Elder Zhang Guo - Legends

Legends

Zhang Guo Lao was known for wandering between the Fen River & Chin territories during his lifetime and was known to travel at least a thousand li per day upon a white donkey or mule. When his journey was finished, he folded his mule up and placed it in his pocket or a small box. When he wished to use the mule again, he poured water on it from his mouth and the mule regained its form.

Emperors of the T'ang dynasty (T'ai Tsung and Kao Tsung) often invited Zhang Guo Lao to court, but he always declined these invitations. Once, when asked by Empress Wu, he finally agreed to leave his hermitage. As he reached the gate of the Temple of the Jealous Woman, he died suddenly. His body was seen decomposing and being consumed by worms, but he was later seen, alive and well, on the mountains of Heng Chou in P'ing-yang Fu.

In the twenty-third year (AD 735) of the reign-period K'ai Yüan of the Emperor Hsüan Tsung of the Tang Dynasty, Zhang Guo Lao was called to Lo-yang in Honan, and elected Chief of the Imperial Academy, with the honorable title of "Very Perspicacious Teacher". At this time, the famous Taoist Yeh Fa-shan was in great favor at Court, thanks to his skill in necromancy. When asked who this Zhang Guo Lao was, the magician replied, "I know, but if I were to tell your Majesty, I should fall dead at your feet, so I dare not speak unless your Majesty will promise that you will go with bare feet and bare head to ask Zhang Guo Lao to forgive you, in which case I should immediately revive."

Hsüan Tsung having promised, Fa-shan then said: "Zhang Guo Lao is a white spiritual bat which came out of primeval chaos." Zhang Guo Lao was believed by some to be able to transform himself into a bat, another symbol of permanence. After giving this information, Fa-shan immediately dropped dead at the Emperor's feet. Hsüan Tsung, with bald head and feet, went to Zhang Guo Lao as he had promised. After begging him for forgiveness for his indiscretion, Zhang Guo Lao then sprinkled water on Fa-shan's face and he revived. Soon after during the period AD 742-746, Zhang Guo Lao fell ill and returned to die in the Heng Chou Mountains. When his disciples opened his tomb, they found it empty.