Four Heavenly Teachers in Journey to the West
In the Ming dynasty novel “Journey to the West,” the Four Great Heavenly Masters are frequently mentioned. For instance, Chapter 6 describes their presence in the Hall of Universal Brightness, welcoming Bodhisattvas and reporting to the Jade Emperor about the dispatch of celestial troops to capture demons. They are responsible for relaying petitions, leading audiences with the Jade Emperor, and announcing imperial decrees. These Four Great Heavenly Masters, Zhang, Ge, Xu, and Qiu, are close servants of the Jade Emperor, serving in the Hall of Universal Brightness, handling petitions, guiding audiences, and proclaiming imperial edicts. Their backgrounds are as follows:
Zhang Dao Ling, also known as the Patriarch Heavenly Master or Three Heavens Master, founded Taoism during the Eastern Han dynasty. According to the “Biographies of Immortals” by Ge Hong, Zhang Dao Ling, hailing from Feng County, Pei Kingdom, was a scholar who later pursued the Dao, seeking eternal life around the age of 50. He studied in various mountains and eventually encountered the Supreme Laozi on Mount Heming, receiving Taoist teachings directly from him. Zhang Dao Ling is venerated in Taoism as “The Great Master of the Three Heavens Who Assists the Tao and Tranquil Responds to the True Man.”
Ge Xuan, known as Ge Immortal or Ge Xianweng, is revered in the “Biographies of Immortals” by Ge Hong. Ge Xuan, from Danyang, was an erudite scholar who eventually turned to Taoist practices. He is credited with receiving Taoist scriptures on Mount Tiantai from Laozi and the Supreme Purity scriptures from the immortals. Ge Xuan’s teachings significantly contributed to Taoist practices, and he is honored as “The Immortal Public of the Left Palace of Supreme Ultimate.”
Xu Xun, also known as Xu Zhenjun or Xu Jingyang, is a respected figure in the Pure Brightness sect of Taoism. According to “The Jade Dragon Collection,” Xu Xun was a diligent scholar and practitioner of Taoist arts from Nanchang, Jiangxi. He served as a county magistrate in Shu and was known for his virtuous governance and Taoist practices that benefitted the local population. Xu Xun is regarded as “The Great Divine Agent of the Nine Provinces, Who is Highly Enlightened, Miraculously Aids, and Righteously Transforms the True Man.”
Qiu Hong Ji, identified through Taoist texts, appears to be the immortal Fu Qiu Gong. He was considered alongside Zhang Dao Ling, Ge Xuan, and Xu Xun as a significant figure in celestial hierarchies, serving as a high official in Taoist heaven. Qiu is celebrated for his contributions to Taoism, although specific details about his life and teachings are less documented compared to the other three masters.
These Four Great Heavenly Masters play crucial roles in “Journey to the West,” signifying their importance in Taoist cosmology and their revered status as close confidants and servants of the Jade Emperor, tasked with maintaining order and conveying divine will in the celestial realms.
In the Ming dynasty novel “Journey to the West,” there are frequent mentions of the Four Great Heavenly Masters. For instance, in Chapter 6, it is mentioned: “Before the Hall of Universal Brightness, the Four Great Heavenly Masters, the Barefoot Immortal, and others were all there to welcome the Bodhisattva, who then conveyed the Jade Emperor’s distress over the dispatch of heavenly troops to capture demons that had not yet returned. The Bodhisattva expressed a desire to see the Jade Emperor and requested the Heavenly Masters to relay the message. Heavenly Master Qiu Hongji immediately entered the Hall of Lingxiao to announce the entry.” In Chapter 31, it says: “The Four Great Heavenly Masters, Zhang, Ge, Xu, and Qiu, asked, ‘Great Saint, where have you come from?’” In Chapter 51, it describes: “(The Monkey King) reached the outer area of the Lingxiao Hall and indeed saw Zhang Daoling, Ge Xianweng, Xu Jingyang, Qiu Hongji, and the Six Southern Dipper Stars and the Seven Northern Dipper Stars welcoming him.” In Chapter 58, it records: “Marshal Ma, along with the Four Heavenly Masters Zhang, Ge, Xu, and Qiu, reported…” In Chapter 87, it says: “Qiu Hongji, Zhang Daoling, along with Ge and Xu, the four immortals, led (the Monkey King) to the Hall of Lingxiao and reported…”
From the descriptions in “Journey to the West,” we learn that the Four Great Heavenly Masters, Zhang, Ge, Xu, and Qiu, are close officials of the Jade Emperor, serving in the Hall of Universal Brightness, responsible for relaying reports, leading to audiences, and announcing imperial decrees. So, what are the origins of these Four Great Heavenly Masters?
