The Path to Immortality by Han Xiangzi

To begin his cultivation in the house of Master Lu and Master Zhong, Xiangzi is told to meditate for two days while the immortals visit Heaven. When Xiangzi entered the room to meditate he saw how empty it was and realized that it is possible to reach the state he was in without traveling to the mountains to achieve immortality. Upon starting his meditation, distractions, such as armed guards and fierce animals came into the room to try to remove Xiangzi from his meditation. There were illusions which tried to cook Xiangzi in a large cauldron and without success then killed Luying, Xiangzi’s wife, right before his eyes. An old, malnourished, unhealthy man arrived for Xiangzi to clean and care for him, which he did. This covered Xiangzi’s hands with puss which was irritating though he continued to care for the man until Master Lu appeared with a woman. This was to tempt him with sexual pleasures as some forms of Daoism allow intercourse to increase the male yang energy. Xiangzi resisted and complained that it was not right for such an important immortal to be tempting him with such things. After he voiced his concern the real immortals appeared to see how Xiangzi had cultivated himself. By looking in the cauldron, inside Xiangzi, they saw that he had cultivated a pearl “the size of a millet grain” (P 111) which he took into himself. Upon doing so, Xiangzi became an immortal, concluding his journey.

This long journey of many steps allowed Xiangzi to get to know himself better, to find his strengths and weaknesses so that he could conquer all that was needed for him to become an immortal. First he learned to control his own pneuma. He learned to control his desires while still caring for and helping others. He showed his determination and strength when put in fearful situations and in situations where he was not in control. All of these helped him to pass the tests that the immortals brought him to so that he would be prepared to finally cultivate himself. Upon finally cultivating himself, Xiangzi prepared himself to return to bring his uncle to immortality. This was only the beginning of the rest of Xiangzi’s journey but he had finally completed his path to immortality. All that remains is to help others to do the same.

Works Cited

Shichuang, Zhan. Religious Activities and Rituals: Intercourse of Dragon and Tiger. Trans. Gou Bo. Taoist Culture and Information Center. The Indiana University. 23 Mar. 2008 .

Erzeng, Yang. The Story of Han Xiangzi. Trans. Philip Clart. Seattle and London: University of Washington P, 2007.