{"collection":"cfu","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/cfu/mlc/mlc14.htm","path":"cfu/mlc/mlc14.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/cfu/mlc/mlc14.htm","text":"Myths and Legends of China, by Edward T.C. Werner, [1922]\nIn Buddhist temples there is to be seen a richly attired figure of a man holding in his hand a model of a pagoda. He is Li, the Prime Minister of Heaven and father of No-cha.\nHe was a general under the tyrant Chou and commander of Ch\u2019\u00ean-t\u2019ang Kuan at the time when the bloody war was being waged which resulted in the extinction of the Yin dynasty.\nNo-cha is one of the most frequently mentioned heroes in Chinese romance; he is represented in one account as being Y\u00fc Huang\u2019s shield-bearer, sixty feet in height, his three heads with nine eyes crowned by a golden wheel, his eight hands each holding a magic weapon, and his mouth vomiting blue clouds. At the sound of his Voice, we are told, the heavens shook and the foundations of the earth trembled. His duty was to bring into submission all the demons which desolated the world.\nHis birth was in this wise. Li Ching\u2019s wife, Yin Shih, bore him three sons, the eldest Chin-cha, the second Mu-cha, and the third No-cha, generally known as \u2018the Third Prince.\u2019\nYin Shih dreamed one night that a Taoist priest entered her room. She indignantly exclaimed: \u201cHow dare you come into my room in this indiscreet manner?\u201d The priest replied: \u201cWoman, receive the child of the unicorn!\u201d Before she could reply the Taoist pushed an object to her bosom.\nYin Shih awoke in a fright, a cold sweat all over her body. Having awakened her husband, she told him p. 306 what she had dreamed. At that moment she was seized with the pains of childbirth. Li Ching withdrew to an adjoining room, uneasy at what seemed to be inauspicious omens. A little later two servants ran to him, crying out: \u201cYour wife has given birth to a monstrous freak!\u201d\nLi Ching seized his sword and went into his wife\u2019s room, which he found filled with a red light exhaling a most extraordinary odour. A ball of flesh was rolling on the floor like a wheel; with a blow of his sword he cut it open, and a babe emerged, surrounded by a halo of red light. Its face was very white, a gold bracelet was on its right wrist, and it wore a pair of red silk trousers, from which proceeded rays of dazzling golden light. The bracelet was \u2018the horizon of Heaven and earth,\u2019 and the two precious objects belonged to the cave Chin-kuang Tung of T\u2019ai-i Ch\u00ean-j\u00ean, the priest who had bestowed them upon him when he appeared to his mother during her sleep. The child itself was an avatar of Ling Chu-tz\u016d, \u2018the Intelligent Pearl.\u2019\nOn the morrow T\u2019ai-i Ch\u00ean-j\u00ean returned and asked Li Ching\u2019s permission to see the new-born babe. \u201cHe shall be called No-cha,\u201d he said, \u201cand will become my disciple.\u201d\nAt seven years of age No-cha was already six feet in height. One day he asked his mother if he might go for a walk outside the town. His mother granted him permission on condition that he was accompanied by a servant. She also counselled him not to remain too long outside the wall, lest his father should become anxious. p. 307\nIt was in the fifth moon: the heat was excessive. No-cha had not gone a li before he was in a profuse perspiration. Some way ahead he saw a clump of trees, to which he hastened, and, settling himself in the shade, opened his coat, and breathed with relief the fresher air. In front of him he saw a stream of limpid green water running between two rows of willows, gently agitated by the movement of the wind, and flowing round a rock. The child ran to the banks of the stream, and said to his guardian: \u201cI am covered with perspiration, and will bathe from the rock.\u201d \u201cBe quick,\u201d said the servant; \u201cif your father returns home before you he will be anxious.\u201d No-cha stripped himself, took his red silk trousers, several feet long, and dipped them in the water, intending to use them as a towel. No sooner were the magic trousers immersed in the stream than the water began to boil, and Heaven and earth trembled. The water of this river, the Chiu-wan Ho, \u2018Nine-bends River,\u2019 which communicated with the Eastern Sea, turned completely red, and Lung Wang\u2019s palace shook to its foundations. The Dragon-king, surprised at seeing the walls of his crystal palace shaking, called his officers and inquired: \u201cHow is it that the palace threatens to collapse? There should not be an earthquake at this time.