Xu Zhenjun’s Ascension Day: Aug 1 in Daoist Calendar

Important Dates in Taoism: The 1st Day of the 8th Lunar Month – The Day when True Lord Xu Attained the Dao!

True Lord Xu Xun, courtesy name Jingzhi, was a native of Nanchang in Yuzhang (an ancient administrative region covering parts of modern Jiangxi Province) and a Taoist priest of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. According to Xishan Xu Zhenjun Bashiwu Hua Lu (Records of the Eighty-Five Transformations of True Lord Xu of Xishan), True Lord Xu’s ancestral home was Xuchang. His father fled to Yuzhang to avoid chaos at the end of the Han Dynasty and later moved to Nanchang. In the 2nd year of Chiwu of the Wu State (corresponding to a year in the 3rd century CE, denoted as "Jimao" in the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches), Xu’s mother dreamed that a golden phoenix held a pearl in its beak, dropped it into her palm; she played with the pearl and swallowed it. When she woke up, she felt movement in her abdomen, and thus became pregnant and gave birth to Xu (later revered as "Ancestor Xu"). Ancestor Xu was well-versed in Confucian classics and historical records, and had a particular fondness for Taoist texts. He traveled with the litterateur Guo Pu to visit famous mountains and scenic spots, and later lived in seclusion to practice Taoism, refusing to take official positions.

There are records of Xu Zhenjun’s eighty-five transformations, and he is venerated alongside the "Twelve True Lords". On a daily basis, he taught the local people the virtues of filial piety, fraternal duty, loyalty, and honesty, earning deep respect from his contemporaries. For this reason, he was honored as the "Immortal of Loyalty and Filial Piety". In the 1st year of Taikang of the Western Jin Dynasty (280 CE), the imperial court repeatedly issued respectful invitations for him to take office; unable to decline, he went to Sichuan to serve as the magistrate of Jingyang County, hence he was also known as "Xu Jingyang". Later, foreseeing that the Jin Dynasty would soon fall into great chaos and realizing that he could do nothing to save the state, Xu Xun resigned from his post and returned east. After his return, the Pengli Lake (present-day Poyang Lake) was plagued by floods for years due to the mischief of a flood dragon. Ancestor Xu led his disciples and traveled throughout the lake area to address the disaster. He not only controlled the floods in Yuzhang but also went to Hunan, Hubei, Fujian, and other places to eliminate flood hazards. By subduing demons, exorcising evil spirits, and ending floods, he won widespread admiration from the people.

The birth anniversary of True Lord Xu falls on the 28th day of the 1st lunar month, and the 1st day of the 8th lunar month is the day he attained the Dao and ascended to immortality. Taoism reveres Xu Zhenjun with titles such as "Jingming Puhua Tianzun" (Heavenly Honored One of Pure Brightness and Universal Transformation), "Shengong Miaoji Zhenjun" (True Lord of Miraculous Merits and Beneficence), and "Putian Zouyi Dafu Tianyi Dadi" (Grand Minister of Imperial Memorials to the Throne and Heavenly Medical Emperor of the Whole World).

The Eulogy to True Lord Xu (Xu Zhenjun Baogao)

With sincere devotion, I pay homage and pledge allegiance.

The Primordial Ancestor of Chaos, who emanated authentic essence from the Single Qi.

Through countless kalpas (cosmic cycles) in the past, He accumulated cultivation to attain the Supreme Dao.

His diligence and hardships were thorough; his mastery of the principles (of the Dao) grew ever deeper.

He studied and practiced all myriad methods and innumerable schools of the Dao.

He relieved disasters, rescued people from hardships, eliminated harms, and banished evil spirits.

His merits benefited all living beings; his name stands high in the Jade Register (a celestial record of immortals).

Revered by all immortals, he deserved to be promoted (to high celestial ranks).

He embodies great compassion and great vows, great filial piety and great benevolence.

He holds the positions of "Jiuzhou Duxian Taishi" (Grand Historian of All Immortals of the Nine Provinces) and "Gaoming Dashi" (Enlightened Envoy);

"Leiting Taisheng" (Supreme Ministry of Thunder) and "Tianshu Fumo Shangxiang" (Chief Minister of Subduing Demons of the Heavenly Pivot).

He is the "Zhidao Xuanying" (Realm of the Supreme Dao’s Mysterious Response) and "Shengong Miaoji" (True Lord of Miraculous Merits and Beneficence).

