(1) The Immortal (Hsien).  The first stage consists in bringing about the birth of the superhuman in the ascetic’s person, which reaching perfection leaves the earthly body, like the grasshopper its sheath.  This first stage attained, the Immortal travels at will throughout the universe, enjoys all the advantages of perfect health without dreading disease or death, eats and drinks copiously—­nothing is wanting to complete his happiness.

(2) The Perfect Man, or Hero (Chen-jen).  The second stage is a higher one.  The whole body is spiritualized.  It has become so subtile, so spiritual, that it can fly in the air.  Borne on the wings of the wind, seated on the clouds of Heaven, it travels from one world to another and fixes its habitation in the stars.  It is freed from all laws of matter, but is, however, not completely changed into pure spirit.

(3) The Saint (Sheng-jen).  The third stage is that of the superhuman beings or saints.  They are those who have attained to extraordinary intelligence and virtue.

The God of the Immortals

Mu Kung or Tung Wang Kung, the God of the Immortals, was also called I Chuen Ming and Yue Huang Chuen, the Prince Yue Huang.

The primitive vapour congealed, remained inactive for a time, and then produced living beings, beginning with the formation of Mu Kung, the purest substance of the Eastern Air, and sovereign of the active male principle yang and of all the countries of the East.  His palace is in the misty heavens, violet clouds form its dome, blue clouds its walls.  Hsien T’ung, ‘the Immortal Youth,’ and Yue Nue, ‘the Jade Maiden,’ are his servants.  He keeps the register of all the Immortals, male and female.

Hsi Wang Mu

Hsi Wang Mu was formed of the pure quintessence of the Western Air, in the legendary continent of Shen Chou.  She is often called the Golden Mother of the Tortoise.

Her family name is variously given as Hou, Yang, and Ho.  Her own name was Hui, and first name Wan-chin.  She had nine sons and twenty-four daughters.

As Mu Kung, formed of the Eastern Air, is the active principle of the male air and sovereign of the Eastern Air, so Hsi Wang Mu, born of the Western Air, is the passive or female principle (yin) and sovereign of the Western Air.  These two principles, co-operating, engender Heaven and earth and all the beings of the universe, and thus become the two principles of life and of the subsistence of all that exists.  She is the head of the troop of genii dwelling on the K’un-lun Mountains (the Taoist equivalent of the Buddhist Sumeru), and from time to time holds intercourse with favoured imperial votaries.

The Feast of Peaches