The Taoist of Mount Lao: 劳山道士

劳勞láo山shān道士dào shì

The Taoist of Mount Lao

邑yì有yǒu王wáng生shēng行xíng七qī，故gù家子jiā zi。

In a certain county there lived a young man named Wang, seventh in birth order, who came from an old and respectable family.

少shǎo慕mù道dào，闻聞wén劳勞láo山shān多duō仙人xiān rén，负負fù笈jí往wǎng游遊yóu，登dēng一顶一頂yì dǐng，有yǒu观觀guān宇yǔ，甚shèn幽yōu。

From an early age, he had admired the Dao and, hearing that Mount Lao was home to many immortals, he shouldered his book satchel and went there to seek them. He climbed one of its peaks, where he found a Taoist temple, secluded and serene.

一yī道士dào shì坐zuò蒲pú团團tuán上shàng，素sù发發fā垂chuí领領lǐng，而ér神shén观觀guān爽shuǎng迈邁mài。

A Taoist priest sat upon a meditation cushion. His white hair fell to his collar, and his expression was bright and distinguished.

叩kòu而ér与與yǔ语語yǔ，理lǐ甚shèn玄妙xuán miào，请請qǐng师師shī之zhī。道士dào shì曰yuē：

Wang approached him and struck up a conversation. The priest's explanations were profound and mysterious, so Wang asked to become his disciple. The Taoist said:

“恐kǒng娇嬌jiāo惰duò不能bù néng作zuò苦kǔ。”

"I fear you are too delicate and indolent to endure hardship."

答dá言yán： “能néng之zhī。”

Wang replied, "I can endure it."

其qí门門mén人rén甚shèn众衆zhòng，薄暮bó mù毕畢bì集jí，王wáng俱jù与與yǔ稽首qǐ shǒu，遂suì留liú观觀guān中zhōng。

The priest had many disciples. At dusk, they all gathered, and Wang joined them in bowing respectfully to the master. He was then allowed to stay at the temple.

凌晨líng chén，道士dào shì呼hū王wáng去qù，授以shòu yǐ斧fǔ，使shǐ随隨suí众衆zhòng采採cǎi樵qiáo，王wáng谨謹jǐn受shòu教jiào。

At dawn, the Taoist called Wang over, handed him an axe, and told him to join the others in gathering firewood. Wang obediently followed his instructions.

过過guò月yuè馀餘yú，手足重茧手足重繭shǒu zú chóng jiǎn，不堪bù kān其qí苦kǔ，阴陰yīn有yǒu归歸guī志zhì。

After more than a month, his hands and feet were covered with thick calluses. Unable to bear the hardship any longer, he secretly began thinking of returning home.

一夕yì xī归歸guī，见見jiàn二人èr rén与與yǔ师師shī共gòng酌zhuó，日rì已yǐ暮mù，尚shàng无無wú灯烛燈燭dēng zhú，师師shī乃nǎi剪纸剪紙jiǎn zhǐ如rú镜鏡jìng，粘nián壁bì间間jiān，俄顷俄頃é qǐng，月yuè明míng辉輝huī壁bì，光guāng鉴鑑jiàn毫háo芒máng，诸諸zhū门門mén人rén环環huán听聽tīng奔走bēn zǒu。

One evening, when he returned, he saw two men drinking with the master. Night had fallen, but there were no lamps or candles. The master cut a piece of paper into a circle like a mirror and pasted it on the wall. In a moment, it shone with the brightness of the moon, illuminating the wall so brilliantly that even the tiniest details could be seen. All the disciples gathered around, listening and bustling about.

一yī客kè曰yuē： “良宵liáng xiāo胜勝shèng乐樂lè，不可bù kě不bù同tóng。”

One of the guests said, "What a splendid night! We must all share in its pleasures."

乃nǎi于於yú案àn上shàng取qǔ壶壺hú酒jiǔ，分fēn赉賚lài诸諸zhū徒tú，且qiě嘱囑zhǔ尽盡jìn醉zuì。

He took a jug of wine from the table and distributed it among the disciples, urging them all to drink their fill.

王wáng自zì思sī： “七qī八人bā rén，壶壺hú酒jiǔ何hé能néng遍biàn给給gěi？”

Wang thought to himself, "There are seven or eight of us. How could a single jug of wine possibly go around?"

遂suì各gè觅覓mì盎àng盂yú，竞競jìng饮飲yǐn先xiān釂jiào，惟恐wéi kǒng樽zūn尽盡jìn，而ér往复往復wǎng fù挹注yì zhù，竟jìng不少bù shǎo减減jiǎn，心xīn奇qí之zhī。

They each fetched a bowl or cup and eagerly drank, racing to empty their portions first for fear the wine would run out. Yet as they repeatedly dipped into the jug and poured, its contents did not diminish in the slightest. Wang was astonished.

