting like river water. Every day, two carp would leap out, which he would take to feed his mother. Later, the court commended him and appointed him as Zhongshu Cheng (Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat). And this one is surnamed Huang, and his given name is Xiang (Fragrant). At the age of nine, he would fan her pillow in the summer and warm her quilt in the winter. Later, the court commended him.” The award was given to the Grand Censor. The rest of you are mostly filial sons, residing in this Palace of Filial Piety.”
The True Man nodded repeatedly, then asked, “Since you are all filial sons, why don’t you reincarnate?” The judge replied, “Those within the Reward Platform for Good Deeds receive the righteous energy of Heaven and Earth, without end. When a wise ruler governs, they are born as kings, nobles, generals, and ministers, their fame lasting for generations. If a wise ruler does not govern, they peacefully enjoy the underworld, silently receiving heavenly blessings.” The True Man said, “Such are the honors of filial sons.” He then bowed and departed.
They arrived at the second palace, with a vermilion plaque inscribed “Palace of Filial Piety.” Judge Cui led the True Man inside, with the same retinue, the same celestial music, the same celestial flowers, and several figures wearing the same towering crowns, cloud-patterned robes, and pearl-embroidered shoes. The judge and the True Man exchanged greetings. The judge asked, "Can you recognize these gentlemen?" The gentlemen replied, "Actually, my eyes are too small to recognize them." The judge said, "You are all gentlemen who have served your elder brothers well. Let me briefly tell you about a few of them. This one is surnamed Jiang, and his given name is Gun. His younger brother's given name is Jijiang. They encountered a thief in the wilderness, and the brothers fought to the death, but the thief released them and left. They once shared a large quilt. This one is surnamed Yu, and his given name is Gun. When a great plague struck his family, his eldest brother died, and his second brother was also in critical condition. All the family members fled outside, but Gun alone stayed to watch over his brother. Later, his second brother fell ill with the plague, but you remained healthy. The elders..." Xian said, "Only when the year grows cold do we know that the pine and cypress are the last to wither." This man's surname was Tian, and his given name was Zhen. This man was his second younger brother, whose given name was Shi Guang. This man was his youngest younger brother, whose given name was Qing. His family was discussing dividing their property. There was a purple jasmine tree in front of the courtyard, which they wanted to cut down, dividing it into three trees. One night, the trees suddenly withered and died. The two brothers immediately embraced the trees and wept, saying, "Even plants and trees have no feelings and do not wish to be divided, how much less should people?" The brothers then did not divide the trees again, and the purple jasmine flourished again. The rest of you were mostly virtuous and devoted to your brothers." Zhenren nodded and withdrew.
He then entered the third palace, where a red stele was inscribed with the four large characters "The Palace of Loyalty and Integrity." Judge Cui and Zhenren entered the palace. The same retinue as before, including several men wearing crowns, brocade robes, and pearl-embroidered shoes, greeted Judge Cui. The judge said, "These gentlemen are all loyal ministers and martyrs who sacrificed their families for their country. Do you recognize them, Master?" The Master replied, "I know a few of them. Are those two Lord Zhou Yafu and Lord Ma Fubo?" The judge said, "Yes." The Master then asked, "Are those two Lord Zhang Suiyang and Lord Yan Pingyuan of the Tang Dynasty?" The judge said, "Yes." The judge then asked how the Master knew these four so well. The Master said, "In the mortal world, I traveled to several shrines to meritorious officials, where statues of deities were erected. Among them were several who resembled these four gentlemen." The judge said, "The rest of you are all loyal and righteous men, all residing in this Palace of Loyalty and Integrity." The Master said, "So these gentlemen are still enjoying peace in the underworld. 'A lonely minister grows old amidst snow and frost, a righteous spirit endures for a thousand years.' Indeed! Indeed!" He then took his leave.
Upon arriving at the fourth palace, a vermilion plaque bore the four large characters "Palace of Faith and Integrity." Judge Cui, accompanied by the True Man, entered. Following the previous entourage, they saw several gentlemen in their original attire and paid their respects. The Judge said, "These gentlemen are all honest and trustworthy gentlemen. Do you know them, True Man?" The True Man replied, "I do not know them." The Judge said, "Let me briefly tell you about a few. This gentleman is surnamed Zhu, his given name is Hui. He is true to his friends, always ready to help his friends' wives in times of need, and rose to the position of Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. This gentleman is surnamed Fan, his given name is Juqing. He never broke his promise to meet his friends, even from a thousand miles away. This gentleman is surnamed Deng, his given name is Shutong. He was betrothed to a woman from the Xia family, but she became mute due to illness. Some advised him to choose another marriage, but he said, 'I have already been betrothed; how can I abandon my promise?' He refused to marry another. The rest of you are all gentlemen of integrity and trustworthiness, all residing in this Mansion of Honesty." The True Man then took his leave.