\u201d He ordered one of his attendants to go at once and find out what evil was giving rise to the commotion. When the officer reached the river he saw that the water was red, but noticed nothing else except a boy dipping a band of silk in the stream. He cleft the water and called out angrily: \u201cThat child should be thrown into the water for making the river red and causing Lung Wang\u2019s palace to shake.\u201d\n\u201cWho is that who speaks so brutally?\u201d said No-cha. p. 308 Then, seeing that the man intended to seize him, he jumped aside, took his gold bracelet, and hurled it in the air. It fell on the head of the officer, and No-cha left him dead on the rock. Then he picked up his bracelet and said smiling: \u201cHis blood has stained my precious horizon of Heaven and earth.\u201d He then washed it in the water.\n\u201cHow is it that the officer does not return?\u201d inquired Lung Wang. At that moment attendants came to inform him that his retainer had been murdered by a boy.\nThereupon Ao Ping, the third son of Lung Wang, placing himself at the head of a troop of marines, his trident in his hand, left the palace precincts. The warriors dashed into the river, raising on every side waves mountains high. Seeing the water rising, No-cha stood up on the rock and was confronted by Ao Ping mounted on a sea-monster.\n\u201cWho slew my messenger?\u201d cried the warrior.\n\u201cI did,\u201d answered No-cha.\n\u201cWho are you?\u201d demanded Ao Ping.\n\u201cI am No-cha, the third son of Li Ching of Ch\u2019\u00ean-t\u2019ang Kuan. I came here to bathe and refresh myself; your messenger cursed me, and I killed him. Then\u2014\u201d\n\u201cRascal! do you not know that your victim was a deputy of the King of Heaven? How dare you kill him, and then boast of your crime?\u201d\nSo saying, Ao Ping thrust at the boy with his trident. No-cha, by a brisk move, evaded the thrust.\n\u201cWho are you?\u201d he asked in turn.\n\u201cI am Ao Ping, the third son of Lung Wang.\u201d p. 309\n\u201cAh, you are a blusterer,\u201d jeered the boy; \u201cif you dare to touch me I will skin you alive, you and your mud-eels!\u201d\n\u201cYou make me choke with rage,\u201d rejoined Ao Ping, at the same time thrusting again with his trident.\nFurious at this renewed attack, No-cha spread his silk trousers in the air, and thousands of balls of fire flew out of them, felling Lung Wang\u2019s son. No-cha put his foot on Ao Ping\u2019s head and struck it with his magic bracelet, whereupon he appeared in his true form of a dragon.\n\u201cI am now going to pull out your sinews,\u201d he said, \u201cin order to make a belt for my father to use to bind on his cuirass.\u201d\nNo-cha was as good as his word, and Ao Ping\u2019s escort ran and informed Lung Wang of the fate of his son. The Dragon-king went to Li Ching and demanded an explanation.\nBeing entirely ignorant of what had taken place, Li Ching sought No-cha to question him.\nNo-cha was in the garden, occupied in weaving the belt of dragon-sinew. The stupefaction of Li Ching may be imagined. \u201cYou have brought most awful misfortunes upon us,\u201d he exclaimed. \u201cCome and give an account of your conduct.\u201d \u201cHave no fear,\u201d replied No-cha superciliously; \u201chis son\u2019s sinews are still intact; I will give them back to him if he wishes.\u201d\nWhen they entered the house he saluted the Dragon-king, made a curt apology, and offered to return his son\u2019s sinews. The father, moved with grief at the sight of the proofs of the tragedy, said bitterly to Li Ching: p. 310 \u201cYou have such a son and yet dare to deny his guilt, though you heard him haughtily admitting it! To-morrow I shall report the matter to Y\u00fc Huang.\u201d Having spoken thus, he departed.\nLi Ching was overwhelmed at the enormity of his son\u2019s crime. His wife, in an adjoining room, hearing his lamentations, went to her husband. \u201cWhat obnoxious creature is this that you have brought into the world?\u201d he said to her angrily. \u201cHe has slain two spirits, the son of Lung Wang and a steward sent by the King of Heaven. To-morrow the Dragon-king is to lodge a complaint with Y\u00fc Huang, and two or three days hence will see the end of our existence.\u201d\nThe poor mother began to weep copiously. \u201cWhat!\u201d she sobbed, \u201cyou whom I suffered so much for, you are to be the cause of our ruin and death!\u201d\nNo-cha, seeing his parents so distracted, fell on his knees. \u201cLet me tell you once for all,\u201d he said, \u201cthat I am no ordinary mortal. I am the disciple of T\u2019ai-i Ch\u00ean-j\u00ean; my magic weapons I received from him; it is they which brought upon me the undying hatred of Lung Wang. But he cannot prevail. To-day I will go and ask my master\u2019s advice. The guilty alone should suffer the penalty; it is unjust that his parents should suffer in his stead.