Compendium of Chinese Folk Customs (Belief Volume)

Author: Zheng Tiyou
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: The belief in immortals originates from people's longing for the lives of immortals. Immortals are a kind of "superhuman," an invention of ancient Chinese people. On a global scale, early human thinking and later religious beliefs are generally constructed based on the concept of the soul, where the soul is reborn as a human, and after death, it returns to a soul state (as a god or ghost). This cycle is endless, and the living are merely a part of it. Immortals transcend this cycle. Ordinary people can break free from this cycle through certain cultivation methods, achieving simultaneous immortality of both soul and body, or immortality. According to many foreign scholars' research, the phenomenon of pursuing physical immortality of immortals does not exist in other countries. The belief in immortals is a unique folk belief phenomenon in China. Immortals are "superhumans" who, through cultivation, achieve spiritual and physical immortality and can live freely in the universe. The methods of cultivation include taking elixirs, breathing exercises, ingesting pills, and more. In addition, one can become an immortal through good deeds, helping others, and more. After achieving immortality, one acquires the magical powers of immortals, such as flying through the sky like a horse, changing forms in countless ways, commanding ghosts and gods beyond time and space, and an all-powerful healing art, among others. Immortals can transcend the limitations of time and space, the constraints of human physiology, and the restrictions of social systems, living a truly free and wonderful life. In Taoism, based on the difficulty and level of cultivation methods, personal aptitude, and the reflection of worldly hierarchies in the immortal realm, immortals are divided into different ranks, typically including celestial immortals, earth immortals, corpse-immortal, water immortals, and ghost immortals. Celestial immortals refer to those who rise into the void, reside in celestial palaces, and possess the ability to transform and communicate with gods. It is generally believed that they achieve this by consuming the Nine-Turn Elixir or the Great Yi Golden Liquid, making them superior immortals among all. Famous celestial immortals include the Jade Emperor, the Queen Mother of the West, Laozi, Chi Songzi, Zixiao, and Mao Ying. Earth immortals are those who achieve immortality directly through their physical bodies but cannot ascend to heaven, instead residing in earthly paradises. Some earth immortals remain on earth because they enjoy the freedom of human life and are unwilling to ascend. Earth immortals are considered middle-level immortals in the immortal realm. Famous earth immortals include Mamingsheng, Xi Yanggong, Yin Changsheng, Pengzu, and Anqisheng, among whom the Eight Immortals are particularly renowned. They are changeable, often playing and hiding among the people, helping and saving others, and have a significant influence in. Corpse-immortals cannot achieve immortality directly through their physical bodies but must pass through the intermediary of "death," though this "death" is a temporary state of decay. The reasons for corpse-immortal transformation vary: some may lack innate immortal bones, others may not practice cultivation methods skillfully enough, or they may do so to warn their descendants not to pursue worldly gains or to give them a chance to grieve. When a corpse-immortal achieves immortality, what remains is not a real body but a false corpse transformed from talismans, staffs, swords, or shoes. When open the coffin of a corpse-immortal, the body reverts to its original form of a sword or staff, and only then do people realize that the "dead" has become an immortal. The forms of corpse-immortal transformation are diverse, including military transformation (dying by sword or blade), aquatic transformation (dying by water), and fire transformation (dying by fire). Famous corpse-immortals include Jiaoxiang, Ge Xuan, Bao Qian, Wu Meng, and Li Shaojun.