Ge Xuan

Ge Xuan is considered the legendary patriarch, revered by many Taoist traditions. He was born into a noble family of senior officials in whom education was valued. He studied in detail Confucian writings and numerous historical and philosophical works. He became interested in the Taoist writings of Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu and by the age of 16 had gained fame in the areas north of the Yangtze River . [1] (inaccessible link)

His parents died when he was still young, he abandoned his pursuit of a career and leaned into the forests and mountains to study Tao . He also strove to master the practice of achieving longevity and immortality. Ge Xuan lived in the mountains of Lingue , Chicheng and Lofu (括苍 山 、 南岳, 阁 皂 山, 、 罗浮 山), met unusual people and consumed special mushrooms (ganoderma lucidum, setose thistle) for self-cleaning. [2] (inaccessible link)

Engaged in Taoist practices, he achieved a particular fortitude, could create several of his forms and was in many places at the same time, go through mountains and overcome seas, drive out evil spirits and heal diseases (Campany (2002), p. 64). He began to practice as a doctor, he healed with the help of magical techniques leading to immortality. Faced with the immortal Zu Tso (左慈), he received 36 volumes of scrolls with essays (Numinous Treasure). [3] (inaccessible link)

The biography of Shaanxian Zhuan , written by Ge Hong , states that Ge Xuan was called up to serve the Emperor of East Wu , the flotilla of ships on which he sailed fell into a storm and he was considered dead, but he miraculously escaped, explaining that he was embedded by the deity of Water Wu Zixiu . Ge Xiong had uterine breathing, could hold his breath for a long time and command the wind, rivers, and rain. (Bokenkamp (2008), p. 445-445).

The tradition believes that Ge Xuan founded the tradition of transmitting alchemical texts (like Buddhist), he received these texts directly from heaven; he is considered the founder of Taoism, along with Zhang Daolin . From it come the texts of Taijingjing (Book of Great Purity), Jiujingjing (Book (elixir) of nine tripods), Jinjing (Book of Golden Liquid); he handed over these books to Ge Hong. However, he personally did not make elixirs. He received directly from the gods the books of the Lingbao school . From his descendants he received many honorable posthumous titles (Bokenkamp (2008), p. 444-445).

As a Taoist master, he owned the art of breathing, did not eat cereals and wine. According to legend, he possessed many supernatural abilities. He could appear simultaneously in different places, he could move objects over long distances , become invisible or make hidden objects visible. For example, in the evening, bowls appeared out of nowhere and filled with wine themselves (Campany (2002), p. 155). He could also hover above the ground (Campany (2002), p. 156).

Information about his abilities reached even the emperor. When Ge Xuan was tired of worldly life, he summoned his disciple Zhang Gong, saying that he would leave the world at noon on August 11, put on his best clothes and lay down on the bed. Zhang Gong noticed that his face retains color, but he does not breathe. For three days, Zhang performed the rituals of life after death. At midnight three days later a strong wind blew and extinguished all the candles. When Zhang lit the candles again, he found that his body was no longer there, but his clothes remained. The wind did not affect the houses of neighbors. [4] (inaccessible link)

The founder of Lingbao School, a descendant of Ge Xuan, Ge Chaofu especially revered Ge Xuan, to which he relates the most important writings and practices of Lingbao School.

In the Taoist tradition, Ge Xuan is considered the perfect master of Taoist alchemy, having perfect control over his mind and body, who knew how to fly, heal diseases, and cast out evil spirits.

His achievement of immortality is considered a classic - the disappearance from a strong wind, leaving only clothes.

• 《太清 經》 taiqingjing Book of Great Purity
• 《九鼎 經》 jiudingjing Book of Nine Tripods
• 《金 液 經》 jianyejing Golden Liquid Book
• 《靈寶 經》 lingbaojing Book of Spiritual Jewel

• Bokenkamp, ​​Stephen. "Ge Xuan." in Fabrizio Pregadio, ed., The Encyclopedia of Taoism (London: Routledge, 2008), 444-445.
• Campany, Robert Ford. "To Live as Long as Heaven and Earth: A Translation and Study of Ge Hong's Traditions of Divine Transcendents." (California: University of California Press, 2002), 152.
• Campany, Robert Ford. "Two Religious Thinkers of the Early Eastern Jin: Gan Bao and Ge Hong in Multiple Texts." Asia Major (third series), 2005.
• Doniger, Wendy. Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of World Religions: An AZ Guide to the World's Religions. : Merriam-Webster, 1999.
• Encyclopædia Britannica. (2008). Ko Hsüan. In Encyclopædia Britannica Online [Online]. Available: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/320681/Ko-Hsuan [2008, Oct. 27].
• Kohn, Livia. "Daoism Handbook." BRILL, 2000.
• Kohn, Livia. "The Taoist Experience: An Anthology" .SUNY Press, 1993.
• Kohn, Livia. The Daoist Monastic Manual. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004.
• Robinet, Isabelle. "Taoism: The Growth of a Religion." Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1997.

• Bokenkamp, ​​Stephen. "Ge Xuan." in Fabrizio Pregadio, ed., The Encyclopedia of Taoism (London: Routledge, 2008), 444-445.