The 10 Ox Herding Pictures and Their Use as a Guide to Immortality

Soon after when he entered his room the wild ox rushed at Tuizhi and he cut off its head with ‘the sword of wisdom that the perfected man had given him’ ‘Suddenly a ray of white pneuma shot up to the gate of Heaven, startling the Jade Emperor.’ Tuizhi had become awakened as well as the ox that was released from its earthly bounds. By finally having learned all he could from the Perfected Man as well as from the chess players he gained all of the insight required to become one with nature. All that remained for him to become enlightened was to remove himself from nature by killing the ox. He used his wisdom, seen by the sword of wisdom to bring both himself and the ox into an enlightened state, completing their journey following the ox herding pictures. (P 399-407)

Using the method of describing the points of enlightenment by the association with the ten ox herding pictures was very helpful in understanding the path to Daoist immortality. Han Xiangzi follows this path to completion, finally teaching Tuizhi who also becomes enlightened following the path of the ox herder. By showing the herdboy through the story it keeps us in the right place while showing us the importance of each step seen in the ten ox herding pictures. With out one of these steps the path to enlightenment or immortality would not be as clear cut and probably would not be as easy as we understand it. In the end, the ox herder is a good guide through ‘The Story of Han Xiangzi’ and truly explains the path that was required to become a Daoist immortal through alchemical methods.

WORKS CITED

Erzeng, Yang. The Story of Han Xiangzi: the Alchemical Adventures of a Daoist Immortal. Trans. Philip Clart. Seattle and London: University of Washington P, 2007.

Buddhism and the Arts of Japan: The ten ox-herding pictures (pgs 11-20)

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