They say that Taizong traveled with Magistrate Cui and General Zhu for a long time and came to the Sixfold Path of Transmigration.1 They saw people draped in dawn-colored cloaks flying in the clouds, people with golden fish hanging from their sashes receiving prophecies; monks, nuns, Daoists, and common folks; walking beasts and birds of all kinds; demons and ghosts. All of these rushed by in a torrent under the Wheel of Reincarnation, each on his own path.
“What does it mean?” The Tang Emperor asked.
The magistrate replied: “Your Majesty, now that your heart has been enlightened, you must remember this and tell the living. This is the Sixfold Path of Transmigration. The compassionate ascend to the path of immortality; the loyal rise to a life of nobility; the filial are reborn to a life of good fortune; the just are reborn as humans; the virtuous are reincarnated into wealth; and the malicious sink to the life of a ghost.”
The Tang Emperor nodded and sighed. “Well said! Well said! Truly goodness will reap its own reward.2 Let the benevolent heart lead, for wide is the virtuous road. Entertain not evil desires; turn away from wickedness. Do not say there is no karma, for gods and spirits have plans.”
The magistrate brought the Tang Emperor all the way to the gate of the path to reincarnation as nobility, bowed, and said, “Your Majesty. This is where the path begins. Your servant will take his leave here. General Zhu will accompany you from here.”
“Thank you for taking the trouble to come such a long way,” the Tang Emperor said.
“When you are back in the world of the living,” the magistrate said, “Be certain to hold a Grand Mass of Land and Water to bring peace to those poor ghosts. Do not forget. When there is no more clamoring for vengeance in the world of the dead, all will enjoy peace in the world of the living. Correct all of your wicked ways one by one, spread kindness to your subjects, teach your children and grandchildren well, and your dynasty will be long-lasting.”
The Tang Emperor accepted these warnings, bid farewell to Magistrate Cui, and followed General Zhu through the gate. The general saw a bay horse by the gate, saddled and ready, and quickly helped the emperor onto the horse. The horse flew forward like an arrow and soon reached the Wei River. Two golden carp were frolicking and jumping in the waves. The Tang Emperor liked them at once and reined in his horse to watch them.
“Your Majesty,” the general said. “Let’s keep moving. The sooner we get back to your city, the better.”
But the emperor wanted to keep watching the fish and did not move to leave.
The general grabbed the emperor’s foot, shouted, “You still won’t go? What are you waiting for?” and pulled him off the horse and into the river. And thus the emperor left the world of the dead and reentered the world of the living.
To be continued…
1 Yu translation. ↩
2 lit. Righteousness will indeed avert disaster. ↩
Etymology Adventures 