Page 728 - The Encyclopedia of Taoism v1_A-L

686 T H E ENCYC LOPEDI A OF TAOI SM A- L

an orphan, and, although his family does not seem to have had any specific
religious tradition, he turned to asceticism and made a reputation for himself
through his humble and austere mode of life. At the age of twenty, he met
an "extraordinary person," identified by the Zhen dadao tradition as Laozi,
who explained him the true meaning of the Daode jing and gave him liturgical
scriptures. Out of these revelations, Liu drew nine precepts of general moral
significance, which Zhen dadao adepts received in their formal initiation.
These precepts likely played the same role as the five basic precepts (wujie Ji
ftlO in all Buddhist and most Taoist communities (i.e., those against killing,
stealing, having illicit sex, lying, and drinking alcohol).
Thanks to his impressive austerity and exorcistic prowess, Liu's predica-
tion met with great popular support. In II76, he was invited to the Jin court
and awarded the title Dongyue zhenren * ~ ~ A (Real Man of the Eastern
Peak). He chose as his successor another man inclined toward hard work and
humble demeanor, Chen Shizheng ~ ffili lE , hitherto a fisherman along the
Yellow River.
Liu's life is primarily known through a late account by the famed historiog-
rapher Song Lian * t!fft (1310-81), but his name is also found in most epigraphic
accounts of the Zhen dadao, where he is evoked as the main example of the
austere virtues preached by this order.
Vincent GOOSSAERT

m Qing Xitai 1994, I: 330
~ Zhen dadao

Liu Haichan

ming: Cao 1* or Xuanying K ~; zi: Zongcheng * Jjj(; or Zhaoyuan
Bt! ill; hao: Haichan zi #fJ ~ T (Master Sea-Toad)

Liu Haichan is one of the most popular of the irnrnortals who appear at the
beginning of the Song period and play an important role in the diffusion of
*neidan techniques and literature. He is first mentioned in several collections
of miscellaneous notes (biji ~itr.) as a disciple of *Chen Tuan (ca. 920-89).
Later hagiography, fashioned by the *Quanzhen order, makes him a minister
of the state of Yan ~ (9II- 13). At the height of his glory, Liu is converted by
a trick of *Zhongli Quan, who piles up ten eggs on a coin and asserts that
the life of a minister is even more hazardous. Liu then abandons his life of