\u201d\nHe then left for Ch\u2019ien-y\u00fcan Shan, and entered the cave of his master T\u2019ai-i Ch\u00ean-j\u00ean, to whom he related his adventures. The master dwelt upon the grave consequences of the murders, and then ordered No-cha to bare his breast. With his finger he drew on the skin a magic formula, after which he gave him some secret p. 311 instructions. \u201cNow,\u201d he said, \u201cgo to the gate of Heaven and await the arrival of Lung Wang, who purposes to accuse you before Y\u00fc Huang. Then you must come again to consult me, that your parents may not be molested because of your misdeeds.\u201d\nWhen No-cha reached the gate of Heaven it was closed. In vain he sought for Lung Wang, but after a while he saw him approaching. Lung Wang did not see No-cha, for the formula written by T\u2019ai-i Ch\u00ean-j\u00ean rendered him invisible. As Lung Wang approached the gate No-cha ran up to him and struck him so hard a blow with his golden bracelet that he fell to the ground. Then No-cha stamped on him, cursing him vehemently.\nThe Dragon-king now recognized his assailant and sharply reproached him with his crimes, but the only reparation he got was a renewal of kicks and blows. Then, partially lifting Lung Wang\u2019s cloak and raising his shield, No-cha tore off from his body about forty scales. Blood flowed copiously, and the Dragon-king, under stress of the pain, begged his foe to spare his life. To this No-cha consented on condition that he relinquished his purpose of accusing him before Y\u00fc Huang.\n\u201cNow,\u201d went on No-cha, \u201cchange yourself into a small serpent that I may take you back without fear of your escaping.\u201d\nLung Wang took the form of a small blue dragon, and followed No-cha to his father\u2019s house, upon entering which Lung Wang resumed his normal form, and accused No-cha of having belaboured him. \u201cI will go with all the Dragon-kings and lay an accusation before Y\u00fc Huang,\u201d he said. Thereupon he transformed himself into a gust of wind, and disappeared. p. 312\n\u201cThings are going from bad to worse,\u201d sighed Li Ching, His son, however, consoled him: \u201cI beg you, my father, not to let the future trouble you. I am the chosen one of the gods. My master is T\u2019ai-i Ch\u00ean-j\u00ean, and he has assured me that he can easily protect us.\u201d\nNo-cha now went out and ascended a tower which commanded a view of the entrance of the fort. There he found a wonderful bow and three magic arrows. No-cha did not know that this was the spiritual weapon belonging to the fort. \u201cMy master informed me that I am destined to fight to establish the coming Chou dynasty; I ought therefore to perfect myself in the use of weapons. This is a good opportunity.\u201d He accordingly seized the bow and shot an arrow toward the south-west. A red trail indicated the path of the arrow, which hissed as it flew. At that moment Pi Y\u00fcn, a servant of Shih-chi Niang-niang, happened to be at the foot of K\u2019u-lou Shan (Skeleton Hill), in front of the cave of his mistress. The arrow pierced his throat, and he fell dead, bathed in his blood. Shih-chi Niang-niang came out of her cave, and examining the arrow found that it bore the inscription: \u201cArrow which shakes the heavens.\u201d She thus knew that it must have come from Ch\u2019\u00ean-t\u2019ang Kuan, where the magic bow was kept.\nThe goddess mounted her blue ph\u0153nix, flew over the fort, seized Li Ching, and carried him to her cave. There she made him kneel before her, and reminded him how she had protected him that he might gain honour and glory on earth before he attained to immortality. p. 313 \u201cIt is thus that you show your gratitude\u2014by killing my servant!\u201d\nLi Ching swore that he was innocent; but the tell-tale arrow was there, and it could not but have come from the fortress. Li Ching begged the goddess to set him at liberty, in order that he might find the culprit and bring him to her. \u201cIf I cannot find him,\u201d he added, \u201cyou may take my life.\u201d\nOnce again No-cha frankly admitted his deed to his father, and followed him to the cave of Shih-chi Niang-niang. When he reached the entrance the second servant reproached him with the crime, whereupon No-cha struck him a heavy blow. Shih-chi Niang-niang, infuriated, threw herself at No-cha, sword in hand; one after the other she wrenched from him his bracelet and magic trousers.\nDeprived of his magic weapons, No-cha fled to his master, T\u2019ai-i Ch\u00ean-j\u00ean. The goddess followed and demanded that he be put to death. A terrible conflict ensued between the two champions, until T\u2019ai-i Ch\u00ean-j\u00ean hurled into the air his globe of nine fire-dragons, which, falling on Shih-chi Niang-niang, enveloped her in a whirlwind of flame. When this had passed it was seen that she was changed into stone.