The story of Zhang Guolao, one of the eight immortals crossing the sea

One of the Eight Immortals of Taoism. Also known as Zhang Guo. According to the records of the Book of Tang, there is indeed a person, who is a folk warlock, and is a god because of folk legend. Living in Zhongtiao Mountain, Shanxi, he said that he was born in Yao, and there is a way to live forever. Tang Taizong, Tang Gaozong (Wu Zetian's husband) recruited him from time to time, but he politely refused. Wu Zetian also summoned him out of the mountain, Zhang Guolao pretended to be dead in front of the temple, it was the height of summer, and after a while, his body rotted and stinked. After Wu Zetian heard this, he had no choice but to give up. But soon someone saw him again in the mountains of Hengshan.

Tang Xuanzong summoned him several times to ask for the method of immortality. Tang Xuanzong saw Zhang Guo and the old dragon Zhong. He asked, "Sir is a man of enlightenment, why is his hair sparse and his teeth falling out, and he is old?" Zhang Guolao said, "In the age of decay, there is no Taoism to rely on, so it is really shameful that it has become what it is now. But if you pull out these sparse and residual teeth today, won't you be able to grow new ones? So he pulled out his sideburns in front of the hall and knocked out his teeth, Xuanzong was a little scared, and hurriedly asked someone to help Zhang Guo go to rest. After a while, Zhang Guo returned to the palace, and sure enough, his face was new, with green temples and bright teeth. So the dignitaries and nobles at that time all rushed to worship and ask for the secret of rejuvenation, but he refused.

Once, Tang Xuanzong went hunting and captured a large deer, which was slightly different from ordinary deer. The chef was just about to slaughter the deer, but when Zhang Guo saw it, he hurriedly stopped it, saying, "This is a fairy deer, it is more than a thousand years old, when Emperor Wu of Han was hunting, I followed him, although Emperor Wu of Han captured this deer, but later released it." Xuanzong said, "The world is big, there are many deer, and the times are changing, so do you know that he is the deer you said?" Zhang Guolao said, "When Emperor Wu was released, he used a bronze medal to make a mark under the left corner of it." So Xuanzong ordered someone to investigate. Sure enough, there was a bronze medal the size of two inches, but the handwriting was already blurred. Xuanzong asked again, "What year was Emperor Wu of Han hunting?" How many years have it been now? Zhang Guo said, "It's been 852 years now." Tang Xuanzong ordered someone to check, and it was correct.

Zhang Guolao died soon after returning to the mountain, and Tang Xuanzong built a "Qixia Temple" for him. Zhang Guo has a quirk, on weekdays he rides a white donkey, can travel thousands of miles a day, of course, this donkey is also a "god donkey", it is said that when you don't ride, you can fold it up and put it in the skin.