They then went to the fifth palace, where a vermilion plaque bore the four large characters "Mansion of Prudence and Courtesy." Judge Cui and the immortal walked in together, with the same entourage as before. They saw the same officials in their hats and robes and paid their respects. The judge asked, "Do you know these gentlemen, Master?" The Master replied, "No, I do not." The judge said, "These are all humble, modest, and courteous gentlemen. Let me briefly tell you about a few. This is Lu Gongshi, whose honorific name is Chi. At the age of seventy, he dared not overstep his bounds of respect. He once said, 'A gentleman cultivates respect to achieve his reputation, while a petty person learns respect to avoid punishment.' The Lord of Lu bestowed upon him ten thousand strings of cash annually. This is Wang Zhen, whose honorific name is Zhen. He died at the age of sixty-four. The Lord of Hell was pleased with his humility and virtue and extended his life by twelve years, reaching the age of seventy-six. This is Di Qingchen. A guest, drunk and cursing, even threw a cup at his face. Di humbly apologized and became even more respectful. He rose to the position of Privy Councilor. The rest of you are all respectful and courteous, and you are all in this Palace of Propriety." The Master said, "'Humility brings benefit, pride invites loss,' how true. These gentlemen are enjoying peace in the underworld."
Upon arriving at the sixth palace, a vermilion plaque read "Palace of Righteousness." Following the previous entourage, he saw the gentlemen in their previous attire and paid his respects. The judge asked, "Can you recognize these gentlemen?" The man replied, "I cannot." The judge said, "These are all gentlemen of unwavering righteousness. Let me briefly introduce a few. This one is surnamed Wu, and his given name is Dazhi. When his sister-in-law died, he sold himself into servitude to pay for her funeral. His brother and his wife sold themselves to others, and he redeemed them by selling ten acres of land. Emperor Gao of Qi, hearing of his righteousness, bestowed upon him two hundred acres of land. This one is surnamed Zhang, and his given name is Gongyi. He once wrote a hundred characters for 'forbearance,' and his family lived together for nine generations. This one is Chen Yimen from Jiangzhou, who also lived together for nine generations. His hundred dogs ate from the same kennel. If one dog was absent, the hundred dogs would not eat. The Southern Tang Dynasty established him as the Righteous Family. The rest of you are all gentlemen of great righteousness, and you are all in this Righteousness Mansion." The man said, "'The world is full of greedy people, how many people value righteousness and are generous with their wealth?' These gentlemen should reside in this Righteousness Mansion."
The seventh palace had a vermilion plaque with the four large characters "Mansion of Integrity." Judge Cui accompanied the True Man inside. Following the previous entourage, they saw the same gentlemen in their official robes and caps, and after exchanging greetings, Judge Cui asked, "Do you recognize these gentlemen, True Man?" The True Man replied, "I dare not lie; I recognize a few of them." Judge Cui asked, "Which ones do you recognize?" The True Man said, "That one is Scholar Li, whose given name is Ben. He was upright and honest, served as an envoy to the Turks, and died on his return journey, possessing only a simple cotton quilt. A poem says: 'His body was covered only by a cotton quilt, and his purse held no gold like Lu Jia's.' That one is Vice Envoy Sun, whose given name is Heng. He never owned any property, and his desk contained only a volume of military books. On the day of his death, he left not a single coin or piece of silk to his descendants. And that one is Master Zhao Gui, the Prefect of Qizhou. When he went to court, the elders..." The judge said, "Your integrity is as pure as water; please offer me a cup of water as a farewell toast." "Do I truly recognize these gentlemen?" the judge asked. The judge replied, "Yes. But which one is Yang Zhen of the Former Han Dynasty, the Prefect of Zhuojun, who refused gold at night? Which one is Liu Chong of the Later Han Dynasty, the Prefect of Kuaiji, who was summoned back but only accepted one coin? Which one is Deng Shu of the Jin Dynasty, the Prefect of Wushao, who only drank the water of the Wu River? You, Master, don't recognize them all." The Master said, "I have not truly recognized any of these figures from previous dynasties." The judge said, "Let's go and take a look at the eighth palace."
