Comprehensive Records of Chinese Folk Customs. Volume on Beliefs

Author: Zheng Tiyou
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: The belief in immortals originates from people's yearning for the life of immortals. Immortals are a kind of "superhuman," an invention of ancient Chinese people. Globally, the early thinking of humans and later religious beliefs are generally constructed based on the concept of the soul, where the soul is reborn into 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 to achieve simultaneous immortality of the soul and body, known as 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 consuming immortal herbs, practicing breath control, ingesting elixirs, etc. In addition, one can become an immortal through good deeds, helping others, and benefiting society. After achieving immortality, one acquires the magical powers of immortals, such as flying through the sky like a celestial horse, transforming in countless ways, commanding ghosts and gods beyond time and space, and possessing all-encompassing medical skills, etc. Immortals can transcend the limitations of time and space, surpass the physiological constraints of human life, and break free from the constraints of social systems to live 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-released immortals, water immortals, and ghost immortals, etc. Celestial immortals refer to those who ascend to the void, reside in celestial palaces, and possess divine powers through transformation. It is generally believed that they achieve this by consuming the Nine-Turn Returning Elixir and the Great Yi Golden Liquid, making them the highest-ranking immortals, such as the Jade Emperor, the Queen Mother of the West, Laozi, Chi Songzi, Zixiao, and Mao Ying. Earth immortals directly achieve immortality but cannot ascend to the heavens and can only reside in underground paradises. Some earth immortals are reluctant to ascend to the heavens due to their desire for freedom in the mortal world, like Bai Shi. Earth immortals are considered mid-ranking in the immortal realm, with famous examples such as Mamingsheng, Xi Yanggong, Yin Changsheng, Pengzu, and Anqisheng, among whom the Eight Immortals are particularly renowned. They are ever-changing, often playing and hiding among the people, helping and benefiting others, and have a significant influence in folklore. Corpse-released immortals cannot achieve physical immortality directly and must pass through the intermediary stage of "death," though this "death" is a temporary state of transformation. The reasons for corpse-release vary: some may lack innate immortal bones, others may not practice cultivation methods skillfully enough, or some may do so to warn their descendants not to pursue worldly gains or to give them a chance to grieve. When a corpse-released immortal achieves immortality, what remains is not a real body but a false corpse transformed from talismans, staffs, swords, or shoes. When open the tomb, the false corpse of a corpse-released immortal turns back into a sword, staff, etc., and only then do people realize that the "dead" has already become an immortal. The forms of corpse-release are diverse, including military release (dying by sword or blade), hydro release (dying in water), and fire release (dying by fire). Famous corpse-released immortals include Jie Xiang, Ge Xuan, Bao Qian, Wu Meng, Li Shaojun,