One of the Eight Immortals Legend He Xiangu: The Legend of He Xiangu

八仙传奇之一何仙姑：何仙姑传奇

He Xiangu, who has done good deeds and accumulated virtue, has become one of the eight immortals in the world and protected the Chinese nation.

------Zhuge Changqing

Blessed life is limitless.

Taoist culture is an important pillar of Chinese culture.

Among many Taoist immortals, the "Eight Immortals" are very familiar and widely read.

The eight immortals refer to the eight Taoist immortals widely spread among the people.

The name of the Eight Immortals was said differently before the Ming Dynasty. There are eight immortals in the Han Dynasty, eight immortals in the Tang Dynasty, and eight immortals in the Song and Yuan Dynasties.

Until the Ming Dynasty, Wu Yuantai's "Journey to the East of the Origin of the Eight Immortals" (that is, "Journey to the East") began to define the eight immortals as:

Tieguai Li (Li Xuan), Han Zhongli (Zhong Liquan), Zhang Guolao, Lan Caihe, He Xiangu (He Xiaoyun), Lv Dongbin (Lu Yan), Han Xiangzi, Cao Guoshu (Cao Jingxiu).

He Xiangu is one of the eight immortals and the only female among them.

He Xiangu, who was born as a mortal, was the only female among the eight immortals in the world.

The Supreme Lord Laojun once said in the "Chapter of Supreme Sensation" that everyone can become an immortal. Those who want to be immortal should establish 1300 good deeds. Those who want to be immortal should establish three hundred good deeds. Doing good deeds and accumulating virtue can naturally become immortals.

Zhuge Changqing believed that the Eight Immortals were immortals through virtue and virtue. He Xiangu, a female, was one example.

The Eight Immortals story is a fairy tale that has been popular among Chinese people for a long time and is popular among the common people. They often travel around the world, helping the poor and the poor, eliminating the evil and making peace, rewarding the good and punishing the evil, applying medicine to cure the disease, and helping the world and people.

In classical literature, opera, painting and sculpture, many of them are based on the Eight Immortals.

In order to summarize and carry forward the traditional Chinese culture and show the magic charm of Taoism, Zhuge Changqing will compile the Eight Immortals materials to show the legend of the Eight Immortals one by one.

Today, we launched One of the Eight Immortals: He Xiangu.

In the pictures of "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea" and "Eight Immortals Offering Life", people can see a young lady who is elegant and elegant, holding a lotus flower, elegant and refined. She is the only fairy among the eight immortals - He Xiangu.

1、 Introduction to He Xiangu

He Xiangu was born in Zengcheng County, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province (in the era of Empress Wu of the Tang Dynasty).

Zengcheng County was changed into Zengcheng City today.

When He Xiangu was born, there were six tiny lights on her head. People were amazed.

In fact, He Xiangu was originally called "He Xiugu", a daughter of He Tai in Zengcheng, Guangzhou.

After she became a fairy, she was called why fairy.

Zhuge Changqing: The seventh day of March is the birthday of Xiangu, and the eighth day of August is the day of Xiangu's enlightenment.

He Xiangu's father, He Tai, opened a tofu shop. He was charitable, abstained from killing and releasing animals, took vegetarian food and did good deeds. He often helped the poor, and was widely praised.

He Xiangu got the evil virtue of her ancestors and was different from others when she was born.

Some people describe He Xiangu as: chaste in nature, extremely filial, beautiful in appearance, dignified and elegant, and intelligent in talent. She has been her father's helper since childhood. Influenced by her father, she is also a good girl who does good deeds.

Later, she did good deeds and accumulated virtue, and was promoted to immortality by the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother of Heaven.

Zhuge Changqing: From ancient times to modern times, good deeds and good deeds must be rewarded. It is true.

He Xiangu often goes up the mountain with her friends in the morning to pick herbs and fruits.

