Page 603 - The Encyclopedia of Taoism v1_A-L

JING AND JIAN 56r

Pig. 48. Emblems inscribed on the reverse side of mirrors. Shangqing changshetlg baojian tu ..t?t'i ~
~. ii\ 00 (Highest Clarity Illustrations of Precious Mirrors for the Prolonging Life; CT 42.9).

1968,142), and explains: "The accomplished man (zhiren !f.A) uses the heart
like a mirror; he does not escort things as they go or welcome them as they
come, he responds and does not store. Therefore he is able to conquer other
things without suffering a wound" (chapter 7; see trans. Watson 1968,97). The
second chapter of the *Huainan zi also compares the sage who is in harmony
with the natural order of the cosmos to a pure mirror in which everything is
clearly reflected.
The mirror and sword also served as a protection against demons (*gui).
*Ge Hong (283-343) recommends that mountain recluses carry a magic mirror
with them and look at the reflection of every creature that approaches them in
the mirror. Once a demon is recognized in a mirror, it is deprived of its power
and forced to flee (*Baopu zi 17; trans. Ware 1966, 281- 82). In his "Records of
Knives and Swords" CDaojian lu" JJ ~U ~ , as quoted in Taiping yulan 343),
*Tao Hongjing (456-536 ) explains how an adept, by absorbing the powerful