He oversees the "Jiutian Siji" (Celestial Registry of the Nine Heavens), holds the authority of "Taiyi Dingming" (Taiyi’s Decree of Destiny), and is the "Zhusheng Zhenjun" (True Lord of Life Bestowal).

He serves as "Santian Ancha Dujianjiao" (Chief Investigator and Censor of the Three Heavens), "Putian Zouyi Dafu" (Grand Minister of Imperial Memorials to the Throne of the Whole World), and "Tianyi Dadi" (Heavenly Medical Emperor).

He is the "Lijie Duren Zushi" (Ancestor who Transcends Kalpas to Save Beings) and "Jingming Puhua Tianzun" (Heavenly Honored One of Pure Brightness and Universal Transformation).

Annotations to the Eulogy to True Lord Xu

Xu Zhenjun Baogao (The Eulogy to True Lord Xu): A "Baogao" (eulogy) is a text praising True Lord Xu’s accumulated merits and Taoist cultivation.
Hunyuan Shizu, Yiqi Fenzhen (The Primordial Ancestor of Chaos, who emanated authentic essence from the Single Qi): "Hunyuan" (Primordial Chaos) refers to the state of primal vital energy before the universe took shape. "Yiqi Fenzhen" (emanating authentic essence from the Single Qi) is rooted in the Daodejing (Tao Te Ching), which states: "The Dao gives birth to the Single Qi; the Single Qi gives birth to duality; duality gives birth to trinity; trinity gives birth to all things." This phrase describes the continuity, evolution, and formation of the Great Dao.
Duojie Zhiqian, Jixiu Zhidao (Through countless kalpas in the past, He accumulated cultivation to attain the Supreme Dao): In Taoism, a "jie" (kalpa) refers to a cycle of cosmic creation and destruction. "Jixiu" means accumulating spiritual cultivation, and "Zhidao" is the supreme, ultimate Dao. These two phrases highlight the profound origins of True Lord Xu.
Qinku Beixi, Jingwei Yushen (His diligence and hardships were thorough; his mastery of the principles grew ever deeper): "Beixi" means fully understanding and mastering. "Jingwei" (warp and weft of fabric) is a metaphor for the vastness and comprehensiveness of Taoist doctrines. "Yushen" means surpassing (ordinary understanding) to reach profound depths.
Wanfa Qianmen, Wangbu Sili (He studied and practiced all myriad methods and innumerable schools of the Dao): "Wangbu" means "without exception". "Sili" means experiencing and learning (all these methods). These two phrases reflect True Lord Xu’s diligent dedication to the Dao and his profound mastery of Taoist doctrines.
Jiuzai Bonan, Chuhai Dangyao (He relieved disasters, rescued people from hardships, eliminated harms, and banished evil spirits): This describes True Lord Xu’s life deeds, referencing the allusion of him slaying the flood dragon to save the people.
Gongji Shengling, Minggao Yuji; Zhongzhen Tuiyang, Yi You Zhensheng (His merits benefited all living beings; his name stands high in the Jade Register; revered by all immortals, he deserved to be promoted): The "Yuji" (Jade Register) is a celestial record of immortals’ names. "Yi" means "should" or "ought to". "Zhensheng" means promotion (to higher celestial ranks). This phrase illustrates True Lord Xu’s boundless merits—due to saving countless beings, he was revered by all immortals and became a model for both humans and celestial beings.
Dabei Dayuan, Daxiao Daren (He embodies great compassion and great vows, great filial piety and great benevolence): "Dabei" (great compassion) refers to Xu’s sympathy for the suffering of the world. "Dayuan" (great vows) refers to his grand aspiration to save all sentient beings. "Daxiao" (great filial piety) means he regarded all beings in heaven and earth as his own parents. "Daren" (great benevolence) describes his kindness in protecting all beings. This phrase highly praises True Lord Xu’s boundless virtues.
Jiuzhou Duxian Taishi, Gaoming Dashi; Leiting Taisheng, Tianshu Fumo Shangxiang (He holds the positions of Grand Historian of All Immortals of the Nine Provinces, Enlightened Envoy; Supreme Ministry of Thunder, and Chief Minister of Subduing Demons of the Heavenly Pivot): These are official celestial positions under the "Nine Departments", responsible for managing the affairs of the "Shenxiao Mansion" (Celestial Mansion of Divine Firmament). As recorded in Wushang Jiuxiao Yuqing Dafan Ziwei Xuandu Leiting Yu Jing (The Jade Scripture of Thunder of the Mysterious Capital of Purple Weft, Great Brahma of the Jade Purity of the Nine Heavens): "In ancient times, the Primordial Heavenly Honored One commanded the Supreme Yuanjun of the Great Purity to appoint the ‘Grand Historian of All Immortals of the Nine Provinces and Enlightened Envoy’ (i.e., True Lord Xu) to oversee the affairs of the Supreme Ministry of Thunder."
Zhidao Xuanying, Shengong Miaoji (He is the Realm of the Supreme Dao’s Mysterious Response and True Lord of Miraculous Merits and Beneficence): "Zhidao Xuanying" refers to the mysterious resonance of the Great Dao. "Shengong Miaoji" is interpreted as "the celestial spirit using marvelous powers to rescue all beings"; it is also one of True Lord Xu’s official titles.
Zhang Jiutian Siji, Taiyi Dingming, Zhusheng Zhenjun (He oversees the Celestial Registry of the Nine Heavens, holds the authority of Taiyi’s Decree of Destiny, and is the True Lord of Life Bestowal): The "Jiutian Siji" (Celestial Registry of the Nine Heavens) is a record of the names of celestial beings in the Nine Heavens. "Taiyi" (Great Unity) is also called "Taiyi", referring to the "Great Dao" in Taoism. "Dingming" means "predestined destiny". This phrase describes True Lord Xu’s celestial responsibilities.
Santian Ancha Dujianjiao, Putian Zouyi Dafu, Tianyi Dadi (He serves as Chief Investigator and Censor of the Three Heavens, Grand Minister of Imperial Memorials to the Throne of the Whole World, and Heavenly Medical Emperor): "Jianjiao" (Investigator-Censor) was an official position in the Southern and Northern Dynasties, responsible for verifying and checking (official affairs). "Du" means "overall in charge". This phrase explains True Lord Xu’s celestial positions.
Lijie Duren Zushi, Jingming Puhua Tianzun (He is the Ancestor who Transcends Kalpas to Save Beings and Heavenly Honored One of Pure Brightness and Universal Transformation): These are True Lord Xu’s revered titles. "Tianzun" (Heavenly Honored One) is a respectful title for immortals who have attained the Dao, bestowed by the Jade Emperor. During the Yuan Dynasty, the Taoist priest Liu Yu named his sect "Jingming" (Pure Brightness), which means "returning to the original state of pure and bright essence through sincere loyalty and filial piety". The sect’s classic text is Jingming Zhongjiao Quanshu (Complete Book of the Pure Brightness Loyal Teaching). Liu Yu revered Xu Zhenjun as the sect’s founder and formally established the "Jingming Zhongxiao Dao" (Pure Brightness Dao of Loyalty and Filial Piety).

