Lü Dongbin

Lü Dongbin (呂洞賓) or 呂祖師 is one of the most famous and beloved of the Eight Immortals, a group of legendary figures from Chinese Taoist mythology. His portrayal as a scholar, poet, and heroic swordsman has captured the imagination of people for centuries, making him a cultural icon and a symbol of various virtues in Chinese folklore.

Background and Legends

Lü Dongbin is often considered the de facto leader of the Eight Immortals, although different stories may attribute the leadership role to others. He is said to have lived during the Tang Dynasty and is sometimes referred to as Lü Yan or Lü Chunyang. His stories are numerous and varied, but he is most well-known for his role as a wise teacher and a powerful cultivator of the Tao.

Attributes and Symbols

Lü Dongbin is typically depicted as a scholar carrying a sword on his back, which he uses to slay demons and cut through ignorance and illusion. This sword is not only a physical weapon but also a symbol of his sharp intellect and spiritual insight. He also carries a fly-whisk, a traditional Taoist symbol, which he uses to walk on clouds or water and to heal and revive the souls of the dead.

Teachings and Philosophy

As a cultural hero, Lü Dongbin is associated with several key aspects of Taoist philosophy. He is known for his tests of character, where he presents challenges to individuals to reveal their true nature or to impart moral lessons. One of the most famous stories involving Lü Dongbin is his encounter with a tea vendor, whom he enlightens by drawing characters on the surface of a river, demonstrating the impermanence of worldly affairs.

The Cultivation of Lü Dongbin

Lü Dongbin's own path to becoming an immortal is marked by trials and tribulations, which serve as lessons on the importance of perseverance and moral fortitude. He is said to have been initiated into the mysteries of Taoism by another of the Eight Immortals, Zhongli Quan. His transformation from a learned scholar to a spiritual master is often depicted as a journey fraught with challenges that test his commitment and integrity.

Cultural Impact

Lü Dongbin's influence extends beyond religious and mythological texts. He is revered as a patron saint of barbers and physicians, embodying the virtues of healing and service to others. His stories are celebrated during various festivals, and his image is invoked for protection, good fortune, and success in scholarly endeavors.

Moral Lessons

The tales of Lü Dongbin are imbued with teachings on humility, patience, and the Taoist pursuit of harmony with nature. His character demonstrates the importance of self-cultivation, wisdom, and the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment. As with the other immortals, his life stories serve as moral and spiritual lessons for the living, offering guidance on the path to a virtuous and meaningful life.

In summary, Lü Dongbin stands out as a central figure in Chinese cultural and spiritual history, representing the quintessential Taoist sage who masters both the pen and the sword, and whose teachings continue to inspire those seeking wisdom and enlightenment.

Ten Tests

Lu Chunyang Meets Zhenyang Lu Chunyang encountered Zhenyang Zhenren Zhongli Quan in a wine shop in Chang'an. Zhenyang took Lu as his disciple and subjected Lu to "Ten Tests":

1. First Test: One day, when Lu Chunyang returned from outside, he suddenly found that all his family members had died of illness. Chunyang was neither sad nor regretful. He just arranged for funeral clothes and coffins, preparing to handle the funeral. In a short while, all his family members came back to life, and Chunyang showed no emotion of sorrow or joy.
2. Second Test: Chunyang went to the street to sell goods. After bargaining with the buyer and agreeing on a price, the buyer reneged and only paid half the price. Chunyang was not annoyed and let the buyer take the goods away confidently.
3. Third Test: On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Chunyang was about to go out when he encountered a beggar begging at his door. Chunyang quickly gave him money and goods, but the beggar was insatiable, begging again and again, and speaking foul language. Chunyang just kept a smile on his face.
4. Fourth Test: Chunyang was herding sheep in the mountains when he suddenly encountered a hungry tiger chasing the flock. Chunyang protected the flock by leading them down the hill to hide, and he stepped forward to block the tiger with his body. Seeing this, the tiger left in disappointment.
5. Fifth Test: Chunyang was reading in a thatched hut in the mountains when suddenly a beautiful woman arrived, claiming that she had lost her way and came to seek shelter. Then, this woman tried to seduce him in every way, pressing him to sleep with her at night, but Chunyang remained calm throughout.
6. Sixth Test: One day, when Chunyang returned from outside, he found that his home had been burglarized and his property had been robbed clean. Chunyang was not disheartened, did not report to the officials, and instead started to plow the field himself. While plowing, he suddenly dug up a dozen or so gold ingots. Chunyang quickly buried them with soil and did not take a single cent.
7. Seventh Test: Chunyang once went to the street to buy some bronze utensils. When he got home and looked at them, they were all gold utensils. Chunyang immediately returned them to the seller.
8. Eighth Test: There was a mad Taoist selling medicine in the streets, claiming that those who took it would die immediately but could attain the Tao in the next life. Upon hearing this, who would willingly seek death? Chunyang, not believing in superstition, bought it and took it, and was unharmed.
9. Ninth Test: The river was flooding, and Chunyang and others took a boat to cross the river. When they reached the middle of the river, a violent wind blew, and the waves were surging. Everyone was terrified, but only Chunyang remained calm and unmoved, viewing life and death as beyond his control.
10. Tenth Test: Chunyang was sitting alone in the room when he suddenly saw countless strange and bizarre demons and ghosts wanting to kill and beat him. Chunyang was not afraid at all. Then a group of Yakshas, escorting a bloody prisoner, came to claim his life: "You killed me in your previous life, now it's time to pay with your life!" Chunyang said, "Killers pay with their lives, debtors pay with money." He remained calm and unmoved. Suddenly, there was a loud shout in the sky, and all the ghosts and demons disappeared. A man was clapping and laughing, it was Zhenyang Zhenren Zhongli Quan.