There, on a vermilion plaque, were written the four large characters "The Palace of Pure Shame." The Master followed the judge inside, with the same entourage as before, and saw the gentlemen in their usual attire, having completed the greetings. The judge asked, "Do you recognize these gentlemen, Master?" The Master replied, "I vaguely recognize one or two of them. One is Master Wu Bocheng, an imperial censor investigating cases. He is kind to many, and when someone offered him a gold ingot as a token of gratitude, Master Wu said, 'Take it quickly, don't embarrass me.' The other is Master Wang, the Privy Councilor, whose given name is Pu. He once inspected local customs while on official business. A county official offered him gold, but Master Wang said, 'Do you love me, or are you ashamed of me?' He firmly refused to accept it." The Master recognized these two. So he asked Judge Cui, "Sir, do I truly recognize these two gentlemen?" The judge replied, "Yes, they do. But the one in front is Scholar Guan, who disdains the filth of fine clothes and has remained a commoner all his life; the one on the left is Inspector Feng, who disdains the filth of carriages and has walked on foot; and the one on the right is Privy Councilor Fan, who disdains the filth of grand halls and lives in a humble dwelling. You, Master, do not recognize them." The Master said, "That was then, this is now. These are all figures from the Han and Tang dynasties; I truly do not recognize them." Then he took his leave and departed.
The judge said, "Having traversed all these celestial palaces, the True Man and I will now go to the 'Platform for Punishing Evil Deeds'." The True Man asked, "What is the Platform for Punishing Evil Deeds like?" The judge replied, "It has eight divisions, where those who are unfilial, disloyal, untrustworthy, impolite, unjust, dishonest, and shameless are all first-rate evildoers, and they are all imprisoned there." The True Man said, "Since they are evildoers, let's not go see them. As the saying goes, 'Seeing good is like reaching for the mountain, seeing evil is like touching boiling water.' What's the point of looking at them?" The judge said, "How about we go to the gates of hell and take a look?" The True Man asked, "How many levels of hell are there?" The judge replied, "They are divided into eighteen levels, but the total is only nine."
What the True Man saw of hell will be revealed in the next chapter.
Chapter Thirteen: The True Man Sa Travels Through Hell, and the True Lord Leads Him Back
Meanwhile, Judge Cui led the immortal to Yinshan Hell, with Wang Shan following behind. Upon arriving at Yinshan, the scene was quite different. The sunlight was dim, and a cold wind howled. It was surrounded by iron walls and copper fortresses, with a gate in front. The gate was filled with molten iron, and on a black plaque above it were written four large white characters: "Gate of Universal Plunder." The judge walked to the gate and shouted, "Open the gate!"
Before he finished speaking, two small demons emerged from both sides, both bull-headed yakshas with strange appearances, shouting, "Tut-tut!" They opened the gate, startled, and said, "What a stroke of luck! I've only run into this Taoist ghost; where will he give me so much money?" The yakshas said, "That Taoist isn't the problem; this big demon is much more ruthless than me." The judge shouted, "Nonsense! He's a living person, and that Taoist is his subordinate. Now that we're in the underworld, King Yama ordered me to lead him around for fun; who dares to say anything?" Hearing this, the yakshas dared not utter a sound!
The judge and the immortal entered, and there stood the first level of hell, with a plaque above the gate bearing the four large characters "Hell of Wind and Thunder." The immortal approached a small door and saw a bronze pillar inside, to which a guilty man was bound. A large bronze ring surrounded the pillar, and short, sharp knives were attached to the ring. A demon whipped the ring, and the wind howled in response; the louder the wind, the faster the ring spun. The ring spun close to the man's body, and the knives attached to it stabbed as the ring spun, the speed and the force of the stabs. A moment later, a thunderous roar erupted from beneath the ring, turning the man to dust! After his death, the demon whipped the ring again, this time with a repelling whip; it made a loud sound, and the thunder and wind ceased. A slow vortex of wind swirled on the ground, turning left and right, gathering the remains back into the original body—the same man. The Master asked, "Mr. Cui, what kind of thunder is this? What kind of wind is this?" The judge replied, "The thunder is called Black Heaven Thunder, and the wind is called Wind of Wrongful Karma." The Master asked, "Who are these people?" The judge said, "They are all the most wicked people in the mortal world, destined to pass through this Hell of Wind and Thunder." They
then arrived at the second level of hell, where a plaque above the gate read "Hell of Vajra." The Master went through a small door to take a look. There, on the ground, was a rough stone millstone, about eight feet in diameter, with eight sides. Eight large demons sat on the eight sides, each holding an iron hammer. Four more large demons stood on the four sides. Each of the four demons grabbed a man, kicked him onto the millstone, and the eight demons, wielding their eight hammers, beat the man to a pulp, leaving him looking like a persimmon cake. They kicked one, then beat another; they beat one, then kicked another. Just before the beating was about to end, a little demon said, "Making pancakes is fine, but he still wants to put them back for further torment." The four large demons each took a pancake and lit it on a cigarette butt. It was still the same man. The True Man, seeing this, felt a chill run down his spine and said, "Mr. Cui, that door inside is terrifying!" The judge said, "Have you not heard, 'The human heart is like iron, yet it is not iron; the law is like a furnace, and going through it is like going through a furnace.'"