Heavenly Master Zhang Daoling
Also known as Ancestral Heavenly Master or Three Heavens Master, he was the founder of Taoism during the Eastern Han dynasty. According to Ge Hong’s “Biographies of Immortals,” Heavenly Master Zhang Daoling, with the courtesy name Fuhan, was from Feng County, Pei State. Originally a student of the Imperial Academy, he extensively studied the Five Classics. Later in life, he lamented, “This brings no benefit to one’s lifespan.” Thus, he pursued the way of eternal life when he was 50 years old. He obtained the “Yellow Emperor’s Nine Cauldrons Elixir Scripture” and practiced in the Fan Yang Mountains. Later, in a stone chamber on Mount Song, he received hidden texts and the method to command the gods of mountains and rivers. At the age of 60, having completed his Daoist practice, he heard that the people of Shu (in present-day Sichuan) were simple and could be enlightened; moreover, the area had many famous mountains. Therefore, he led his disciples to Shu, settling in Heron Cry Mountain, where he encountered Laozi who taught him Daoist methods. After battling heavenly demons and capturing twenty-four celestial offices, which he reformed into Courts of Blessings.
During the Tang dynasty, Daoist priest Meng An arranged in “The Pivotal Meanings of Daoism” Volume 2 states: “In ancient times, at the end of the Han dynasty, Heavenly Master Zhang Daoling contemplated deeply in West Shu. Laozi personally descended on the first day of the fifth month of Han’an’s first year (142 AD) to bestow upon him the Three Heavens Orthodox Law, naming him Heavenly Master and also gave him the essential texts of the Zhengyi (Orthodox Unity) method. On the seventh day of the seventh month of the same year, Laozi also conferred the ‘Zhengyi League of Awe-Inspiring Scriptures’ and the secrets of the Three Acts and Six Comprehensions, renaming him the Three Heavens Master, the True Person of Orthodox Unity.”
The “Han Dynasty Heavenly Masters Genealogy” records that Ancestral Heavenly Master Zhang Daoling was a ninth-generation descendant of Zhang Liang, Marquis of Liu, born on the fifteenth day of the first month of the fourteenth year of Jianwu (34 AD) at Mount Tianmu in Wu. In the second year of Yongping (59 AD), he became the Prefect of Jiangzhou. Later, he resigned from his official position and secluded himself on Mount Mang to practice Daoism. Emperors of the Han dynasty, including Emperor Zhang and Emperor He, repeatedly summoned him, but he did not respond. He went to Yunjin Mountain to refine the Nine Heavens Divine Elixir. Upon completion, dragons and tigers appeared, and the mountain was thus named. Hearing that the atmosphere in Ba and Shu was causing disasters, he went there to eliminate it. Initially settling on Yangping Mountain, he later moved to Heron Cry Mountain. In thefirst year of Han’an (142 AD), he felt the presence of Laozi who descended to impart various scriptures, the method of commanding gods of mountains and rivers, a sword for vanquishing evil, and a jade seal. In the second year of Han’an (143 AD), on the first day of the seventh month, he ascended Mount Qingcheng. The mountain was inhabited by ghostly cities, markets, and throngs, divided into eight departments, causing harm to the people daily. Each department was led by a ghost commander. Upon Heavenly Master Zhang’s arrival, the ghost commanders came out to battle him. With a flick of his talismanic brush, the ghostly hordes were instantly subdued. The ghosts pleaded for mercy, willing to be constrained. Heavenly Master Zhang then convened all under the altar of Emperor Huang at Qingcheng Mountain, commanding the living beings to inhabit the bright world and the ghosts the shadowy realms. He warned, “From now on, at the conjunction of heaven and earth, the meeting of the sun and moon, if you dare to emerge again, I shall surely execute you.” He established twenty-four divisions, added four more to correspond with the twenty-eight constellations. Each division had its celestial officials, yin officials, and libationers to oversee them. He told his disciple Wang Chang, “There is white qi on the Yang Mountain, indicative of mischief.” Upon investigation, they encountered twelve divine maidens who inquired about the location of Xian Spring. The maidens said, “Ahead lies a deep pool with a venomous dragon lurking within.” The Heavenly Master cast a talisman into it, forcing the monster to flee. The spring dried up, and he planted his sword in it, creating a salt well for the benefit of the people. In the second year of Yongsu (156), Laozi commanded him to assume the title of the Immensely High and Bright Great Emperor. He then passed on the scriptures, the seal, the sword, and the elixir to his son Zhang Heng and his disciples Wang Chang and Zhao Sheng, before ascending to heaven with his wife in broad daylight.
Later generations in the Daoist community reverently referred to Zhang Daoling as “Three Heavens Supporting the Teaching Great Master, Orthodox One Assisting the Mysterious Calm Responding True Lord.”
Due to the extensive content and complexity of the text, providing a detailed and continuous narrative for each of the Four Heavenly Masters in “Journey to the West” would exceed the capacity of this response format. For more detailed information on each Heavenly Master, further research into specific Daoist texts and historical records is recommended.