Subduing Demons, Exorcising Evil, and Eliminating Floods

After True Lord Xu returned east, the Pengli Lake (present-day Poyang Lake) suffered from annual floods caused by a mischief-making flood dragon. He led his disciples to eliminate the flood hazards, subdue demons, and exorcise evil spirits. In the 2nd year of Zhenghe of Emperor Huizong of the Northern Song Dynasty (1112 CE), Xu was posthumously awarded the title "Shengong Miaoji Zhenjun" (True Lord of Miraculous Merits and Beneficence), and the Taoist temple (located on Xishan in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province today) where he practiced was upgraded to a "Palace" and granted the plaque "Yulong Wanshou Gong" (Jade Prosperity Longevity Palace). Today, there is a "Dragon-Locking Well" on Wanshou Mountain of Xishan in Nanchang, which is said to be the place where True Lord Xu trapped the evil flood dragon. During the Shaoxing era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1131–1162 CE), He Zhengong, the abbot of Yulong Wanshou Palace, prayed for True Lord Xu to descend and save the people from war chaos. In response, He received the transmission of texts such as Feixian Duren Jing (Scripture of Ascending to Immortality to Save Beings) and Jingming Zhongxiao Dafa (Great Method of Pure Brightness Loyalty and Filial Piety), and the Great Method of Pure Brightness thus spread throughout the world. In the early Yuan Dynasty, Ancestor Liu Yuqing reorganized the sect’s rituals and doctrines, formally adopting "Jingming" (Pure Brightness) as the sect’s name.