At the age of 13, He Xiangu met a Taoist in the mountains and ate a Taoist peach. She was not hungry nor thirsty, and was as light as flying, and could foresee the fate of life.

He Xiangu got the advice of Zhang Guolao, learned from the Ninth Heaven Xuannv, got the enlightenment of Guanyin Bodhisattva, and directly became an immortal. It can be said that he is an expert!

Later, when Wu Zetian learned about it, she sent someone to summon He Xiangu to Beijing.

He Xiangu flew away halfway.

The villagers built a small building for her, asked her to live there, and predicted good fortune for everyone. He Xiangu responds to every request and is good at talking and turning evil into evil. Gradually, He Xiugu's name became He Xiangu.

He Xiangu is good at medicine and curing diseases for others. She often uses the opportunity of seeing doctors for others to persuade people to do good and stop evil, and tell patients that diseases are caused by bad things. To prolong life and maintain health, we should first stop killing Hansheng, not eat the flesh of all living things, and be merciful, as well as insects and ants. We should release more lives, honor our parents, help the poor, and help the masses. We should know that good and evil should be rewarded, and we are not satisfied at all.

Many patients listened to her instructions, repaired bridges and roads, and did good deeds to accumulate yin and virtue. At the same time, they took the herbs she prescribed, and were cured.

Zhuge Changqing: As a doctor, He Xiangu not only has excellent medical skills, but also uses the opportunity to cure diseases to persuade people to do good and accumulate virtue. She can be called a living immortal who changes people's fate.

Local people regard her as a god and respectfully call her a fairy.

It is said that during the reign of Tianbao, there were five clouds rising from the Magu Altar. In the daytime, people saw a fairy looming out of the five clouds. There was a Taoist named Cai Tianyi who knew the fairy, He Xiangu.

2、 He Xiangu's Temple: in Zengcheng, Guangzhou, Guangdong today

At present, the He Xiangu Temple is built in Zengcheng, Guangzhou, and the local government also lists it as a key cultural relics protection unit. He Xiangu's Temple is a key cultural relic protection unit in Zengcheng City, which was rated as one of the new eight scenic spots and named "Xiaolou Xianyuan". At present, there are so many tourists that it has become a place of cultural admiration.

Zhuge Changqing: From ancient times to modern times, those who selflessly contribute to the benefit of the people are the living gods and the living bodhisattvas. People will spontaneously commemorate him. He Xiangu has benefited the people and made a silent contribution. She has been grateful and praised by people and has become the protector in her heart.

He Xiangu Family Temple was built to worship He Xiangu.

He Xiangu's temple was built in the Tang Dynasty. After the vicissitudes of war, it was repaired on a large scale in the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in the eighth year of Xianfeng in the Qing Dynasty (1858).

The brick and stone platform and beam structure of the house temple. The first and third entry and 13 frames out of the front porch are fire-sealing gable walls, and the second entry and four columns and a five-frame worship pavilion are hard peaks.

The statue of He Xiangu, a camphor wood sculpture, is enshrined in the main hall. There is a relief of eight immortals on the left wall and a ceiling on the right, called "Xiangu Well". There is a peach tree on the tile ridge on the right side of the main hall of the temple, known as "Xiantao".

The five official script characters "He Xiangu Family Temple" on the forehead of the family temple were written by Huang Peifang in the Jiaping year of Xianfeng Xu.

On both sides of the door are engraved couplets in running script, which read: "Thousands of years of shoes left behind by Dan Well, hundreds of generations of clothes and hats worshipped the ancient temple." It was written by the historian Wang Yingdou. The family temple has a brick-and-stone beam-style structure, a hard mountaintop ridge and a fire-sealing gable. The interior and exterior decoration of the temple is mainly wood carving, gray carving, and brick carving. The cornice clapboard is covered with flowers and birds, opera characters, and the craftsmanship is exquisite and beautiful. There are many scenic spots in the temple, such as Xiangu Temple, Xiantao at the top of the temple, Xiangu Well, Sanzhong, and Baxian Hall.