\n\u201cNow you are safe,\u201d said T\u2019ai-i Ch\u00ean-j\u00ean to No-cha, \u201cbut return quickly, for the Four Dragon-kings have laid their accusation before Y\u00fc Huang, and they are going to carry off your parents. Follow my advice, and you will rescue your parents from their misfortune.\u201d\nOn his return No-cha found the Four Dragon-kings on the point of carrying off his parents. \u201cIt is I,\u201d he p. 314 said, \u201cwho killed Ao Ping, and I who should pay the penalty. Why are you molesting my parents? I am about to return to them what I received from them. Will it satisfy you?\u201d\nLung Wang agreed, whereupon No-cha took a sword, and before their eyes cut off an arm, sliced open his stomach, and fell unconscious. His soul, borne on the wind, went straight to the cave of T\u2019ai-i Ch\u00ean-j\u00ean, while his mother busied herself with burying his body.\n\u201cYour home is not here,\u201d said his master to him; \u201creturn to Ch\u2019\u00ean-t\u2019ang Kuan, and beg your mother to build a temple on Ts\u2019ui-p\u2019ing Shan, forty li farther on. Incense will be burned to you for three years, at the end of which time you will be reincarnated.\u201d\nDuring the night, toward the third watch, while his mother was in a deep sleep, No-cha appeared to her in a dream and said: \u201cMy mother, pity me; since my death, my soul, separated from my body, wanders about without a home. Build me, I pray you, a temple on Ts\u2019ui-p\u2019ing Shan, that I may be reincarnated.\u201d His mother awoke in tears, and related her vision to Li Ching, who reproached her for her blind attachment to her unnatural son, the cause of so much disaster.\nFor five or six nights the son appeared to his mother, each time repeating his request. The last time he added: \u201cDo not forget that by nature I am ferocious; if you refuse my request evil will befall you.\u201d\nHis mother then sent builders to the mountain to construct a temple to No-cha, and his image was set up in it. Miracles were not wanting, and the number of pilgrims who visited the shrine increased daily. p. 315\nOne day Li Ching, with a troop of his soldiers, was passing this mountain, and saw the roads crowded with pilgrims of both sexes. \u201cWhere are these people going?\u201d he asked. \u201cFor six months past,\u201d he was told, \u201cthe spirit of the temple on this mountain has continued to perform miracles. People come from far and near to worship and supplicate him.\u201d\n\u201cWhat is the name of this spirit?\u201d inquired Li Ching.\n\u201cNo-cha,\u201d they replied.\n\u201cNo-cha!\u201d exclaimed the father. \u201cI will go and see him myself.\u201d\nIn a rage Li Ching entered the temple and examined the statue, which was a speaking image of his son. By its side were images of two of his servants. He took his whip and began to beat the statue, cursing it all the while. \u201cIt is not enough, apparently, for you to have been a source of disaster to us,\u201d he said; \u201cbut even after your death you must deceive the multitude.\u201d He whipped the statue until it fell to pieces; he then kicked over the images of the servants, and went back, admonishing the people not to worship so wicked a man, the shame and ruin of his family. By his orders the temple was burnt to the ground.\nWhen he reached Ch\u2019\u00ean-t\u2019ang Kuan his wife came to him, but he received her coldly. \u201cYou gave birth to that cursed son,\u201d he said, \u201cwho has been the plague of our lives, and after his death you build him a temple in which he deceives the people. Do you wish to have me disgraced? If I were to be accused at Court of having instituted the worship of false gods, would not my destruction be certain? I have burned the temple, and intend p. 316 that that shall settle the matter once for all; if ever you think of rebuilding it I will break off all relations with you.\u201d\nAt the time of his father\u2019s visit No-cha was absent from the temple. On his return he found only its smoking remnants. The spirits of his two servants ran up lamenting. \u201cWho has demolished my temple?\u201d he asked. \u201cLi Ching,\u201d they replied. \u201cIn doing this he has exceeded his powers,\u201d said No-cha. \u201cI gave him back the substance I received from him; why did he come with violence to break up my image? I will have nothing more to do with him.