In the genealogy of Taoist immortals, Cihang Zhenren is the most unique, as he is both a Taoist immortal and a Buddhist bodhisattva, transforming from an immortal to a bodhisattva and from a male to a female. Most people’s impression of Cihang Zhenren comes from the book “Fengshen Yanyi”, in which Cihang Zhenren is one of the twelve golden immortals under the throne of Yuanshi Tianzun, and later became Guanyin.
The legend of Cihang Zhenren was established in the late Ming Dynasty. Cihang Zhenren is one of the twelve disciples under the Yuanshi Tianzun of the Yuxu Palace in Kunlun Mountain. Along with Guangchengzi, Chisizi, Yuding Zhenren, Taiyi Zhenren, Huanglong Zhenren, Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun, Puxian Zhenren, Lingbao Grand Master, Afraid of Leaving Sun, Daoxing Tianzun, and Qingxu Daode Zhenjun, he is praised for teaching the “Twelve Golden Immortals”.
The origin of Cihang Zhenren
In the “Comprehensive Mirror to Immortals of All Dynasties”, it is described that as far back as the Shang Dynasty, there was a Jurchen in the Chaoyin Cave of Luojia Rock on Mount Putuo who made a vow to bless all men and women in the world. She often uses elixirs and sweet dew water to help people, and is known as the ‘Cihang Zhenren’ by the people of the South China Sea.
Since the Six Dynasties, the localization process of Buddhism in China has been promoting the idea that immortals and Buddhas share the same origin and that Laozi, the founder of Taoism, transformed Hu into a Buddha. Therefore, Taoist immortals such as Guanyin, Manjusri, and Samantabhadra have been incorporated into Western Buddhism as Western Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. For example, in “Fengshen Yanyi,” it is directly stated that “the Taoist of Cihang in Luojia Cave on Mount Putuo – later became the Great Master of Guanyin.
In the classic Taoist scripture “Taishang Bi Luo Dong Tian Ci Hang Inspiration Du Shi Bao Repentance”, it is described that “Master Ci Hang took the root seedlings of the Western Heaven Jade Kingdom as the descendants of the Buddha Earth Village King, divided them into true and transformed them, and rooted them in the Southern Palace to expound and help others, and even gained glory in the Western Mother. Yin and Yang are mixed, and people know the true fruit in the universe, but the unknown trust begins in Qian, hidden and difficult to be poor. The world only sees the great teachings in Buddha, and the rare knowledge belongs to immortals.” Historical changes, the introduction of Buddhism, and the deliberate preaching and popularization have made ordinary people accustomed to seeing all bodhisattvas in temples, Buddhism and Taoism are not distinguished, and Ci Hang is a true person. The name gradually became blurred, and instead, “Guanyin Bodhisattva” became well-known.
Dragon Maiden Worshiping Compassionate Airlines
The young girl next to Cihang Zhenren is called Dragon Girl, the youngest daughter of the Dragon King of the East China Sea. She is born with beautiful features and is intelligent and clever. One day, she heard that the world was bustling with fish lanterns, so she quietly slipped out of the Crystal Palace in the middle of the night and became a fisherman girl watching the lanterns. Suddenly, half a cup of cold tea was poured from the attic onto the Dragon Maiden’s head. And the dragon girl, who transformed into a fisherman’s girl, revealed her true form as soon as she touched the water. The dragon girl was extremely anxious and squeezed out of the crowd, running towards the seaside. But just ran to the beach and the dragon girl turned into a fish. Coincidentally, two fishermen arrived at this moment, picked up their fish and went out to sell them on the street.
At this moment, Guanyin saw clearly in the Purple Bamboo Forest and unconsciously showed compassion. She ordered the kind-hearted boy behind her to buy the fish and release it into the sea. The Dragon King learned that his daughter violated the heavenly rules, and his dragon face was furious. With thunderous thunder, he expelled his daughter from the Crystal Palace. The Dragon Maiden, who was expelled from the Crystal Palace, wept bitterly. Guanyin heard the cries of the Little Dragon Maiden and ordered Shancai to take her to the Purple Bamboo Grove. From then on, Dragon Maiden and Shancai followed Guanyin to practice in Chaoyin Cave like siblings.
The Gender Change of Cihang Zhenren
In the early days, Cihang Zhenren was a male figure, but in the Tang Dynasty, she changed to a female figure, experiencing a transformation from “a brave husband with a sense of freedom” to “a graceful and beautiful woman”.
Legend has it that after helping Jiang Ziya to become a god, the real Cihang traveled around the world and saw a pregnant woman lying on the ground moaning while flying in the clouds. Cihang Zhenren transformed into a bottle holding girl to rescue pregnant women in order to avoid embarrassment and gossip. However, due to contamination during childbirth, it cannot be transformed into its original form.
Due to the benevolent deeds of Cihang, which moved the heavens, the Jade Emperor gained fame and saved the suffering of humanity. From then on, Cihang Zhenren began to present herself in a female image. Another legend about the transformation of Cihang Zhenren from a man to a woman tells the story of Cihang Zhenren losing the precious mirror gifted by the Moral Heavenly Lord in the East China Sea. The light of the treasure mirror shone on a carp spirit practicing in the East China Sea. The carp spirit took the opportunity to transform into a beautiful woman. In order to truly cultivate oneself, the carp spirit eats boys and girls everywhere in the world. After learning of this, the Jade Emperor sent Cihang to the mortal world to collect demons.
In order to attract the appearance of carp essence, Cihang transformed into a female body and used the technique of a thousand hands and a thousand eyes to catch the carp essence. But due to forgetting to transform back into a male body when returning to the Heavenly Court, I missed the time again. Cihang Zhenren can no longer restore her true self, and ultimately becomes an immortal through her female body.
Cihang Zhenren is the revered deity of the Chinese nation. In order to adapt to the localization process in China, Buddhism, which originated from the West, incorporated many local Chinese immortals and transformed them into bodhisattvas. Guanyin Bodhisattva was born from this. Although Cihang and Guanyin have different religious identities and titles, their functions are basically the same, both being to save lives, bless children, and be compassionate.