There are two major festivals in the family temple. Every year, on the seventh day of Xiangu's birth in March and the eighth day of Xiangu's birth in August, Shanxin spontaneously holds a grand commemorative activity, and the scene is spectacular.

At the request of the believers, the He Xiangu Temple is being rebuilt, and the renovation plan has been demonstrated by experts. The rebuilt Hexiangu Temple covers an area of 14000 square meters, and a series of supporting scenic spots such as Xianyuan Memorial Archway, Jiamiao Square, Eight Immortals Guild Hall, Magu Hall, Mica Stream, Xiangu Stele Forest and so on have been built.

He Xiangu is like sitting on the god Xi in the main hall of He Xiangu's temple. It is 1.5 meters high and is carved from camphor wood. It is painted with gold and looks as bright as the sunset. He Xiangu is like sitting on the lotus stage, holding a magic instrument - lotus, with a graceful body and a calm demeanor, assisted by golden children and jade girls.

3、 The mysterious mystery of He Xiangu's temple

1. The fairy peach growing on the top of the temple: It has no water and no fertilizer. It has grown for more than 100 years and bears fruit every year!

Zhuge Changqing: Why is the fairy peach magical? It is because of the blessing of immortals. He Xiangu was originally a fairy, and naturally there are fairy peaches. This is very simple for Taoism. It's just hard for us earthly people to understand.

There is a peach tree on the ridge of the tile back of He Xiangu's temple. Although its branches are small, it is full of green. This is the "peach tree" in people's eyes. It has been more than 100 years now.

Although this peach tree grows on the ridge of the tile-back roof, it never needs fertilization and watering, and basically bears fruit every year. It is said that there were three or five troublemakers who climbed onto the roof and tried to pull out the peach, but they failed with great efforts.

In people's eyes, this tree is stained with "fairy spirit". Eating the peach will prolong the life of the tree. Therefore, every year when the peach is mature, many faithful men and women pay a lot of money to order in advance, and the sky-high price set by its auction is often seen in the newspapers.

2. Millennial vines without roots.

Zhuge Changqing: The He Xiangu Temple is protected by the Dragon Protector, and many magical things happen naturally.

About 300 meters away from He Xiangu's temple, there is an ancient rattan called the crown of rattan in Southeast Asia. It is said that after becoming an immortal, He Xiangu returned to her hometown and enjoyed the cool in the woods beside her temple. After hearing this, Tieguai Li was glad to attend the meeting, and accidentally dropped his crutch, which turned into a coiled dragon vine and several big trees supporting the ancient vine.

According to textual research, the scientific name of this ancient rattan is "white flower rattan", which is a rare plant in China and has a history of more than 1300 years. It was originally made of green vines around an ancient banyan and several miscellaneous trees. The vines are interlaced. Where is the source of vine roots? It is still a mystery. The thickest part of the ancient rattan trunk has a diameter of 1.5 meters, an extension span of more than 30 meters, and a coverage area of nearly 500 square meters. When it blooms in June, it is fragrant all over the place, and the fragrance is striking. It bears fruit in August. Seen from a distance, this ancient vine looks like a white dragon, with great momentum.

(Reference materials: The Eight Immortals Story, The Legend of He Xiangu, Internet information, Zengcheng Temple information, Zhuge Changqing Taoism research results, etc.)

This article is a research article on the traditional culture of Zhuge Changqing's traditional Chinese culture.

Welcome to forward and reprint. Please indicate the source of forwarding.

Introduction to Zhuge Changqing: Zhuge Changqing, the inheritor and promoter of traditional Chinese culture, is willing to work with like-minded people in the world to "inherit traditional Chinese culture, promote good morality, revitalize China, and benefit the society".

