Page 755 - The Encyclopedia of Taoism v1_A-L

Lli DONGBIN
713

Fig. 56. An episode from the life of Lti Dongbin. *Yongle gong (Palace of
EternaIJoy), Pavilion of the Three Clarities (Sanqing dian-'. {I'i »li().

that those who were most involved in Lii's cult belonged to underprivileged
classes, such as prostitutes, peddlers, itinerant Taoists, healers, medicinal herb
dealers, and ink-sellers.
Veneration by these groups led to Lii's name being used to voice criticism in
times of social unrest. Poems with his name, sometimes hidden in anagrams,
appeared on temple walls criticizing unjust or corrupt officials. Buddhists
used the same tool to convey their feelings when they were denigrated and
persecuted during the reign of Song Huizong (r. lIOO-II2S); one of the earliest
portraits of Lii, in fact, was placed in a Buddhist temple. Lii was also adopted
by subversive groups, sometimes leading to ludicrous imperial orders for his
arrest (Ma Xiaohong I986, 86).