\u201d\nNo-cha\u2019s soul had already begun to be spiritualised. So he determined to go to T\u2019ai-i Ch\u00ean-j\u00ean and beg for his help. \u201cThe worship rendered to you there,\u201d replied the Taoist, \u201chad nothing in it which should have offended your father; it did not concern him. He was in the wrong. Before long Chiang Tz\u016d-ya will descend to inaugurate the new dynasty, and since you must throw in your lot with him I will find a way to aid you.\u201d\nT\u2019ai-i Ch\u00ean-j\u00ean had two water-lily stalks and three lotus-leaves brought to him. He spread these on the ground in the form of a human being and placed the soul of No-cha in this lotus skeleton, uttering magic incantations the while. There emerged a new No-cha full of life, with a fresh complexion, purple lips, keen glance, and sixteen feet of height. \u201cFollow me to my peach-garden,\u201d said T\u2019ai-i Ch\u00ean-j\u00ean, \u201cand I will give you your weapons.\u201d He handed him a fiery spear, very sharp, and two wind-and-fire p. 317 wheels which, placed under his feet, served as a Vehicle. A brick of gold in a panther-skin bag completed his magic armament. The new warrior, after thanking his master, mounted his wind-and-fire wheels and returned to Ch\u2019\u00ean-t\u2019ang Kuan.\nLi Ching was informed that his son No-cha had returned and was threatening vengeance. So he took his weapons, mounted his horse, and went forth to meet him. Having cursed each other profusely, they joined battle, but Li Ching was worsted and compelled to flee. No-cha pursued his father, but as he was on the point of overtaking him Li Ching\u2019s second son, Mu-cha, came on the scene, and keenly reproached his brother for his unfilial conduct.\n\u201cLi Ching is no longer my father,\u201d replied No-cha. \u201cI gave him back my substance; why did he burn my temple and smash up my image?\u201d\nMu-cha thereupon prepared to defend his father, but received on his back a blow from the golden brick, and fell unconscious. No-cha then resumed his pursuit of Li Ching.\nHis strength exhausted, and in danger of falling into the hands of his enemy, Li Ching drew his sword and was about to kill himself. \u201cStop!\u201d cried a Taoist priest. \u201cCome into my cave, and I will protect you.\u201d\nWhen No-cha came up he could not see Li Ching, and demanded his surrender from the Taoist. But he had to do with one stronger than himself, no less a being than W\u00ean-chu T\u2019ien-tsun, whom T\u2019ai-i Ch\u00ean-j\u00ean had sent in order that No-cha might receive a lesson. The Taoist, with the aid of his magic weapon, seized No-cha, p. 318 and in a moment he found a gold ring fastened round his neck, two chains on his feet, and he was bound to a pillar of gold.\nAt this moment, as if by accident, T\u2019ai-i Ch\u00ean-j\u00ean appeared upon the scene. His master had No-cha brought before W\u00ean-chu T\u2019ien-tsun and Li Ching, and advised him to live at peace with his father, but he also rebuked the father for having burned the temple on Ts\u2019ui-p\u2019ing Shan. This done, he ordered Li Ching to go home, and No-cha to return to his cave. The latter, overflowing with anger, his heart full of vengeance, started again in pursuit of Li Ching, swearing that he would punish him. But the Taoist reappeared and prepared to protect Li Ching.\nNo-cha, bristling like a savage cat, threw himself at his enemy and tried to pierce him with his spear, but a white lotus-flower emerged from the Taoist\u2019s mouth and arrested the course of the weapon. As No-cha continued to threaten him, the Taoist drew from his sleeve a mysterious object which rose in the air, and, falling at the feet of No-cha, enveloped him in flames. Then No-cha prayed for mercy. The Taoist exacted from him three separate promises: to live in harmony with his father, to recognize and address him as his father, and to throw himself at his, the Taoist\u2019s, feet, to indicate his reconciliation with himself.\nAfter this act of reconciliation had been performed, W\u00ean-chu T\u2019ien-tsun promised Li Ching that he should leave his official post to become an Immortal able to place his services at the disposal of the new Chou dynasty, shortly to come into power. In order to ensure that p. 319 their reconciliation should last for ever, and to place it beyond No-cha\u2019s power to seek revenge, he gave Li Ching the wonderful object by whose agency No-cha\u2019s feet had been burned, and which had been the means of bringing him into subjection. It was a golden pagoda, which became the characteristic weapon of Li Ching, and gave rise to his nickname, Li the Pagoda-bearer. Finally, Y\u00fc Huang appointed him Generalissimo of the Twenty-six Celestial Officers, Grand Marshal of the Skies, and Guardian of the Gate of Heaven. p. 320","title":"Myths and Legends of China: Chapter XII. The Guardian of ...","type":"page"}