Han Xiangzi, Qingfu, is the nephew of Han Yu. The life of Han Xiangzi is not available, but folklore says that he was one of the “Eight Immortals”. The treasure in his hand is called Purple Gold Xiao, which is said to be made from a sacred bamboo in the Purple Bamboo Forest in the South China Sea.
He was born with immortal bones, and acted in a straightforward manner, disgusted by the flashy and gaudy things, preferring tranquility and seclusion. He was not moved by the beauty of a beautiful woman; he was not demoralized by wine and food. He concentrated on cultivation and studied Taoism. Han Yu repeatedly urged him to do his studies well, but Han Xiang replied, “My studies are different from your studies. Han Yu was angry and rebuked him for this.
One day, Han Xiangzi went out to find a teacher and met Lu Dongbin and Zhong Liquan, so Han Xiangzi left home and studied with them. Later, when Han Xiangzi came to a place where he saw a peach forest with red peaches, he climbed a tree to pick the peaches, but the branch suddenly broke and Han Xiangzi fell to the ground and died.
Han Xiangzi wanted to reincarnate Han Yu, but Han Yu did not believe in Taoism, so he used magic to impress him first. In that year, there was a severe drought and the emperor ordered Han Yu to pray for rain and snow at the Southern Altar. Han Yu prayed many times, but no rain or snow fell from the sky, so he was in danger of being dismissed from office. Han Xiangzi dressed up as a Taoist priest and put up a sign on the street that read, “Selling rain and snow.” When someone saw this, he immediately informed Han Yu, who immediately sent someone to ask him to pray together on his behalf. The Daoist priest performed a spell on the stage, and instantly, goose feather snow fell from the sky. Han Yu did not believe that this was the result of Taoism, so he said to the Taoist priest, “Did I ask for this snow, or did you ask for it?” The Taoist priest said, “I begged for it.” Han said, “What is your proof?” The Taoist priest said, “The snow is three feet and three inches thick. Han Yu sent someone to measure it, and it was just as he said, and Han Yu then believed that Taoism was extraordinary.
One day, it was Han Yu’s birthday and his friends and family came to his door to congratulate him. Xiangzi arrived unexpectedly and wished Han Yu a happy birthday. Han Yu was very happy and angry to see him, and when Xiangzi was sitting at the banquet, Han Yu asked him, “You have been traveling for a long time, I don’t know if your learning has improved. Xiangzi began to recite.
“Green hills and clouds are separated from the water, this is my home; my hand is wrenching the cloudy liquid, the morning singing the falling sun. I play the jasper cave on my lute, and refine the white vermilion sand in my furnace; I keep a golden tiger in my censer, and raise a white crow in my field. Someone can learn from me, and together we can see the immortal flowers.”
After listening to his poem, Han Yu asked him, “Do you have the ability to create nature?” Then Han Yu ordered him to make wine to bloom the flowers. Xiangzi brought a wine bottle to the hall and covered it with a golden pot. After a while, he opened the bottle and saw that the wine was ready. Soon, he saw a blue flower in full bloom. The flower was the size of a peony, but its color was more magnificent than that of a peony. On the flower were two lines in gold letters: “Where is my home in the Qinling Mountains? The snow embraces the Blue Pass and the horses do not move forward. Han Yu did not understand what this meant. Xiangzi said, “Heaven’s opportunity cannot be revealed, it will be fulfilled later.” All the guests were impressed. When the banquet broke up, Xiangzi said goodbye to Han Yu and left.
During the reign of Emperor Xianzong of Tang Dynasty, Han Yu was so angry with Emperor Xianzong for advising him to welcome the Buddha’s bones that he was relegated to the post of Assassin of Chaozhou and was given a limited time to leave. Han Yu left his wife and children and went to Chaozhou. Within a few days, the wind picked up and the snow piled up. Han Yu came to a place where the snow was several feet deep and it was difficult for the horses to move forward, and there was no family nearby, so he did not know where the road was. He wanted to follow the road and retreat, but there was no way back. The wind was blowing hard, the snow was drifting fast, and Han Yu was soaked to the skin, and he was so cold and hungry that he had nowhere to tell his sorrow. When Han Yu was desperate, he saw a man coming in the cold, sweeping the snow, and he saw that it was Xiangzi. Xiangzi asked Han Yu, “Do you remember the couplet written on the flower?” Han Yu asked, “What is this place?” Xiangzi replied, “This is the Blue Pass.” Han Yu sighed for a long time before saying, “Since things have a destiny, I will complete the couplet on the flower for you.”
Moving to the Blue Pass to show his nephew Xiang
A letter was sent to the nine heavens in the morning, and was relegated to the eight thousand roads of Chaoyang in the evening.
I would like to remove the problems for the Holy Spirit, but I am willing to cherish my decaying years.
Where is my home in the Qinling Mountains? The snow embraces the Blue Pass and the horse does not go forward.
I know that you should come from afar, so I can collect my bones by the miasma river.
So Han Yu and Xiangzi went to the Blue Pass house to stay overnight, and Han Yu then believed that Xiangzi’s words were true. That night, Han Yu and Xiangzi talked about their dealings with each other and the way to cultivate the truth, and Han Yu was convinced. The next day, before he left, Xiangzi took out a ladle of immortal medicine and said to Han Yu, “Take one, it will protect you from cold and heat.” Han Yu was suddenly enlightened. Xiangzi said, “You will be back soon, not only free of illness, but you will be reappointed by the court again.” Han Yu asked, “Will we meet again?” Xiangzi replied, “I don’t know.” And he passed away. Later on, Xiangzi reincarnated Han Yu, who finally attained immortality.
(Source: “Journey to the East”)
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