Then they arrived at the Third Hell, where a plaque above the gate read "Hell of the Chariot." The True Man went through a small door to look. He saw a chariot carrying several men. The little demons whistled, and the chariot sped away. The little demons exhaled, and fire spewed out from under the chariot. The chariot moved quickly, and the fire burned fiercely. In a short while, the man was charred, reduced to a lump of burning coal. Then they took him back, sprinkled some cool water on him, and it was still the same man. The Master said, "That cart was incredibly fiery! How could those burned be resurrected?" The Judge replied, "This karmic entanglement has lasted for countless eons." They
arrived at the Fourth Hell, where the plaque read "The Hell of the Dark Abyss." The Master went to look again and saw a small, round pool of clear water inside a small gate. A group of little demons stood on either side, shouting, "Wow!" They threw a man into the pool with each hand, and a large catfish opened its wide mouth and swallowed him whole. Another little demon shouted, "Wow!" and threw another man into the pool, and another catfish swallowed him whole. Ten catfish were thrown in to fill the pool once. After one round, the ground was filled with catfish swimming around, seemingly drunk and full. Then the little demons above shouted again, "Wow, give me back my original people!" Before long, all the catfish had vanished. Another group of golden carp, each carrying a person in its mouth, slammed them into the pond, revealing the same men, their bodies soaked and chilled to the bone. The Immortal asked, "Were the fish in that pond tamed?" The Judge replied, "No. The fish forget death when they swallow the bait, just as the wicked are always foolish."
Then, they arrived at the fifth level of hell, where a plaque read "The Hell of the Oil Dragon." The Immortal went closer to look and saw several generals standing inside a small gate, with a dragon hanging upside down from a pillar. Bound beneath the pillar were the guilty men, all naked, without a single thread of clothing. The demons knocked on the pillar, and boiling oil gushed from the dragon's mouth, pouring directly onto the men's heads. Their skin tore open, their flesh melted, and the men were reduced to nothing but bones. When only bones remained, the demons poured a ladle of cold water over them, revealing that they were still men. The Master said, "What a cruel hell!" The judge said, "Evil deeds are always punished by Heaven; in the end, no one is free."
They then went to the sixth level of hell, where a plaque read, "Hell of the Scorpion Pit." The Master went to look outside the small gate and saw a deep pit filled with poisonous snakes, scorpions, black scorpions, and other insects. The demons grabbed guilty men and slammed them into the pit. The snakes and insects buzzed and swarmed, some eating flesh, some skinning, some sucking blood, until they were completely devoured. The demons grabbed another man and slammed him again; again, various poisonous creatures skinned and devoured him. They grabbed many and slammed many more until, finally, a demon shouted, "Come up!" He held a small flute and blew it. Sure enough, the men came up, their skin torn and their bodies mangled; who among them didn't cry out in pain? The Master said, "How come there are such evil creatures in this pit?" The Judge replied, "They are all created by Heaven and Earth
." The Master said, "They are truly tormenting people." The Judge said, "As the saying goes, 'The wicked will be tormented by other wicked; if you run into an enemy, there's nothing you can do.'" The seventh level of hell had a plaque inscribed with the four characters "Prison of the Mortar and Pestle." The Master approached further to take a look. Inside the small door, a large mortar and pestle, about ten feet wide, stood in the center. Four small demons stood around it, each holding a large pestle, throwing a guilty man into the mortar. The pestle struck in unison, and in a short while, the man was pounded into a paste, then shaped into a large ball and placed on the soul-returning rack. This was repeated several times, creating several large balls, all placed on the rack. Finally, the rack cracked, and the man was revealed—still a man, but his skin was no longer skin, his flesh no longer flesh—a truly pitiful sight.
