Page 659 - The Encyclopedia of Taoism v1_A-L

LAOZI BIANHUA JING 617

Laozi bianhua jing

Scripture of the Transformations of Laozi

The Laozi bianhua jing is a manuscript that was discovered at *Dunhuang (S.
2295). Containing a text dated to the late second century on the basis of the
last appearance of Laozi that it mentions (in 155 CE), the manuscript was copied
by a monk of the *Xuandu guan (Abbey of the Mysterious Metropolis) in
Chang' an in 612. The manuscript is fragmentary, lacking a proper beginning,
and occasionally illegible. It consists of 101 lines of about seventeen characters
each. Giving expression to the beliefs of a popular messianic cult located in
southwest China, the text focuses on the divine Laozi as the incarnate power
of the Dao that appears in every generation to support and direct the govern-
ment of humanity.
The Bianhua jing can be divided into three major parts. The first consists
of a eulogy on Laozi as the body of the Dao and the savior of humanity. This
includes a description of his celestial stature, his supernatural birth to Mother
Li :$ fij: after seventy-two years of pregnancy, his unusual divine appearance,
his nature of non-action (*wuwei) and freedom from desires, and his ascent
back to Mount *Kunlun with the help of a white deer. The section ends with
the repeated emphasis that Laozi is of heavenly origin and has him give in-
structions to humanity:

"Know," he says, "my nine human forms
to gain wonderful immortality
and find the Dao of life.
So easy, yet so difficult!
Study my Dao of life-
and unlike people limited to the world,
you will live as long as the sun and the moon."
(Lines 27-29)

He then teaches people his nine names, each representing a different aspect
of the universe one must know to attain immortality.
The second part contains an account of Laozi as a heavenly deity called
Huncheng 1fL nJi: ("Confused And Yet Complete"; see Daode jing 25). Again
a long section details the celestial powers and role of the god; then the text
moves on to describe him as the teacher of dynasties, giving his various names