何仙姑，行善积德，造福苍生，成为天界八仙之一，保护中华民族。

------ 诸葛长青

　　福生无量天尊。

  道教文化，是中国文化的重要支撑柱。

　　在道教诸多神仙中，“八仙”是人们十分熟悉广为传诵的。

　　八仙，是指民间广为流传的道教八位神仙。

　　八仙之名，明代以前众说不一。有汉代八仙、唐代八仙、宋元八仙，所列神仙各不相同。

　　至明吴元泰《八仙出处东游记》（即《东游记》）始定八仙为：

  铁拐李（李玄）、汉钟离（钟离权）、张果老、蓝采和、何仙姑（何晓云）、吕洞宾（吕岩）、韩湘子、曹国舅（曹景休）。  

　　今天给大家说的何仙姑，就是八仙之一，八仙中唯一的女性。

　　何仙姑是凡人出身，苦修积善才修练成仙，是世传八仙中唯一的女性。

　　太上老君在《太上感应篇》曾说：人人都可以成为神仙。欲求天仙者，当立一千三百善。欲求地仙者，当立三百善。行善积德自然可以成为神仙。

   诸葛长青认为，八仙就是通过行善积德修成神仙，作为女性的何仙姑就是其中的一个例证。

   八仙故事是我国民间流传已久，并为老百姓所喜闻乐见的仙话。他们经常云游人间，扶贫济危，除暴安良，奖善惩恶，施药治病，济世度人。

　　在古典文学、戏曲、绘画、雕塑作品中，不少都是以八仙为题材。

  为总结弘扬中国传统文化，展现道家的神奇魅力，诸葛长青将编写八仙资料，一一展示八仙传奇。

  今日推出《八仙传奇之一：何仙姑》。

  在“八仙过海”、“八仙献寿”等图景中，人们可以看到有一个神采俊雅，手持一朵荷花，飘逸脱俗的妙龄女郎，她便是八仙中唯的女仙——何仙姑。　　

   一、何仙姑简介

   何仙姑，为广东广州增城县人（唐朝武则天时代）。

   增城县，今日改成了增城市。

   何仙姑出生时，头顶出现六道毫光，人们啧啧称奇。

   实际上，何仙姑原名叫“何秀姑”，广州增城一位叫何泰的女儿。

   她后来成了神仙之后，才被人们称呼为何仙姑了。

   诸葛长青：每年三月初七为仙姑诞辰日、八月初八为仙姑得道日。

   何仙姑的父亲何泰开豆腐坊，慈善心肠，戒杀放生、吃素行善，常常救助贫困，广受人们称赞。

   何仙姑得到祖辈阴德，一出生就与众不同。

   有人形容何仙姑是：生性贞静，极有孝行，容貌清丽，庄重典雅，且天资聪。她自幼做父亲的帮手，受父亲影响，也是一位行善积德的好女孩。

   后来她行善积德，功德很大，被天庭玉皇大帝、王母娘娘批准晋升为仙。

    诸葛长青：古往今来，行善积德必有福报，真实不虚。

  何仙姑经常和好友早晨上山，采摘草药和水果。

  十三岁时，何仙姑在山中遇一道士，吃了道士一只仙桃，从此不饥不渴，身轻如飞，并可预见人生祸福。

    何仙姑得到张果老指点，师从九天玄女，得到观音菩萨点化，直接成为神仙。可谓是师从高人！

   后来武则天知道了此事，就派人召何仙姑进京。

   何仙姑半途中飞身离去。

   乡亲们为她盖了一座小楼，要她住在那里，为大家预卜凶吉。何仙姑有求必应，善言化凶。渐渐地，何秀姑的名字就变成了何仙姑。

   何仙姑擅长医药，替人治病，且常利用替人看病之机，劝人行善止恶，告诉病人诸病乃由诸不善所生，欲要延寿养生，先要戒杀含生，不食众生之肉，当行慈惠，以及虫蚁，要多行放生，孝敬父母，惠恤贫苦，广济群众，当知善恶报应，丝毫不爽。