The eighth level of hell had a plaque inscribed with the four characters "Prison of the Knives and Sawing." The immortal approached to take a look and saw that inside the small door, two wooden planks held a guilty person, either a man or a woman. A group of little demons, two pulling a saw, were sawing from head to toe, tearing the skin and flesh. Some were sawed in half, some in threes, and some in fours. As they were sawing to the end, another little demon would do the same, sweeping each person's body with a broom. Each person remained the same; men remained men, and women remained women. The immortal said, "How terrible! How horrible! Let's move on." The judge said, "There is still one more hell; let's see it all."
So they went to the ninth level of hell, where the inscription on the plaque read "Hell of Boiling Cauldrons." The True Man approached and looked around. He saw a large copper pot inside the small door, burning fiercely. A group of demons were holding a guilty person, cutting off a piece of flesh from the left side of a knife and throwing it into the pot to fry, then cutting off another piece from the right side and boiling it, cutting until the skin, flesh, tendons, and bones were all visible, yet still boiling and frying until a pot of oil was produced. They then threw the person's bones, heart, liver, and internal organs into the pot, cooking them into a soup. Several demons then ladled the soup into an iron ladle, added a bowl of water, and the person was once again a man. The True Man, seeing this, trembled with fear. Judge Cui had no choice but to lead him out. They
then went to the City of the Wrongfully Dead. The judge went first, the True Man followed, and Wang Shan also went along. They hadn't gone half a mile when they arrived at the City of the Wrongfully Dead. There, two or three vengeful ghosts grabbed the True Man, saying, "Sa Shoujian, you used your pen and sword to frame us and kill us. We've been waiting for your day!" Before they finished speaking, three or four more ghosts who had died unjustly came along, cawing, saying, "Alright, alright, Sa Shoujian is here." The ghosts then ganged up on the True Man and attacked him, but Judge Cui quickly stopped them, saying, "I'm here, no disrespect allowed." Wang Shan also raised his whip and shouted, "Who dares to hit my True Man?" Only then did the ghosts dare not move.
Once, a man who had died unjustly, perhaps eighty or ninety years old, heard a commotion outside his door and went out, shouting, "You ghosts, stop fighting!" The ghosts said, "Master, you don't know this man is from Xihe in Sichuan, our fellow townsman. He used to be an official, wielding his pen and instigating lawsuits, which led to our deaths. Today, seeing him, I hate that he is not a gentleman." Another group of ghosts said, "This man later practiced medicine, but he was a quack and gave us the wrong medicine, causing our deaths. Today, seeing him, I know that no man is without poison." The man quickly asked, "What is this man's name?" The ghosts replied, "His name is Sa Shoujian."
The man immediately bowed his head and knelt, tears streaming down his face, saying, "This is my benefactor." The immortal was completely unaware of the reason. The master said, "I am Zheng Deweng, who died in Xipu. I am deeply grateful for your burial, my grandson was saved, and my daughter-in-law survived. I never expected to see you today." The ghosts were horrified to see the master kneeling like this, but said, "We cannot do you this favor today; we only ask that you return our lives." The immortal said, "I have come here today because of your wrongful deaths. I have come to see King Yama to seek your salvation. Fortunately, Judge Cui is here to witness this." The judge said, "I hold a pen in my hand; life and death are in my hands. I will now decide your rebirth." The ghosts said, "Although Judge Cui is willing to decide our rebirth, the rest of you..." The ghost servants demanded a lot of money for favors, and also wanted to persuade the master to do favors for free.
The master said, "Since that's the case, my family recently performed good deeds and prayed for my soul's salvation. King Yama appointed me as the lord of the city of the dead. I have several money slips now. You ghosts can carry two slips to share. This is my way of thanking you, Master." The master said, "Since you have no money, I would rather repay the life of a wronged ghost than accept such a generous gift." The judge said, "That's alright. You can return this money to the master when you return to the mortal world." The master said, "Since that's the case, it's just a loan. This can be repaid." The master then ordered the ghosts who had died unjustly to carry two slips of yellow money. The ghosts brought them back in a short while, and the master repeatedly begged Judge Cui to properly guide these people to be reborn. But that's another story.