The "Twelve True Lords of Xishan" (Wu Meng, Shi He, Guo Pu, Gan Zhan, Zhou Guang, Chen Xun, Zeng Heng, Xu Lie, Shi Cen, Peng Kang, Huang Renlan, Zhongli Jia) and True Lord Xu traveled along the southern regions of the Yangtze River (including Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, etc.) to chase flood dragons, control floods, suppress sorcery, subdue demons, and save people from harm. They also practiced alchemy, cultivated Taoism, collected medicinal herbs to help the people, nurtured genuine vital energy (Zhenqi), and comprehended the mysteries of the Dao. Surviving texts about them include Shier Zhenjun Zhuan (Biographies of the Twelve True Lords). According to Shier Zhenjun Zhuan, "Lan Gong" (Lord Lan) was a native of Qufu County in Yanzhou (hometown of Confucius). Due to his "devoted practice of filial piety", the "True Immortal of the Dipper" (a celestial being associated with the Big Dipper) descended specifically to teach him "the teachings of filial piety and fraternal duty" and "the esoteric secrets of the Supreme Dao", and predicted that there would be a True Lord Xu in the Jin Dynasty who would inherit this "ancestral tradition of filial piety" and become "the leader of all immortals". Indeed, after Lan Gong’s death, his esoteric methods of filial piety, precious scriptures, golden elixirs, bronze talismans, and iron certificates were passed down to Ancestor Xu.

Yongcheng Jixian Lu (Records of Immortals Collected in the Yong City) states that "Mother Chen" (Chen Mu) "secretly practiced Taoist methods for several decades. When Wu Meng and Xu Xun traveled south from Gaoyang, they visited Mother Chen and requested to receive the Dao she had attained; she transmitted it to them after they swore an oath. Thus, the method of filial piety spread in the Jiangnan region (south of the Yangtze River)." To commend his merits, the Eastern Jin court renamed Jingyang County to "Deyang County" (County of Virtue). Later generations built the "Xian Xu Shrine" on Xishan (where he lived) and the "Jingyang Shrine" in the Tiezhu Palace in Nanchang. Successive dynasties bestowed plaques in his honor; during the Song Dynasty, Wang Anshi wrote Xu Jingyang Ci Ji (Record of the Xu Jingyang Shrine).

"When One Attains the Dao, Even Chickens and Dogs Ascend to Immortality"

True Lord Xu was intelligent and perceptive from birth, with a handsome and dignified appearance. He was open-minded from a young age and had no attachment to material possessions. Once, he went hunting and shot a deer; the deer’s fetus fell to the ground, and the mother deer licked her fawn until she died. Deeply grieved and awakened to the cruelty of killing, Xu Xun broke his crossbow and returned home.

When Jingyang County suffered a famine, Ancestor Xu used a divine elixir to turn rubble into gold, and secretly placed the gold in the county’s official garden to help the poor without attracting attention. Later, a plague broke out, killing seven or eight out of every ten people. Ancestor Xu treated the sick with the divine prescriptions he had received—wherever his talismans and incantations reached, patients recovered instantly. Even chronic and stubborn diseases were cured. Every day, thousands of sick people from other counties came to him for treatment. To help more people, he planted bamboo stakes ten li (approximately 5 kilometers) outside the city along the river, sprinkled talisman-charged water on the bamboo, and all who drank the water (that had touched the bamboo) were healed. The local people praised him with a ballad: “No one steals, no officials deceive; our lord saves lives, and illnesses can do no harm.”

When True Lord Xu served as the magistrate of Jingyang County, he eliminated corruption and greed, reduced punishments, advocated benevolence and filial piety, and drew close to virtuous people while keeping away from evildoers. He implemented many measures that benefited the state and the people. One year, Jingyang was devastated by severe floods, and crops in the fields yielded nothing. Ancestor Xu arranged for a large number of farmers to cultivate the government-owned fields, allowing them to pay taxes through labor—this rescued the disaster-stricken people. At that time, a plague was rampant, and Ancestor Xu treated the sick with the medical prescriptions he had learned. His medicines cured patients immediately, and the people were so grateful that they revered him like their own parents. People from neighboring counties flocked to Jingyang to settle there, greatly increasing the county’s population. During his ten years in Jingyang, Ancestor Xu was incorruptible as an official and achieved remarkable administrative achievements, earning him the affectionate title “Xu Jingyang.”