  不少病人听从她的教导，修桥补路，行善广积阴德，同时服用她开的草药，果然诸病痊愈。

  诸葛长青：何仙姑作为一位医生，不仅医术高明，而且借助治病机缘劝人行善积德，堪称是改变人们命运的活神仙了。

  当地的人，都以她为神人，尊敬地称她为何仙姑。

　　传说至天宝年间，有五色云起于麻姑坛，众人于白日间见有一位女仙子从五色祥云中缥缈而出，有个叫蔡天一的道士，认识那位女仙子，便是何仙姑。

    二、何仙姑家庙：在今日广东广州增城市

  如今，广州增城建有何仙姑家庙，当地政府还把它列为重点文物保护单位。何仙姑家庙是增城市重点文物保护单位，被评为新八景之一，名为“小楼仙源”。目前游客如织，成为一个文化敬仰之地。

    诸葛长青：古往今来，凡是无私奉献造福人民的人，就是活神仙，就是活菩萨，人们会自发的纪念他。何仙姑造福人民、默默奉献，被人们感恩称颂，成为心中的保护神。

   何仙姑家庙，是人们为祀奉何仙姑而建。

   何仙姑家庙始建于唐朝，历经沧桑战乱，明代作大规模的修缮，清咸丰八年（ 1858 ）重修。

  家庙砖石台梁式结构，第一、三进 13 架出前廊为封火山墙，第二进四柱一间五架拜亭为硬山顶。

  正堂供奉樟木雕塑的何仙姑像，左边墙壁有一幅八仙浮雕，右侧有一口天花井，名“仙姑井”。庙正堂右侧的瓦脊上有棵桃树，人称“仙桃”。

　　家庙门额上“何仙姑家庙”五个隶书大字，乃咸丰戌年嘉平年黄培芳所书。

　　门口两边镌刻行书楹联：“千年履舄遗丹井，百代衣冠拜古祠。”为史官王映斗所书。家庙砖石台梁式结构，硬山顶屋脊和封火山墙，庙内外装饰以木雕、灰雕、砖雕为主，飞檐拍板遍布花鸟、戏曲人物，工艺精湛优美。庙内有仙姑殿、庙顶仙桃、仙姑井、三忠、八仙堂等景点。

　　家庙有两大节庆，每年三月初七仙姑诞、八月初八仙姑得道日，善信自发举行盛大纪念活动，万人空巷，场面蔚为壮观。

　　现应信众要求，重修何仙姑家庙，重修方案已通过专家论证。重修后的何仙姑家庙占地14000平方米，增建仙源牌楼、家庙广场、八仙会馆、麻姑殿、云母溪、仙姑碑林等一系列配套景点。

　　何仙姑像坐镇何仙姑家庙正堂神翕之上，像高1.5米，用樟木塑雕而成，通体漆金，灿若明霞。何仙姑像端坐莲花台，手持法器——荷花，体态雍容，神态安详，金童玉女辅以左右。

　　三、何仙姑家庙神奇的未解之谜

　　1、长在庙顶的仙桃：无水无肥，竟然生长一百多年，年年结果！

   诸葛长青：仙桃为何神奇？是因为得到神仙加持。何仙姑本是神仙，自然有仙桃了。这对于道家来说都是很简单的。只不过我们尘世之人难以体会罢了。

　　何仙姑家庙瓦背屋脊上长着一棵桃树，虽然枝干不大，但绿意盎然，这便是人们眼中的“仙桃树”，至今已有100多年。

　　这棵桃树虽然生长在瓦背屋脊上，但从不需要施肥浇水，并且基本每年都结果。传说曾有三五好事之徒，爬上屋顶，企图拔掉仙桃，但费了九牛二虎之力都没成功。

  而在人们眼中，这棵树沾了“仙气”，吃了所结的桃子会福寿延年，因此，每年仙桃成熟季节，许多善男信女都下重金提前订购，而它拍卖所创下的天价也屡屡见诸报章。

　　2、没有根的千年古藤。

  诸葛长青：何仙姑家庙有神龙护法保护，很多神奇的事情自然发生。

　　距离何仙姑家庙大约有300米，有一条号称东南亚藤类之冠的盘龙古藤。传说何仙姑成仙后返回家乡，在家庙旁的树林里乘凉。铁拐李听闻，欣然赴会，无意中撒手丢掉拐杖，此拐杖化作盘龙古藤、几棵支撑古藤的大树。

