Early Life
Ge Xuan was a legendary figure who was associated with various Taoist traditions. He belonged to a family of great official status and was considered intelligent since birth. During his early childhood, Ge Xuan was depicted as an inquisitive learner as he read several books such as the Confucian classics (and commentaries) plus numerous other philosophical and historical records. Due to his keen fascination for the philosophies of Laozi and Zhuangzi, he attained a great deal of spiritual wisdom about how the Dao worked in daily life. Consequently, at age sixteen, Ge Xuan obtained great fame on the North banks of the Yangtze River.
Sadly, Ge Xuan's parents died while he was an adolescent. In effect, this initiated his obsession with the study of the Dao (the ways in which life works). Ge Xuan's pursuits led him to live in utter isolation in areas such as mountains and forests. This secluded environment allowed Ge Xuan to strictly discipline himself mentally, spiritually, and physically. The Dao requires intense discipline for its followers because the focal purpose is to achieve longevity or even better, immortality. Ge Xuan visited places like Lingyue Mountain, Chicheng Mountain, and Luofu Mountain. Furthermore, he also visited extraordinary individuals, ate ganoderma lucidum (a type of mushroom), setose thistle and relentlessly tried to engross himself in self-refinement.
Upon encountering the Immortal Zuo Ci, Ge Xuan obtained various mythological scriptures such as the Immortals' Book of Liquefied Gold of the Nine Elixirs. When he received this scripture, Ge Xuan incessantly practiced the art of fasting and abided the commandments that were laid down by the Ultimate. This subservience enabled him to meander through mountains and seas, thereby constructing many selves and altering forms. The spiritual capability of "Ling" also assisted Ge Xuan to implement exorcisms and restore the ill (Campany (2002), p. 64). This marked the start of his professional career, in which he tried ailing the sick by offering magical potions that ultimately resulted in immorality. This pleased the Gods, which allowed the Perfect Man of the Ultimate (Zuo Chi) to descend to the Tiantai Mountain and pass on more scriptures; namely the Numinous Treasure (36 volumes).
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