Now, a group of ghostly boys and girls, about fifty or sixty in number, saw Wang Shan and came over. They said, "This is King Guangfu! He made us offer sacrifices back then, and then tricked me into dying young. Today, don't let him go!" So they all grabbed him, some hitting him, some cursing him, demanding he pay with his life. At this time, the judge tried to mediate, the chief priest tried to mediate, and the immortal also tried to mediate repeatedly, saying, "Little boys and girls, don't pull. This is the judge, and I will have him properly guide your birth." The little children had no respect and could not persuade them. Some pulled, some dragged, some yanked, just wanting to go with him to see King Yama.
The judge and the chief priest did not know the reason. The Immortal said, “This man’s surname is Wang, and his given name is Shan. He used to be a god at Guangfu Temple, requiring young boys and girls to be sacrificed to him every year. I destroyed his sacrifices and his temple. Now he has reformed and followed me. Today he has run into this enemy. This is truly a case of ‘every wrong has its source, and every debt has its debtor.’ What should we do?” The Judge said, “Since that’s the case, Wang the God is also in a great grievance. Taking those young boys and girls to see King Yama will cause many inconveniences.” The Immortal had no choice but to bid farewell to Lord De and follow Wang Shan to King Yama to seek help.
Little did he know that things in the world are often quite coincidental. Halfway there, he saw a celestial being descend. This celestial being had:
two straight, arched eyebrows, a powerful body reaching a ten-foot waist,
a galloping red hare steed, and a gleaming green dragon crescent blade.
He wore a warm, smooth jade belt and a bright crimson robe.
The Immortal recognized him as Guan Yu, the True Lord. What was Guan Yu doing in Fengdu? Because he had previously supported Zhang Daoling, the Celestial Master, the Celestial Master drafted a document ordering Guan Yu to be escorted to Fengdu, intending to condemn Guan Yu to eternal damnation there. On the way, he encountered the Patriarch Pu'an, who opened the document and discovered it was Guan Yu relieving himself. Patriarch Pu'an then changed the document to "eternally guard Fengdu," thus Guan Yu is now stationed in the land of Fengdu.
Upon seeing the True Man Sa, Guan Yu dismounted and bowed. Those children, lacking proper respect, upon seeing Lord Guan, immediately released Wang Shan to look at Lord Guan and then at the Red Hare horse. The Judge said, "True Man, why not entrust General Guan to lead you out of this Netherworld, so you and Wang Shan can leave this place, lest the young lovers become entangled?" General Guan nodded, not mounting his horse, but walking forward. The True Man then bid farewell to the Judge and, together with Wang Shan, followed General Guan out. After walking a few steps, the True Man turned back to the Judge and said, "Mr. Cui, please offer many prayers to King Yama for me, and also help these young boys and girls to be reborn." The Judge replied, "I cannot see you off any further."
The boys and girls turned around and saw Wang Shan had left. They hurriedly tried to chase after him, but could not catch up, and began to weep in twos and threes. The Judge said, "Young boys and girls, do not cry. I will take you to King Yama to be reborn." So, the boys and girls followed the Judge. Guan Zhenjun also led the True Man and Wang Shan along the path of Yin Mountain. There, they saw thousands of vengeful ghosts saying, "True Man, True Man, since you have traveled through the underworld, when you return to the mortal world, please hold a grand offering to save us wandering souls." The True Man agreed and left. After traveling
only a few miles, they turned past Yin Mountain. A chilling wind howled, and the place was shrouded in darkness. General Guan used the gleam of his sword to illuminate the path through the underworld
. After traveling several miles, the path suddenly opened up. General Guan said to the True Man, "This is the boundary between Yin and Yang. I cannot see you off any further." They then parted ways. The True Man, along with Wang Shan, returned to the mortal world. They then went directly to the West River to perform a ritual to relieve suffering and deliver the dead. To be continued in the next chapter.
Chapter Fourteen: The True Man Establishes a Grand Offering at the West River; Xu Jing Protects the True Man's Ascension
. It is said that when the True Man returned to the West River, his fields and houses were still there. The True Man wrote a deed and sold it to someone. With the proceeds, he performed a grand offering for ten days and ten nights. He invited Taoist priests to burn many kinds of pure incense, natural incense, and incense of non-action; he prepared many kinds of food for Dharma joy, nectar, and heavenly beings; he recited many scriptures on salvation, disaster relief, and suffering relief; and he performed many repentance rituals of compassion, repentance for the dead, and repentance for the deceased. He raised a banner, summoning all the lonely souls of the underworld. The male souls gathered in one group, the female souls in another, the old souls in another, the young souls in another, and even the mad, paralyzed, and lame souls in another, offering food three times a day, all in perfect harmony!
