Ancient Cultivation Stories: Li Qing of the Tao School

[Chinese folklore is full of ancient stories of cultivation, immortals and taoists. These stories, often mystical and full of magical happenings, reflect the depth to which the concept of cultivation permeates the whole of Chinese culture, tradition and history. These stories are not directly related to Falun Gong, but are included on Clear Harmony because they are of interest to western people, providing an insight into the deep cultural tradition of cultivation practices in China.]

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Consummation Story of Tao School (9): Li Qing

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang dynasty aspired to become an immortal and worshiped Taoism. There were two heavenly teachers accompanying him who had attained the Tao, one was Ye Fashan and the other was Xing Hepu. They were appointed specifically to search for extraordinary talents for the emperor. In the 9th year of Kaiyuan (the title of Xuanzong’s reign), the two heavenly teachers Ye and Xing reported to the emperor that “there are three real immortals living in this world, they are Zhang Guolao, Luo Gongyuan and Li Qing. Although they have no interest in riches and honour of this world, but if the imperial court could invite them sincerely, they might present themselves in the court.” Emperor Xuanzong was so delighted when hearing the report and immediately sent for three officials to invite them with a letter sealed with royal seal.

Let’s talk about Li Qing. At that time, Li Qing had achieved consummation and of course his spirit had been able to communicate with other living beings. When the official Pei She who was designated by the imperial court just left the Capital, he was aware of it. Li Qing recalled the last sentence of the four prophetic sentences told by his master: escape before Pei’s arrival. Pei is of course Pei She and escape is then to get away. It looked as if master wanted me to leave this world with corpse disguise. Let us describe what “corpse disguise” is? It is not that consummation in the Tao School is only takes the form of rising to heaven. There is another form the same as worldly people’s death. But it is a form of transformation of a specified object. It transforms an object into a person’s body. But the transformed body could not exist for long. It will get back to its original form in a short period of time. Therefore, the Taoists who make use of corpse disguise always ask to be buried immediately after their death.

Getting up early in the morning, Li Qing called in his disciples in company with him and said: “Don’t open the drugstore today. I will say farewell to all of you at noon.” All the disciples were so shocked: “Why does master suddenly speak these words?” Li Qing said: “My life has come to the end, how can I keep it by force?. Please purchase a ready-made coffin for me. Once I stop breathing, put my body in the coffin right away and nail it down. Be sure not to put it off to tomorrow. Give all the things in my shop to Jin Dalang in the next door. He has been taking care of me for 70 years.” All the disciples took the order one by one and bought the coffin and other stuff sequentially. All the things were done straight away. The only thing that was not arranged was that Jin Dalang, who although 89 years old, was still strong and able to walk swiftly, had gone to countryside since three o’clock that morning and had not yet returned. After washing his face and taking a bath, Li Qing put on fresh clothes and walked into the room. The disciples followed him closely. Li Qing said: “Go and see if uncle Jin from next door has returned. Please ask him to come over. I will say farewell to him in person so that our 70 years friendship will not be in vain.” All the disciples complied with his words and went out to invite Jin Dalang. However, Jin had not yet returned. After a while, the disciples returned to the room again and found Li Qing had died. Some of the disciples cried their hearts out but some with poor moral standard looked for possessions in the chaos. After a short period of disorder, disciples complied with Li Qing’s words, put his body in the coffin, nailed down the coffin’s cover and placed it in the shop. Li Qing had started running the drugstore when he was 70. He was 140 years old by that time. Once he died, the word spread instantly through half of Qingzhou city. All his customers came down to offer their condolences.

As to the imperial court designated official Pei She, he arrived at Qingzhou city after a long journey and was welcomed by the local officials and elders. Pei She read out the imperial edict. It was about inviting an immortal Li Qing. The elders said: “In Qingzhou area, there is only one Li Qing who runs a small drugstore. He is 140 years of age and died without illness at noon yesterday. Except for him, there is no immortal Li Qing.” Pei She did not believe the existence of immortals in the first place. When hearing of the death of Li Qing, he could not help complaining: “Since he is an immortal, how could he die?. As he died, it indicates that he is not an immortal. However, it is uncommon to be able to live to be 140 years old. I suffered so much to look for him. But he died just before I arrived, not earlier, not later. How can I reply and explain to the present emperor!” He could not hide his furrowed brow.

Uncle Jin who lived next door to Li Qing came back from the countryside the next day with a big bundle of herbs on his shoulder. A lot of people surrounded him and said: “If you had come back earlier, you would have been able to say farewell to your old friend doctor Li.” Uncle Jin said: “Where does he go that I need to say farewell?” those people said: “He passed away at noon of yesterday.” Uncle Jin did not believe it and said: “Nonsense, nonsense, I met him at the southern gate yesterday at noon, how could you curse him like this?” Everyone was shocked and said that uncle Jin must have come across his soul. Uncle Jin answered: “I don’t believe such a weird thing.” He did not go home but went directly to Li Qing’s shop. There he saw a coffin, and all the disciples of Li Qing wore mourning and many villagers were offering their condolences. Uncle Jin shook his head unceasingly and said: “Weird! Weird!” A disciple said to him: “My master passed away yesterday at noon. Since you were not at home, the coffin has been placed here up until now.” while passing him a piece of paper, “Master told us to give all the things in the shop to you.” Uncle Jin received the piece but did not read it. He merely shook his head and thought aloud: “Did he really die? I just don’t believe it, I don’t believe it.” Then he spoke to everyone: “I was on the foot of Yunmen Mountain yesterday at noon. Since I saw several kinds of herbs, I stopped to pick. Then I saw your master Li. He wore a shoe on his left foot but was barefooted on his right. I asked him where he was going. He said: ‘In the Yunmen Mountain, there are nine fellow apprentices of Tao School awaiting me. I have to go for a few days.’ Then he took out a letter from his sleeve and asked me to send it to the state government. He said that there would be an official Pei coming from the imperial court. He wanted me to give the letter to him so that he could reply to the emperor and would not get involved in troubles. The letter is still with me. How come he died?” As he finished talking, uncle Jin took out the letter and presented it to everyone. All the disciples said: “Master did not leave the courtyard at all before noon yesterday. How could he go to Yunmen Mountain in no time?” All the neighbours said: “He has died. How can he ask others to pass a message. Moreover, he even can predict that an imperial court designated official will come to invite him, he must be a true immortal.” The neighbours escorted uncle Jin to the state government and reported to the governor. At that time, the Pei She was worried when he saw the governor came in along with a group of people and had a letter on his hand. When told that it was Li Qing who asked uncle Jin to pass him the letter yesterday at noon, Pei hastily opened the letter and read: Li Qing requested Pei She to inform the present emperor that Li Qing had no interest in being an official. It would not be possible for even Zhang Guolao and Luo Gongyuan to be in the imperial court for long. As a son of heaven, you should regard loving the people as the most important thing and should not ruin the national affairs simply because of studying wizardries.

After reading, Pei She could did not show any emotion and said: “According to the records of ancient books, immortals will never die. If death occurs, it must be a corpse disguise. Why don’t we open the coffin and investigate? If the coffin is empty, it is of no doubt that he must be a true immortal.” Thus, Pei She, the state governor, disciples of Li Qing and dwellers of Qingzhou state went to the drugstore together. They opened the coffin and found that there were only a bamboo staff and a single shoe inside.