Page 297 - The Encyclopedia of Taoism v1_A-L

T H E ENC YC LOPEDIA O F TAO ISM A- L

Third, near the end of the Five Dynasties, Chen Tuan composes a work
on physiognomy (xiangshu -tlHtj), the Fengjian Mill (Mirror of Auras; Kohn
1988), which becomes a classic in the field. His physiognomic and qi-control
powers become the basis for all his later legends, but only a few specialized
texts, such as ong Qiqiu's %: 7/if1 IT Yuguan zhaoshen ju ,~P'~;fIIl m.J (Jade Office
Instructions on How to Clarify Spirit; Five Dynasties) and the Ming handbook
Shenxiang quanbian ;fIIl~:i:~ (Complete Guide to Spirit Phy iognomy; ca.
1400), retain this information.
The last three facts again are recorded in all major sources on Chen Tuan
but are also closely corroborated by official documents. First, in 956, Chen
meets Shizong, ruler of the Later Zhou (r. 954- 59), whose questions about
alchemical methods of fund-raising he answers with spiritual advice. Then,
in 984 he meets Song Taizong (r. 976- 97) and is awarded the title Elder of the
White Clouds, together with various material gifts. This meeting serves to
make him the legitimizing saint of the new dynasty. Third, and last, Chen dies
on Mount Hua in 989. Legend has it that he is lI8 years old at the time, which
would place his birth in the 870S. Given the other data, however, a birth date
of around 920 is more likely.
In addition, it can be accepted as historically accurate that Chen Tuan
during the period from the 960s to the 980s met several high Song officials,
including Qian Ruoshui ~;£f7.k (960- 1003), Zhang Yong *WF (946-1015; SB
48- 50), and Chong Fang 5fPJJ)I: (956-1015; SB 297- 301); he read their fortunes
and gave them career advice, which they mostly did not follow. His *Yijing
studies, too, although not well documented in early or historical sources,
hover on the borderline of history, often being cited in Neo-Confucian and
other works as the roots of Zhou Dunyi's )j!fJ $j M (1017-73; SB 277-81) famous
*Taiji tu (Diagram of the Great Ultimate; Li Yuanguo 1990).
Legendary accounts. The legend of Chen Tuan adds several elements to this
historical skeleton: a wondrous encounter with a star lady as a child; special
mnemonic skills; a failed imperial examination at the capital and a period
of Taoist training at Mount Wudang (*Wudang shan, Hubei) in the 920S; a
magical transfer by dragon convoy to Mount Hua; a wonderful talent to enter
a deep trance known as "sleep" (shuigong flt ~), often for months; various
chance encounters with the future Song emperors whose imperial quality
he immediately recognizes (once even being so shocked that he falls off his
donkey); a successful physiognomic examination of Taizong's sons, when
he spots the future Zhenzong (r. 997-1022) as Taizong's heir; and a detailed
foreknowledge of and successful preparation for his death, now known as his
"transformation." In addition, various episodes on Chen Tuan are borrowed
from the legends of other saints, including Buddhist monks, and in the Taoist
tradition he is linked with *Lii Dongbin, whom he allegedly encounters in