In Search of the Supernatural (Soushen Ji) (1608) - Page 24

Reproduced from the illustrations of the Prince of Lu's Mansion The Prince of Lu was a title held by members of the Ming Dynasty royal family, known for commissioning high-quality woodblock prints., produced in the Gengshen and Simao years Specific years in the traditional sixty-year cycle, likely 1560 and 1579 respectively..

...passionate and kind. He looked down upon the whole world and commanded his ministers that the succession was settled on a virtuous path. He then renounced his kingdom and went into the Mount Xiuyan of Puming to practice the Way. Once his cultivation was successful, he transcended this kalpa An immense period of time in cosmology, often described as the time it takes for a universe to be created and destroyed.. He had already passed through eight hundred kalpas, during which he frequently renounced his kingdom for the sake of all living beings, cutting off his personal attachments to study the Way.

After this, he passed through another eight hundred kalpas practicing medicine and curing diseases, saving living beings and bringing them peace and happiness. When those kalpas ended, he passed through yet another eight hundred kalpas, widely performing skillful means original: "fangbian." The ability to adapt teachings to the level of the listener., opening various Daoist scriptural treasures, expounding numinous chapters, proclaiming the correct transformation, and spreading divine merits to assist the state and save people, reaching from the unseen realm to the visible world.

After this, he passed through a further eight hundred kalpas where he sacrificed his life and body. Because he practiced the virtue of patience original: "renzhe." The spiritual fortitude to endure suffering or insult without anger., he gave up his own flesh and blood. Having cultivated in this manner for a total of three thousand two hundred kalpas, he finally attained the status of a Golden Immortal A high-ranking immortal; a term used here to bridge Daoist immortality and Buddhist enlightenment., titled the Pure and Natural King of Awakening Tathagata.

Historical Records of the Song Dynasty

The Veritable Records of Emperor Zhenzong of Song state: In the ninth month of the seventh year of the Dazhong Xiangfu era 1014 CE, the Emperor said to his attendants: "Since the descent of the Heavenly Scripts Referring to the 'Heavenly Texts' (tianshu) that supposedly fell from the sky, which the Emperor used to legitimize his rule., I have desired to join with the officials and commoners of the realm to offer a sacred title to the Jade Emperor."

By the first day of the first month of the first year of the Tianxi era 1017 CE, the Emperor went to the Hall of Great Beginning to respectfully offer the Jade Emperor the Great...