In the ten tests, Chunyang showed no concern for gain or loss, treating everything with a normal mindset, which greatly satisfied Zhongli Quan. He took Chunyang to Crane Ridge of Zhongnan Mountain and transmitted to him the secret methods of Lingbao and Shangzhen, together they founded the Zhong-Lu Golden Elixir Sect.

Story of Lü and the Alchemist

Version 1

One of the most popular stories about Lü Dongbin is the tale of his encounter with an alchemist who claimed he could teach Lü Dongbin the secret of turning stone into gold. This story is often used to illustrate Taoist values such as contentment, the rejection of greed, and the understanding of true wealth.

In the story, Lü Dongbin meets an alchemist who boasts that he possesses the secret of transmutation of base metal into gold and offers to teach Lü this art. Interested in the implications of such a skill, Lü agrees to become the alchemist's student. He learns the process and is soon able to turn stone into gold. However, the story takes a twist when Lü Dongbin uses this power.

Instead of using the gold for personal gain, Lü Dongbin starts distributing it among the poor. The tale takes another turn when the gold reverts back to stone after a predetermined period. The people who had received the gold from Lü Dongbin and had not spent it found themselves with worthless stones again. Those who had already used the gold to improve their lives or help others, however, had invested it in a way that brought them lasting benefits beyond the temporary wealth.

This outcome reveals Lü Dongbin's true intention: to teach a lesson about greed and the impermanent nature of material wealth. He wanted to show that real value comes not from gold but from how we use the resources we have to enrich our lives and the lives of others. Lü Dongbin's act of turning stone into gold was a test of character and a demonstration of the Taoist principle that true wealth lies in virtue, not in material possessions.

Through this parable, Lü Dongbin conveys the Taoist wisdom that the pursuit of wealth for its own sake is folly, and that true alchemy is the transformation of the human soul from ignorance to enlightenment.

Version 2

There is another version of the story where Lü Dongbin initially learns the secret of turning stone into gold from an alchemist, but there is a caveat—the gold would revert back to stone after a certain period. Upon learning of this condition, Lü Dongbin reflects on the implications and consequences of this temporary wealth.

In this version of the story, Lü Dongbin decides that teaching others to rely on such an uncertain source of wealth would ultimately lead to more harm than good. He understands that those who received the gold would become attached to their newfound wealth, only to be devastated when it disappeared. Realizing the potential for causing great distress and encouraging greed, Lü Dongbin refuses to use the alchemical secret.

This narrative emphasizes Lü Dongbin's wisdom and his understanding of the transient nature of physical riches. It also underlines a core Taoist belief that true wealth and happiness come from spiritual development and virtuous living rather than material possessions.

The moral of this story is about the importance of integrity and foresight. Lü Dongbin's choice to reject the alchemist's teaching is a lesson in recognizing the difference between what is truly valuable and what is illusory. It teaches that wisdom lies in seeking and valuing that which is everlasting and beneficial for one's spiritual growth, rather than temporary and potentially harmful material gains.

External Links

• 呂仙祖靈蹟