Ge Xuan - Retirement

Retirement

Ge Xuan became a distinctive "Master of Esoterica" (excelled at breathing exercises). These exercises were dependant on a particular diet that avoided consuming grains and alcohol. There are numerable unearthly tales in the hagiographical life of Ge Xuan. The most common legends include his supernatural gifts. For example, Ge Xuan could replace his body. Often during his hosted parties, he would talk with some of his guests and welcome or send others off at the same time (Campany (2002), p. 154). Ge Xuan also had the gift of telekinesis. He could point at an object and cause it to move, disappear and even cause unseen objects to appear. At one particular party, the drinking cups arrived and filled themselves with liquor (Campany (2002), p. 155). Additionally, Ge Xuan had the talent to hover three or four feet above ground and saunter in the air (Campany (2002), p. 156).

In later life, one of Ge Xuan's responsibilities was to regale the Emperor. When he grew tired of this, Ge Xuan informed his disciple Zhang Gong that he was arranging to leave the mortal world at noon on August eleventh. Ge Xuan primed himself for transcendence by dressing up in his finest clothing and laid down on his bed. After some time, Zhang Gong saw that his master still had color in his face, but was no longer breathing. Over the next three days and nights, Zhang Gong proceeded with the vital after death rituals. However, at midnight on the third night, a mighty wind blew through Ge Xuan's room and snuffed out the candles. When the candles were relit, Ge Xuan's human body had disappeared leaving only his clothes with the waistband still tied around them. The next day, it was discovered that the mighty wind had only blown through Ge Xuan's room and not through any of the neighboring houses.