But this grand feast moved the Jade Emperor in Heaven. Fearing that some mad spirits, fierce monsters, great demons, or lesser demons might obstruct the ceremony, the Jade Emperor ordered the spirit official Ma Lingguan to descend to the mortal realm to oversee the altar. Whenever food was offered, Ma Lingguan saw demons and monsters scrambling to grab it, so he used his Samadhi Fire to burn it, scorching the food until it was dry, so that even the wandering souls could not eat. Suddenly, a female Bodhisattva from the South Sea learned of this. This female Bodhisattva:
her face was like a full moon, her features like a pear blossom. Her temples were adorned with jewels, and her bosom was adorned with intertwined necklaces. Red Boy was engulfed in flames, and the Dragon Girl wore her hair in twin buns. In her bamboo basket was a golden carp, and in her pure vase were two lotus flowers. She gazed at the moon reflected in the water from afar in the Purple Bamboo Grove, and made her home deep within the Putuo Rock.
This female Bodhisattva was none other than Guanyin, the Savior from Suffering. At Putuo Rock in the South China Sea, with her all-seeing eye, she saw that the offerings made by the True Man Sa were so lavish that none of the ghosts could eat, a futile effort. A thought of compassion arose in her mind, and she rode a lucky cloud to the West River, transforming into a ghost king with three heads and six arms, a blue face and protruding teeth, mingling in the altar to snatch the food. When Ma Lingguan saw this, he released Samadhi True Fire, burning the ghosts. What a ghost king! With a sprinkle of sweet dew, the fire was extinguished. Truly, "Amidst the myriad true beings, within a hundred billion auspicious lights," the ghosts were finally able to feast on the pure offering, and the cold forest was free of resentment.
See, how virtuous Guanyin's thought was! The True Man Sa completed the ten-day, ten-night offering, and then burned a great deal of ghost money to help the ghosts. He also burned two more slips of ghost money and a small official document, sending a messenger directly to the City of the Wrongfully Dead to return it to Lord Zheng De. With the merits fulfilled, the ghosts dispersed joyfully. Guanyin also revealed her true form and rode a lucky cloud back to the South Sea. Suddenly, she encountered three immortals in mid-air: Zhang Xujing, Wang Fangping, and Ge Xianweng. The female bodhisattva caught the cloud and bowed to them.
Zhang Xujing, the Celestial Master, along with the two immortals Ge and Wang, also pressed down on the clouds and asked, "Great Master, from where did you hear the cries for help, and from where did you come to relieve suffering?" Guanyin replied, "Sa Shoujian of the Western River established a grand offering for the deceased, and I came from there to bestow sweet dew." Xujing said, "Excellent, excellent." Then he asked, "Has Sa Shoujian's merits been perfected?" Guanyin said, "This man has cultivated for decades, helping the living in the mortal world and liberating ghosts in the netherworld; his merits are immeasurable. You should report this to the Jade Emperor so that he may be promoted to the ranks of immortals and have his name inscribed as 'Shangqing'." The three immortals said, "We three just returned from Penglai Mountain and had this intention. Tomorrow we intend to report to the Jade Emperor and recommend this man." Guanyin said, "We heard that you had already transmitted the Dharma to him; now you recommend him again. This is a perfect ending." Then they parted ways. This will not be discussed further.
Meanwhile, Zhang Xujing, Wang Fangping, and Ge Xianweng arrived at the gates of the Three Heavens, where the Jade Emperor was in his palace. Red clouds swirled, auspicious energy filled the air, and on the left stood the Sun Emperor of the Sun Palace, and on the right the Moon Empress of the Moon Palace; on the left stood the Three Great Emperors, and on the right the Four Holy True Lords; on the left stood the Twenty-Eight Celestial Officials, and on the right the Three Hundred and Sixty Heavenly Venerables of Response. Zhang Xujing, along with the two immortals Wang and Ge, prostrated themselves before the Tongming Hall and reported, "In Xihe County of Shu, there is a Taoist named Sa Shoujian who has cultivated for over several decades, possessing talismans and registers, and has been granted the title of True Man. He has saved countless lives in the mortal realm and delivered countless ghosts in the underworld, his merits are complete, and he deserves to enter the ranks of immortals. We humbly beseech Your Majesty to bestow upon him a decree of immortality and elevate him to a celestial position in the Nine Heavens. We are filled with utmost trepidation and anxiety." Upon hearing this, the Jade Emperor was overjoyed and said, "Sa Shoujian's cultivation is complete, and he is fit to enter the ranks of immortals. Immediately dispatch a crimson-robed messenger riding a red dragon with a jade scepter to escort him to the Heavenly Court and bestow upon him a celestial position." After Zhang, Wang, and Ge, the three immortals, expressed their gratitude, they withdrew from the Three Heavens Gate and escorted the crimson-robed messenger down to the Heavenly Court. But this is another story.
