Difference between revisions of "T'ang Kuang-chen"
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A [[China | Chinese]] wizard, scholar and poet whose mortal lifespan transpired during the Sung dynasty (960-1279 CE). | A [[China | Chinese]] wizard, scholar and poet whose mortal lifespan transpired during the Sung dynasty (960-1279 CE). | ||
| − | Little is known about the wizard's early life. We do know that as a teenager she was wandering in the forest seeking enlightenment -- presumably while on [[Ordeal]], though there is no concrete evidence of this -- when she met the woman-[[Immortals | Immortal]] Ho Hsien-ku, patron of female Taoist cultivation. Over the ensuing months, Hsien-ku mentored Kuang-chen in her early study of wizardry, also teaching her the "arts of immortality". Kuang-chen was later to write several volumes of poetry documenting these experiences; these writings are considered some of the finest expositions on the branch of Taoist learning that deals specifically with the different ways in which the human genders perceive the Universe. She also seems to have become something of a specialist in those branches of wizardry that deal specifically with animal life and its relationship with humanity. | + | Little is known about the wizard's early life. We do know that as a teenager she was wandering in the forest seeking enlightenment -- presumably while on [[Ordeal]], though there is no concrete evidence of this -- when she met the woman-[[Immortals (Chinese) | Immortal]] Ho Hsien-ku, patron of female Taoist cultivation. Over the ensuing months, Hsien-ku mentored Kuang-chen in her early study of wizardry, also teaching her the "arts of immortality". Kuang-chen was later to write several volumes of poetry documenting these experiences; these writings are considered some of the finest expositions on the branch of Taoist learning that deals specifically with the different ways in which the human genders perceive the Universe. She also seems to have become something of a specialist in those branches of wizardry that deal specifically with animal life and its relationship with humanity. |
Much later in an active life of wizardly practice, Kuang-chen was having dinner with friends when she heard someone outside the house call her name. She excused herself, went outside, and found three old men standing on a cloud. She immediately summoned a giant toad, stepped onto its back, and flew to meet the three Immortals. They took her on a tour of the famous mountains and lakes of the area; and as they flew over the K'un-lun Mountains, one of the Immortals said to T'ang Kuang-chen, "Would you like to transcend the mundane and enter the sacred -- shed your shell and become an Immortal? Or would you rather keep your body and remain in the mortal realm?" | Much later in an active life of wizardly practice, Kuang-chen was having dinner with friends when she heard someone outside the house call her name. She excused herself, went outside, and found three old men standing on a cloud. She immediately summoned a giant toad, stepped onto its back, and flew to meet the three Immortals. They took her on a tour of the famous mountains and lakes of the area; and as they flew over the K'un-lun Mountains, one of the Immortals said to T'ang Kuang-chen, "Would you like to transcend the mundane and enter the sacred -- shed your shell and become an Immortal? Or would you rather keep your body and remain in the mortal realm?" | ||
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Kuang-chen accepted their offer and took the Pill of Immortality she was given. From that time on, she was immune to heat, cold, hunger, and thirst. She returned to her village to care for her aging mother and went on living what appeared to be a normal life (at least, for a wizard). After her mother passed away, in response to an invitation from the [[Powers that Be, The | Powers that Be]], T'ang Kuang-chen once more summoned the giant toad, got onto its back, and vanished into the sky, never to be seen again. | Kuang-chen accepted their offer and took the Pill of Immortality she was given. From that time on, she was immune to heat, cold, hunger, and thirst. She returned to her village to care for her aging mother and went on living what appeared to be a normal life (at least, for a wizard). After her mother passed away, in response to an invitation from the [[Powers that Be, The | Powers that Be]], T'ang Kuang-chen once more summoned the giant toad, got onto its back, and vanished into the sky, never to be seen again. | ||
| − | (See also: [[Immortals]]) | + | (See also: [[Immortals (Chinese)]]) |
Revision as of 16:35, 21 February 2007
A Chinese wizard, scholar and poet whose mortal lifespan transpired during the Sung dynasty (960-1279 CE).
Little is known about the wizard's early life. We do know that as a teenager she was wandering in the forest seeking enlightenment -- presumably while on Ordeal, though there is no concrete evidence of this -- when she met the woman- Immortal Ho Hsien-ku, patron of female Taoist cultivation. Over the ensuing months, Hsien-ku mentored Kuang-chen in her early study of wizardry, also teaching her the "arts of immortality". Kuang-chen was later to write several volumes of poetry documenting these experiences; these writings are considered some of the finest expositions on the branch of Taoist learning that deals specifically with the different ways in which the human genders perceive the Universe. She also seems to have become something of a specialist in those branches of wizardry that deal specifically with animal life and its relationship with humanity.
Much later in an active life of wizardly practice, Kuang-chen was having dinner with friends when she heard someone outside the house call her name. She excused herself, went outside, and found three old men standing on a cloud. She immediately summoned a giant toad, stepped onto its back, and flew to meet the three Immortals. They took her on a tour of the famous mountains and lakes of the area; and as they flew over the K'un-lun Mountains, one of the Immortals said to T'ang Kuang-chen, "Would you like to transcend the mundane and enter the sacred -- shed your shell and become an Immortal? Or would you rather keep your body and remain in the mortal realm?"
Kuang-chen accepted their offer and took the Pill of Immortality she was given. From that time on, she was immune to heat, cold, hunger, and thirst. She returned to her village to care for her aging mother and went on living what appeared to be a normal life (at least, for a wizard). After her mother passed away, in response to an invitation from the Powers that Be, T'ang Kuang-chen once more summoned the giant toad, got onto its back, and vanished into the sky, never to be seen again.
(See also: Immortals (Chinese))