　　据考证，这根古藤的学名为“白花鱼藤”，是我国稀有的植物，至今已有1300多年历史。它本是由青藤绕着一棵古榕和几棵杂树繁衍而成，藤树交错，藤根源头在哪里？至今仍是个谜。古藤枝干直径最粗处达1.5米，延伸跨度30多米，覆盖面积近500平方米，6月花开时节，芬芳遍地，香气袭人，8月结果。从远处看，这株古藤就像白色的巨龙，气势磅礴。

   （参考资料：八仙故事、何仙姑传说、网络资料、增城家庙资料、诸葛长青道教研究成果等）

  本文是诸葛长青国学传统文化研究文章。

  欢迎转发转载，转发请注明出处。  

 诸葛长青简介：诸葛长青，中国国学传统文化传承弘扬者，愿与天下志同道合者一起“传承国学、弘扬善德、振兴中华、造福社会”。

 (This article is an original article by Zhuge Changqing, and the pictures are selected from the Internet. Welcome to forward it, and please indicate the source for forwarding)

Introduction to Zhuge Changqing: Zhuge Changqing, the inheritor and promoter of traditional Chinese culture, is willing to "learn from sages, promote virtue, revitalize China and benefit the world" together with people with the same ideals in the world.

(Zhuge Changqing: zhuge8031@163.com ）

Zhuge Changqing mailbox：

zhuge8031@163.com

Zhuge Changqing's Chinese Dream

Learn from sages and carry forward virtue

Revitalizing China for the benefit of the world

 （本文是诸葛长青原创文章，图片选自网络。欢迎转发，转发引用请注明出处）

诸葛长青简介：诸葛长青，中国国学传统文化传承弘扬者，愿与天下志同道合者一起“学习圣贤、弘扬善德、振兴中华、造福世界”。

（诸葛长青：zhuge8031@163.com）

Zhuge Changqing mailbox：

zhuge8031@163.com

  诸葛长青中国梦  

学习圣贤 弘扬善德

振兴中华 造福世界

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1The wisdom of traditional Chinese culture changes the destiny: filial piety to parents+five in one+self-improvement

1 国学智慧改命运：孝敬父母+五合一+自强不息

2Zhuge Changqing's Three Golden Keys to Changing Destiny

2诸葛长青改命运三把金钥匙诸葛长青施食仪轨 （十五步简洁版）

3Zhuge Changqing's Greeting Ritual (15 Steps Concise Version)

3 诸葛长青施食仪轨 （十五步简洁版）

4How to repent: the ritual of repentance and the method of repentance (full version)

4   如何忏悔：忏悔仪轨忏悔方法（完整版）

5How to read the Dizang Sutra: Methods for reciting Dizang Sutra (complete version)

5 如何念地藏经：念地藏经仪轨方法（完整版）

6How to release? The ritual of releasing life

6怎样放生？放生仪轨

7Zhuge Changqing's Repentance Culture: A Case Study of Repentance Methods for Changing Destiny

7诸葛长青忏悔文化：改变命运忏悔方法案例

8Free Life Culture: Free Life Culture in Ancient China

8放生文化：中国古代的放生文化

9Shocking photo of feeding: Buddha, Bodhisattva and Dharma Protector come to the scene

9施食震撼照片：佛菩萨护法神亲临现场

10Feeding Rite Return: the return is changed to simple return

10施食仪轨回向：回向修改为简洁回向