During the Three Kingdoms period, there was a legendary figure whose Taoism was mysterious and breathtaking, and he was Zuo Ci.
Zuo Ci is not only a legendary figure in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", but also a pioneer and promoter of Chinese Taoism, and has a deep relationship with Cao Cao.
1. Zuo Ci: A legendary Taoist with profound Taoism
He was born in Lujiang (now Qianshan County, Anhui), was born blind and lame on one leg. Zuo Ci looked different from mortals, and when he was fourteen years old, he sneaked into Tianzhu Mountain, holding altars and jars every day, and happily tinkered with a few broken stones to refine the so-called elixir pill. The smoke and fire of the day and the wind and sun were exposed, Dan did not refine it, but refined himself into a standard African native, Zuo Ci then "calculated the plan" and called himself Mr. Wujiao.
In various historical documents and legends, Zuo Ci is portrayed as a profound practitioner. The Book of the Later Han Dynasty describes him as "able to serve ghosts and gods, sit in the kitchen", and be good at room art. The "Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms" Pei Songzhi's note quoted in the "Naturalist Chronicles" records his interactions with Cao Cao, and is even depicted as a master of the world who can clear the valley, stealth, transmogrification, Qimen Dunjia and other techniques. In "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", Luo Guanzhong portrayed Zuo Ci as a generation of famous doctors who dared to play Cao Cao, proficient in various Taoist techniques, and once persuaded Cao Cao to retreat bravely and give up his position to Liu Bei, otherwise he would take the flying sword as his head.
Although these descriptions are full of mystery and exaggeration, Zuo Ci did have a person in history, and was a figure who made important contributions to the Taoist Lingbao sect. He was also the master of Ge Hong's ancestor Ge Xuan, and he also had a profound influence on traditional Chinese medicine, and many prescriptions are still named after Zuo Ci.
2. Zuo Ci and Taoism: deep origins, Taoism is natural
Zuo Ci has a deep connection with Taoism, he is not only a famous alchemist, but also the patriarch of the Danding sect of Taoism. Born in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, he studied the Jindan sect of Taoism at Tianzhu Mountain, a sacred place for monks in today's Anqing City, Anhui Province. Zuo Ci was very interested in the doctrines of the Jindan School, studied diligently, and constantly exercised his cultivation skills, and his Taoist attainments became more and more profound.
In the Eastern Han Dynasty, Zuo Ci played an important role in the development of this school. He founded the Danding school of Taoism, and his doctrine and cultivation played an important role in promoting the development of Taoism. Among the disciples and grandchildren of later generations, Ge Hong, Ge Xuan, etc. were all influenced by him.
According to legend, the "Taiqing Danjing" and "Jiuding Danjing" were both compiled by Zuo Ci, as the ancestor of the Taoist Danding school, Zuo Ci is likely to contribute to the inheritance and development of these two classics. These classics are important works of Taoist alchemy, and Zuo Ci, as an outstanding representative of this field, is likely to have a close connection with these classics in his doctrines and practices.
Zuo Ci was an important figure in the Taoist community in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, his magical ability and Taoist attainments were praised by later generations, and he also played a key role in the development of the Danding sect of Taoism.
3. Zuo Ci and Cao Cao: The Mystery of History, the Contest of Taoism
During the Three Kingdoms period, Cao Cao encircled the world's scholars and Taoist priests, on the one hand, to make these people serve themselves, and more importantly, to prevent these people from being free to go and make enemies of themselves in the rivers and lakes.
The story of Zuo Ci and Cao Cao is a good story in the Three Kingdoms period. Cao Cao, a generation of heroes, has deep power and scheming, but in front of Zuo Ci, he also seems helpless.
The story between Zuo Ci and Cao Cao is full of magic and drama.
At a banquet, Cao Cao suddenly offered to taste Songjiang's sea bass. The guests present all looked at each other, and no one could respond to Cao Cao's request. At this time, Zuo Ci stood up, and he asked the servant to bring a copper coin and took a basin of water in the basin. Then, with a wave of his hand, a live perch appeared in the basin. Cao Cao was amazed when he saw this scene, and ordered someone to cook the fish and taste it, and its freshness was no different from that of Songjiang perch.
However, Cao Cao's ambitions did not stop there. He also proposed to want ginger from Shu as a seasoning. Zuo Ci said that it was not difficult to do, and quickly brought back ginger. Cao Cao suspected that Zuo Ci was just going to a nearby market to buy it, so he told him that he had sent someone to Shu to buy colorful brocade before, and asked Zuo Ci to tell the envoy to buy more than four zhang. A year later, Cao Cao's envoy returned, and sure enough, he bought an extra four zhang of colorful brocade, and told Cao Cao that it was purchased according to Zuo Ci's instructions.
Cao Cao was very dissatisfied with Zuo Ci's magical ability, believing that all he used was demonic magic to confuse the public and harm others. So, Cao Cao had murderous intentions and decided to offer a reward for Zuo Ci's capture. However, Zuo Ci had already understood Cao Cao's thoughts, and he made up a reason to ask Cao Cao to go home to visit his father, who had been sick for many days. Although Cao Cao was suspicious, he still agreed to Zuo Ci's request on the surface and set up a banquet for him.
At the banquet, Zuo Ci offered to share a drink with Cao Cao. Cao Cao agreed, but when Zuo Ci used a hairpin to cut his wine glass in half, with wine in both halves, Cao Cao was very displeased. Zuo Ci drank half of the cup first, and then handed the other half of the cup to Cao Cao. Cao Cao didn't drink it right away, so Zuo Ci drank the rest of the wine himself. Then, Zuo Ci threw the cup on the beam, and the cup shook in the air, and when it finally fell, Zuo Ci was gone. After Cao Cao learned that Zuo Ci had returned to his residence, he became even more determined to kill Zuo Ci.
In addition, Cao Cao also tried to capture Zuo Ci on the way to attack Zhang Xiu. Zuo Ci quickly walked into the flock, and Cao Cao's men caught a sheep and brought it back to Cao Cao, and the live sheep turned into a stone sheep.
Through these stories, we can see Zuo Ci's miraculous Taoism and Cao Cao's suspicions and ambitions. Zuo Ci used his wisdom and magical ability to defuse Cao Cao's conspiracy and threats again and again, but Cao Cao was never able to get rid of his jealousy and murderous intent towards Zuo Ci. These stories not only show the battle of wits between the two, but also reflect the complexity and chaos of society in the late Eastern Han Dynasty.
Conclusion: The Tao is mysterious, and the legend lives forever
Zuo Ci, a legendary figure in the Three Kingdoms period, his Taoist method is mysterious and breathtaking. He has a deep relationship with Taoism, and he has become an important figure in Taoism. The historical story of him and Cao Cao has made people see the magic and power of Taoism.