Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms: Volume 11 (Human Figures)

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Huang Chuping

original: "黃初平"

Huang Chuping was a native of Danxi Located in modern-day Lanxi, Zhejiang Province. during the Jin Dynasty A period of Chinese history (266–420 CE) marked by significant developments in Daoist thought and alchemy.. At the age of fifteen, while he was out herding sheep, he encountered a Daoist practitioner A seeker of the Way (Dao) who has mastered spiritual and physical cultivation. who was impressed by his spiritual potential. The Daoist led him to a stone chamber on Mount Jinhua Literally "Golden Flower Mountain," a site famous for its deep caverns and spiritual energy., where Chuping remained for more than forty years, hidden from the world.

His elder brother, Huang Chuqi, searched for him for many years without success. Eventually, Chuqi met a Daoist skilled in the art of divination The practice of using supernatural means to uncover hidden knowledge or future events. and asked him where his brother might be. The Daoist replied, "Within the heights of Mount Jinhua, there is a shepherd boy."

Chuqi immediately traveled to the mountain to find him. Upon their reunion, Chuqi asked, "Where are the sheep you were meant to tend?"

Chuping replied, "They are on the eastern side of the mountain."

Chuqi went to the location to look, but he saw nothing there except for a vast field of white boulders piled high. He returned Completing the truncated text "He re..." to his brother and remarked that no sheep were to be found, only stones. Chuping smiled and walked to the site with him. He shouted, "Sheep, stand up!" and immediately, the tens of thousands of white boulders rose and transformed into a flock of living sheep. Realizing his brother had attained divine power, Chuqi abandoned his worldly life to study the Way alongside him. Both brothers eventually attained immortality.

Fei Changfang

original: "費長房"

Fei Changfang was a native of Runan A historic commandery in modern-day Henan Province. who lived during the Later Han Dynasty. While serving as a minor market official, he witnessed a miraculous event from his office window: an old man selling medicine in the market would leap into a hollow gourd original: "壺" (hu). The double-gourd or calabash is a potent symbol in Daoism, representing a "pocket universe" or a gateway to a hidden paradise. hanging at his stall once the day's work was done.

Recognizing the old man as a transcendent An immortal or perfected being (xian)., Fei Changfang treated him with great reverence. The old man, known as Hu Gong original: "壺公", literally "Elder Gourd.", eventually invited Fei to enter the gourd with him. Inside, Fei did not find a cramped fruit, but a magnificent, sprawling palace filled with celestial beauty and fine wines.

Fei Changfang became the Elder's disciple and followed him into the mountains. Though he eventually returned to the mortal world, he was gifted a magical bamboo staff and a talisman that granted him extraordinary powers. He became famous for the ability to "Shrink the Earth" term: suodi (縮地). A legendary Daoist technique for compressing space, allowing one to travel thousands of miles in a single step., as well as the power to command ghosts and heal the sick. In the accompanying woodcut illustration, Fei is shown standing by a gnarled tree, watching in awe as the Elder Gourd emerges from his mystical vessel.