Zhenyuan Daxian

Zhenyuan Daxian (Chinese: 镇元大仙; lit. 'Great Immortal Zhenyuan'), also known as Zhenyuanzi (Chinese: 镇元子), is a deity who is the patriarch of all earth immortals in Taoist pantheon. He is also regarded as the ancestor of the earth immortals.[1][2]

Zhenyuan Daxian
An illustration of Zhenyuan Daxian
Traditional Chinese鎮元大仙
Simplified Chinese镇元大仙
Literal meaningGreat Immortal Zhenyuan

Zhenyuan Daxian is not only a character of Journey to the West and has been worshipped in Chinese folk religion. In the prehistoric times, Zhenyuan Daxian often discussed the Tao with the Taishang Laojun and Yuanshi Tianzun, and taoists claim that he is a candidate for the Sanqing.[3][4]

Legend

According to Journey to the West, Zhenyuan Daxian is based in Wuzhuang Temple (五莊觀) on Longevity Mountain (萬壽山) in Aparagodānīya. In his temple, there is a special Ginsengfruit (人參果) tree that has been formed when primeval chaos was first being divided, before the separation of Heaven and Earth. The fruit of the tree is known as “Grass-returning Cinnabar” or “manfruit.” The tree produces only 30 fruits every 9,000 years, and is shaped like an infant less than three days old; a person who just smells the fruit can extend his lifespan by 360 years, while a person who eats the fruit can live for another 47,000 years. Zhenyuan was away when the protagonists arrive at his temple on their journey, but he had instructed his servants Qingfeng (清風; literally "Clear Wind") and Mingyue (明月; literally "Bright Moon") earlier to give two fruits to Tang Sanzang. Tang Sanzang is frightened when he sees that the fruit looks like a premature infant and refuses to eat it. Qingfeng and Mingyue then eat the fruits themselves and is seen by Zhu Bajie. Sun Wukong however, steals another three fruits for himself and his two juniors. When Qingfeng and Mingyue realize that some fruits are missing, they accuse Sun Wukong of theft and calls the pilgrims names. Sun Wukong destroys the Ginseng fruit tree in anger and escapes with his companions. When Zhenyuan returns to his temple, he is furious after learning the truth from Qingfeng and Mingyue. He pursues the protagonists and captures them twice after they attempt to flee again. Later he agrees not to punish them if Sun Wukong can find a way to revive the tree.[5][6]

Sun Wukong visits the Sanxing and many high deities in the heavenly court but none of them know how to revive the tree. He finally goes to Guanyin and tells what happened. Guanyin says,

"You have no conscience at all. That manfruit tree of his is the life-root from the time when Heaven and Earth were separated, and Great Immortal Zhenyuan is the Patriarch of the Earth's Immortals, which means even I have to show him a certain respect."

The conflict is eventually resolved when Guanyin helped them restore the Ginseng fruit tree back to life. Zhenyuan is so pleased that he gives up his desire for revenge and becomes sworn brothers with Sun Wukong. He treats all of them to a fruit feast before seeing them off on their journey.[5][7]

References
  1. Liu, Xiaolian. The Odyssey of the Buddhist Mind: The Allegory of the Later Journey to the West. University Press of America. ISBN 978-0-8191-9670-5.
  2. "观音和镇元大仙到底谁更厉害？看看如来佛祖怎么说_手机搜狐网". 文化大全 (in Chinese). 29 March 2020 – via Sohu.
  3. "镇元大仙的师父究竟是谁？圣人之下，菩提祖师也没法比". 青史记 (in Chinese). 3 March 2020.
  4. "揭祕西遊最強地仙鎮元子背後暗藏什麼祕密？ - 雪花新闻". Xuehua (in Chinese). 3 July 2018.
  5. Journey to the West, Wu Cheng'en (1500–1582), Translated by Foreign Languages Press, Beijing 1993.
  6. Yu, Anthony C. The Journey to the West, Revised Edition, Volume 2. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-97141-4.
  7. "只敬天地，地仙之祖镇元子到元始天尊处听经，为啥没有带人参果?_手机搜狐网". 安阳源易缘 (in Chinese). 27 February 2019 – via Sohu.
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