俄é一yī客kè曰yuē： “蒙méng赐賜cì月yuè明míng之zhī照zhào，乃尔乃爾nǎi ěr寂jì饮飲yǐn，何不hé bù呼hū嫦娥cháng é来來lái？”

Presently, another guest said, "Now that we have been blessed with such splendid moonlight, why drink in such solitude? Why not invite Chang'e to join us?"

乃nǎi以yǐ箸zhù掷擲zhì月yuè中zhōng，见見jiàn一yī美人měi rén，自zì光guāng中zhōng出chū，初chū不bù盈yíng尺chǐ，至zhì地dì，遂suì与與yǔ人rén等děng，纤腰纖腰xiān yāo秀xiù项項xiàng，翩翩piān piān作zuò霓ní裳shang舞wǔ。

He then tossed a chopstick into the moon. A beautiful woman emerged from its light. At first she was no more than a foot tall, but when she reached the ground, she grew to the height of an ordinary person. With her slender waist and graceful neck, she began to dance lightly in the flowing robes of a celestial maiden.

已yǐ而ér歌gē曰yuē： “仙xiān仙xiān乎hū，而ér还還hái乎hū，而ér幽yōu我wǒ于於yú广廣guǎng寒hán乎hū？”

After a while, she sang, "How wondrously I dance! Must I now return, to be confined once more in the Palace of Vast Cold?"

其qí声聲shēng清qīng越yuè，烈liè如rú箫管簫管xiāo guǎn。

Her voice was clear and piercing, ringing out like the notes of a flute.

歌gē毕畢bì，盘旋盤旋pán xuán而起ér qǐ，跃躍yuè登dēng几幾jǐ上shàng，惊驚jīng顾顧gù之间之間zhī jiān，已yǐ复復fù为爲wèi箸zhù，三人sān rén大笑dà xiào，又一yòu yī客kè曰yuē：

When her song ended, she spun gracefully upward and leapt onto the table. As the others looked on in astonishment, she had already transformed back into a chopstick. The three men burst into laughter. Then another guest said:

“今宵jīn xiāo最zuì乐樂lè，然rán不胜不勝bú shèng酒jiǔ力lì矣yǐ，其qí饯餞jiàn我wǒ于於yú月yuè宫宮gōng可kě乎hū？”

"Tonight has been most delightful, but I can no longer hold my liquor. Could you see me off at the Moon Palace?"

三人sān rén移yí席xí，渐漸jiàn入rù月yuè中zhōng，众衆zhòng视視shì三人sān rén坐zuò月yuè中zhōng饮飲yǐn，须須xū眉méi毕畢bì见見jiàn，如rú影yǐng之zhī在zài镜中鏡中jìng zhōng。

The three men moved their seats and gradually entered the moon. The others watched as they sat inside it, drinking together. Every detail of their faces, beards, and eyebrows could be seen, just like reflections in a mirror.

移yí时時shí，月yuè渐暗漸暗jiàn àn，门門mén人rén然rán烛燭zhú来來lái，则則zé道士dào shì独坐獨坐dú zuò，而ér客kè杳yǎo矣yǐ。

After a while, the moon gradually dimmed. A disciple came in carrying a candle, only to find the Taoist sitting alone. The guests had vanished without a trace.

几幾jǐ上shàng肴餚yáo核hé尚shàng存cún，壁bì上shàng月yuè，纸紙zhǐ圆圓yuán如rú镜鏡jìng而已ér yǐ。道士dào shì问問wèn众衆zhòng，“饮飲yǐn足zú乎hū？”

The dishes and fruit on the table were still there, while the moon on the wall was nothing more than a round piece of paper resembling a mirror. The Taoist asked the disciples, "Have you had enough to drink?"

曰yuē： “足zú矣yǐ。 ”“足zú宜yí早寝早寢zǎo qǐn，勿wù误誤wù樵qiáo苏蘇sū。”

They replied, "Indeed, we have." "Good. Then you should go to bed early. Do not neglect your duties gathering firewood and kindling tomorrow."

众衆zhòng诺諾nuò而ér退tuì。

Everyone agreed and then withdrew.

王wáng窃竊qiè忻xīn慕mù，归歸guī念niàn遂suì息xī。

Wang secretly admired what he had witnessed, and his thoughts of returning home faded away.

