The Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms

Portraits, Volume 11

Page 5

...ror Continuing from the description of "terror" on the previous page, detailing the retreat of the ghost-armies defeated by Zhang Daoling..

While the Celestial MasterOriginal: "天師" (Tianshi); the title of Zhang Daoling, the founder of the Way of the Celestial Masters, the first organized Taoist religion. remained among the world of men, he received a secret decree revealing the appointed time for his transcendenceOriginal: "飛昇" (Feisheng); the process by which a Taoist practitioner achieves immortality and rises to the celestial realm.. At Cloud Terrace PeakOriginal: "雲臺峰" (Yuntaifeng); a sacred mountain site in present-day Sichuan province associated with Zhang Daoling's final refinement of the elixir of life., he ascended to heaven in broad daylightOriginal: "白日昇天" (Bairi shengtian); regarded as the highest form of immortality, where the practitioner is bodily taken up into the heavens in full view of the public..

Xiao Shi

Xiao Shi was a legendary flautist from the Spring and Autumn period. Famed for his mastery of the xiaoA vertical, end-blown bamboo flute., it was said his music could perfectly mimic the cry of the phoenixOriginal: "鳳凰" (Fenghuang); the mythological king of birds, representing grace and celestial harmony.. He became the husband of Nongyu, the daughter of Duke Mu of Qin, after teaching her his musical secrets. The illustration depicts the moment their music summoned a phoenix from the heavens, shortly before the couple achieved immortality and rode away on the backs of a dragon and a phoenix.