In the first year of Yuankang (291 CE), the “War of the Eight Princes” broke out. Seeing the chaos in the Jin Dynasty, Xu Xun resigned from his post and returned east. When he set off, the people who came to see him off filled the fields. Some built living shrines for him and painted his portraits to worship him throughout the year; others followed him for thousands of li to Xishan, settled there with their clans, and even changed their surnames to Xu—this place was later called “Xu Family Camp.”

After returning east, Ancestor Xu faced successive floods in Pengli Lake (present-day Poyang Lake). He led the people of the prefecture to dredge waterways and control the floods, traveling to Hunan, Hubei, Fujian, and other places to eliminate flood hazards. His efforts won him widespread reverence, and the myth of “Xu Xun Locking the Evil Dragon” was created and widely circulated.

In the fourth year of Daxing of Emperor Yuan of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (321 CE), Ancestor Xu lived in seclusion in the southern suburbs of Nanchang and founded a Taoist monastery called “Taiji Guan” (Taiji Taoist Temple), with the plaque inscribed “Jingming Zhenjing” (Pure and Bright True Realm). Here, he established the Jingming Dao (Pure and Bright Dao) sect, whose core tenet was “Jingming Zhongxiao” (Pure and Bright Loyalty and Filial Piety).

Ancestor Xu lived to the age of 136. In the second year of Ningkang of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (374 CE), on the 1st day of the 8th lunar month, he attained the Dao and became an immortal, earning him the title “Xian Xu” (Immortal Xu) among the people. On the 15th day of the 8th lunar month (the Mid-Autumn Festival), he ascended to heaven with his entire family of 42 people, along with their chickens and dogs—this is the origin of the idiom “When one attains the Dao, even chickens and dogs ascend to immortality.”

To this day, the lineage of Ancestor Xu remains widely spread. The “Way of Loyalty and Filial Piety” he advocated is regarded as the foundation of Jingming Dao practice, worthy of being a model for all who cultivate the Dao. The term “Jingming” (Pure and Bright) refers to rectifying one’s mind and sincere intention, teaching people to purify their hearts and reduce desires, so that their original mind remains unaffected by material cravings—untarnished and untainted by external things—ultimately reaching the realm of supreme purity and emptiness.

Jingming Dao strongly emphasizes the great Way of loyalty and filial piety and upholds social ethics, thus winning the admiration and endorsement of many senior officials and Confucian scholars in the Yuan and Ming dynasties. Its cultivation methods are based on the “Eight Precepts for Posterity” left by Ancestor Xu: loyalty, filial piety, integrity, prudence, magnanimity, generosity, tolerance, and forbearance—with loyalty and filial piety taking precedence, as it is said that “loyalty and filial piety are the foundation of the great Way.” Jingming Dao holds that adhering to the principles of purity, brightness, loyalty, and filial piety is sufficient to attain immortality and the Dao.

As stated in Jingming Dadao Shuo (Exposition on the Great Way of Pure and Brightness): “Man can promote the Dao; the Dao cannot promote man. The essence of cultivation lies not in practicing Chan (Zen) or seeking the Dao, nor in retreating to mountains to refine one’s physical form. Rather, it lies in establishing the foundation of loyalty and filial piety and keeping one’s mind pure and bright. When these four virtues (loyalty, filial piety, purity, and brightness) are fully embodied, one’s spirit will gradually connect with the divine. There is no need for elaborate cultivation—one will naturally attain the Dao.”

The Eight Precepts for Posterity

True Lord Xu said: Be loyal, filial, upright, prudent, magnanimous, generous, tolerant, and forbearing.

Loyalty means not deceiving;
Filial piety means not disobeying (one’s parents or duties);
Uprightness means not being greedy;
Prudence means not making mistakes;

Cultivate yourself in this way, and you can achieve virtue.
Magnanimity means winning the trust of the people;
Generosity means having ample virtue to share;
Tolerance means being receptive to others;
Forbearance means living in peace and comfort.

Treat others with courtesy, and all resentment and blame will be eliminated.

All my disciples, be diligent and sincere in all your actions. Always keep these precepts in mind and uphold your integrity even when alone. If you lose your original mind (and violate these precepts), the Three Officers (celestial judges in Taoism) will investigate and punish you.