When his mother was expecting Hongjing, she dreamed of a bluish dragon in her belly and at the same time, of two Gods descending from Heaven with incense burners in their hands. When she awoke from her dreams, his mother told those around her that she would have a boy, but the boy would not be an ordinary, everyday person. In fact, when Tao Hongjing was born, he was extraordinarily clever and became learned at a young age. He also developed the will to become a God after reading the book Shenxian Zhuan [a story of Gods].
Initially, Tao worked as a government official and a study-servant for several liege lords. In his 20’s, he began to learn Taoist scriptures and was taught the mysteries of the Tao by a teacher called Sun from Xinshi temple. He also began to take elixir to become a God.
Later, he wrote a letter of resignation from his position to the emperor, which was accepted reluctantly. However, the emperor gave him a lot of presents and prepared a banquet for him. The splendour of the banquet was remember widely for many years.
Later in his life, Tao Hongjing obtained Taoist scriptures from Yang Zhu and Xu Mai and decided to climb up Mount Ma to study them and become a hermit. He called himself Huayang Hermit and used this as a pen name when writing letters or books.
Tao Hongjing dedicated himself to cultivation of his Xinxing [heart nature; moral quality] and hid himself away because of his supernormal appearance. He was seven feet, eight inches tall and was very modest and generous without attachments to society. His wish to cultivate the Tao was so great that he moved the Gods in Heaven. On earth, his power was great and he had reached a stage where he was capable of telepathy and could understand things very quickly. He also had very clear insights into human society and he had a deep insight into subjects such as geography, chronology and arithmetic.
Most importantly, he understood at his level the intricacies of the Tao and had written more than two hundred volumes on the Tao and it’s intricacies.
In the 3 year of Yongyuan of the Southern dynasty, he cultivated more diligently and wholeheartedly. The Emperor Liang Wu had discussed what to name the kingdom with his ministers and Tao suggested the name the kingdom Liang. He said the name was in accordance with the cosmic change and could make the country strong and prosperous. He also predicted the date when emperor Liang Wu’s would ascend to the throne. The Emperor had befriended Tao previously and would send messages to him to inform him of the affairs of state. The Emperor would also provide Tao with the materials to create the elixir for dan cultivation.
Tao Hongjing had once composed a poem to notify that the ministers and officials were all indulging in empty talk and were not putting emphasis on making the country rich and strong. Indeed, later the king of Henan, Hou Jing, rebelled and captured Jiangkang city. He also kidnapped Emperor Liang Wu and murdered him. The Hou Jing Rebellion was a further verification of the predictions in the poem.
Tao Hongjing passed away on 12 March at the age of 81. His facial colour did not change after death and his limbs did not stiffen. The Emperor Tang Xianzhong, in the Tang dynasty bestowed upon him the title of Dafu (official) of Jinzhi Guanglu and Taibao of prince. Xiao Guan, the King of Liang Junlin, also wrote an epitaph for his tombstone.
(Source: Tai Ping Guang Ji )
Chinese available at Yuanming;
http://www.yuanming.net/articles/200211/14181.html
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