Now, after Sa Shoujian finished his offerings in Xihe, he resided at Yongtai Temple, where he set up a cauldron to refine the "Great Rejuvenation Elixir." Using cinnabar as the father, mercury as the mother, and lead as the son, and employing both civil and military fires, and drawing upon the essence of the sun and moon, through seven cycles and nine reversals, the golden elixir was refined. Just as he was about to embark on a journey, Wang Shan appeared and announced, "A heavenly decree is imminent, summoning the True Man to return and take command of the Heavenly Pivot. The True Man need not travel far."
Before he finished speaking, colorful clouds appeared in the azure sky, and a strange fragrance wafted down from mid-air, permeating a hundred miles. Celestial music played, melodious and clear. A moment later, a crimson-clad messenger riding a red dragon, carrying a jade scepter, appeared and went directly to Yongtai Temple. The messenger produced a celestial scroll, gave it to the True Man, and said, "The True Man's cultivation is complete. The three immortals, Zhang Xujing, Ge Xianweng, and Wang Fangping, have recommended the True Man's return to take command of the Heavenly Pivot. Heavenly bliss is without suffering; the True Man should hurry there."
In an instant, the True Man breathed his last and died. He then followed the crimson-clad messenger to the Heavenly Palace. Upon arriving outside the Three Heavens Gate, Masters Zhang, Wang, and Ge were already waiting. The True Man was overjoyed to see them and immediately bowed in gratitude, saying, "Your disciple, Sa Shoujian, was once taught the Dharma, and now you are recommended for your service. This grace is immeasurable!" The three masters replied, "You have transmitted my Dharma and expounded my teachings; you have not failed my expectations. Rejoice! Rejoice!"
After speaking, Wang Shan bowed again, and the Heavenly Master asked, "Who is this?" The True Man replied, "This is Wang Shan, the deity of the Xiangyin Temple, whom I have taken in as a general." Zhang Yingjing, along with the two immortals Wang and Ge, led the True Man to the Hall of Universal Brightness to pay homage to the Jade Emperor. Zhang Xujing then petitioned, "Your subject Zhang Xujing, along with the immortals Wang Fangping and Ge Xianweng, and the crimson-robed messenger, led Sa Shoujian of Xihe to kneel before the Heavenly Stem, begging for an imperial decree to bestow upon Sa Shoujian a certain position." The Jade Emperor said, "Sa Shoujian's merits and conduct are complete, and now he has been appointed a True Man. He is suitable to assume the position of Heavenly Pivot, in charge of the Heavenly Records, and to appear before me." True Man Sa thanked the Emperor and then said, "Your subject Shoujian once recruited Wang Shan, the Guangfu God of Xiangyin Temple, as his general. They are currently waiting for the Jade Emperor's decree outside the Three Heavens Gate. What position should they receive now? We request an imperial edict."
Upon seeing this, the Jade Emperor proclaimed, "Since Sa Shoujian recruited Wang Shan as his general, he is suitable to receive the position of Spiritual Officer from Wang Shan, to be forever at his disposal." True Man Sa thanked the Emperor again. Then, Zhang Tianshi, along with the two immortals Wang and Ge, and the True Man descended from the Tongming Palace. Golden boys and jade maidens, each holding banners and canopies, led the True Man into the Heavenly Pivot Palace. All the immortals came to offer their congratulations.
The True Man died in Yongtai Temple, and the monks prepared a coffin for his burial. His body was never seen again. It was then known that the True Man had transcended mortality and departed. I admired this event, and thus wrote the "Record of the Cursed Jujube."

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The Ten Forbidden Books of the Ming and Qing Dynasties: A Record of Curses and Jujubes

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