又一yòu yī月yuè，苦kǔ不可bù kě忍rěn，而ér道士dào shì并不並不bìng bù传教傳教chuán jiào一yī术術shù，心xīn不能bù néng持chí，辞辭cí曰yuē：

Another month passed. The hardship became unbearable, and since the Taoist had not taught him a single supernatural art, Wang could no longer persevere. He went to take his leave, saying:

“弟子dì zǐ数百數百shù bǎi里裏lǐ，受shòu业業yè仙师仙師xiān shī，纵縱zòng不能bù néng得dé长長cháng生shēng术術shù，或huò小xiǎo有yǒu传傳chuán习習xí，亦可yì kě慰wèi求教qiú jiào之zhī心xīn，今jīn阅閱yuè两兩liǎng三月sān yuè，不过不過bú guò早zǎo樵qiáo而ér暮mù归歸guī，弟子dì zǐ在家zài jiā，未wèi谙諳ān此cǐ苦kǔ。”道士dào shì笑xiào曰yuē：

"Your disciple has traveled hundreds of miles to study under an immortal master. Even if I cannot obtain the art of eternal life, surely I might learn a little something from you, which would satisfy my desire for instruction. Yet two or three months have passed, and all I have done is gather firewood in the morning and return in the evening. Even at home, I was never accustomed to such hardship." The Taoist laughed and said:

“我wǒ固gù谓謂wèi不能bù néng作zuò苦kǔ，今jīn果然guǒ rán，明míng早zǎo，当當dāng遣qiǎn汝rǔ行xíng。”

"I suspected from the beginning that you could not endure hardship, and now it has proved so. Tomorrow morning, I shall send you on your way."

王wáng曰yuē： “弟子dì zǐ操作cāo zuò多duō日rì，师師shī略lüè授shòu小技xiǎo jì，此cǐ来來lái为爲wèi不负不負bú fù也yě。”道士dào shì问問wèn何hé术術shù之zhī求qiú？

Wang said, "Your disciple has labored here for many days. If the master would teach me some small skill, then my journey would not have been in vain." The Taoist asked what particular art he wished to learn.

王wáng曰yuē： “每měi见見jiàn师師shī行xíng处處chù，墙壁牆壁qiáng bì所suǒ不能bù néng隔gé，但dàn得dé此cǐ法fǎ，足zú矣yǐ。”道士dào shì笑xiào而ér允yǔn之zhī。

Wang replied, "I have often seen you pass through walls, which cannot hinder your passage. If I could learn that ability alone, it would be enough for me." The Taoist smiled and agreed.

乃nǎi传傳chuán以yǐ诀訣jué，令lìng自zì咒zhòu毕畢bì，呼hū曰yuē：

He then taught Wang the incantation and, once Wang had finished reciting it, called out:

“入rù之zhī！”

"Go through!"

王wáng面miàn墙牆qiáng不敢bù gǎn入rù，又yòu曰yuē： “试試shì入rù之zhī。”

Wang stood facing the wall but did not dare to enter it. The Taoist said again, "Try going through!"

王wáng果guǒ从容從容cóng róng入rù，及jí墙牆qiáng而ér阻zǔ。道士dào shì曰yuē：

Wang finally stepped forward confidently, but when he reached the wall, he was stopped. The Taoist said:

“俛fǔ首shǒu骤驟zhòu入rù，勿wù逡巡qūn xún。”

"Lower your head and charge straight through. Do not hesitate!"

王wáng果guǒ去qù墙牆qiáng数數shù步bù奔bēn而ér入rù，及jí墙牆qiáng，虚虛xū若无若無ruò wú物wù，回huí视視shì，果guǒ在zài墙牆qiáng外wài矣yǐ。

Wang indeed backed away several paces from the wall and then ran toward it. When he reached it, it seemed as insubstantial as empty air. Looking back, he found that he had indeed passed through and was now on the other side.

大喜dà xǐ，入rù谢謝xiè。道士dào shì曰yuē： “归歸guī宜yí洁潔jié持chí，否则否則fǒu zé不bù验驗yàn。”

Overjoyed, he went inside to thank the Taoist. The master said, "When you return home, you must maintain purity and discipline; otherwise, the art will not work."

遂suì资資zī斧fǔ遣qiǎn之zhī归歸guī。

He then provided Wang with travel money and sent him home.

抵dǐ家jiā自zì诩詡xǔ遇yù仙xiān，坚壁堅壁jiān bì所suǒ不能bù néng阻zǔ，妻qī不信bú xìn，王wáng效xiào其qí作为作爲zuò wéi，去qù墙牆qiáng数數shù尺chǐ，奔bēn而ér入rù；头頭tóu触觸chù硬yìng壁bì，蓦驀mò然而rán ér踣bó，妻qī扶fú视視shì之zhī，额額é上坟上墳shàng fén起qǐ如rú巨jù卵luǎn焉yān。

When Wang arrived home, he boasted of having encountered an immortal whose passage could not be stopped even by solid walls. His wife did not believe him. Wang demonstrated the feat, backing several feet away from a wall and charging toward it. His head struck the solid wall, and he suddenly collapsed. His wife helped him up and examined him, finding a huge swelling on his forehead, as large as an egg.

妻qī揶揄yé yú之zhī，王wáng惭慚cán忿fèn，骂罵mà老lǎo道士dào shì之zhī无無wú良liáng而已ér yǐ。

His wife mocked him, and Wang, both embarrassed and furious, could do nothing but curse the old Taoist for his deceit.