Page 624 - The Encyclopedia of Taoism v1_A-L

THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TAOISM A-L

tives on earth, thus allowing the chosen people to establish the perfect realm
of the Dao. His figure succeeds the messiah Li Hong, follows the hagiography
of Laozi, and in his long search and striving for realization is also inspired by
Maitreya, the Buddha of the future.

Livia KOHN
III Andersen 1979, II-I5

* Li Hong; housheng; Houshengdaojun lieji; DEITIES: THE PANTHEON; MESSIANISM
AND MILLENARIANISM

Jinsuo liuzhu yin

Guide to the Golden Lock and the Flowing Pearls

TheJinsuo liuzhu yin (CT TOI5) is the largest compendium of methods of *bugang
("walking along the guideline") found in the Daozang. It is (apparently falsely)
attributed to *Li Chunfeng (ca. 602-ca. 670), the famous astronomer with
Taoist leanings, who reached the office of Grand Astrologer (taishi ling A r£
~) during the Zhenguan reign period (627-49). The book defines itself as an
"introduction" or "guide" (shiyin ;J~ iJ I) that leads into the practices implied in
the now lost, comprehensive "scripture" on bugang,jinsuo liuzhu jing ~!t lti im
~~~, and which (in another interpretation of the term shiyin) "demonstrates
the patterns" that should be followed in the performance of the walk.
The compilation of the Jinsuo liuzhu yin is presented as the work of Li
Chunfeng, who refers to himself as Feng Jrt\ (even in the main text), and who
is named in the chapter headings as the author of the commentaries. The
content of the book, however, affords grounds for doubting this attribution,
especially in the "autobiographical" details (2I.4a-b) about the role of the
author in the establishment of the Tang dynasty, through the appearance
to him of the deified Laozi in the year 617 (at a time when he was, in fact,
only fifteen years of age). The legends concerning the appearance of Laozi
in order to express his sanction of the rise to power of the imperial Li family
do not, in more generally circulated hagiographical works, appear to have
been associated with the name of Li Chunfeng until the twelfth century (see
*Hunyuan shengji, 8.2b). Indeed, perhaps the most significant impact of the
book occurred only in the Song, when it became important in the formation
of the *Tianxin zhengfa tradition. The earliest compilation of the methods
of this tradition, the * Taishang zhuguo jiumin zongzhen biyao (Secret Essentials