Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 321

1841.

Sketch of Yuhwang Shangte.

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glare. His entire countenance was supereminently beautiful, so that none became weary in beholding him. When in childhood, he pos- sessed the clearest intelligence and compassion, and taking the posses- sions of his country, and the funds of the national treasury, distributed the whole to the poverty stricken, to those burdened with afflictions, to widowers and widows, to orphans and the childless, to those who had no homes, to the sick, to the halt, the deaf, the blind, and the lame. To all classes of people he was benevolent, affectionate, kind, and accommodating. Songs of commendation resounded in his praise, and the fame of his principles extending to distant regions all hearts beneath the heavens were drawn out in reverence toward this eminent youth, while his father the king rejoiced with increasing joy.

Not long after this the demise of the king took place, and the son succeeded to the government. Seriously reflecting upon the insta- bility of human life, he gave orders for his high ministers to assume the duties of the throne. Then forsaking his kingdom he repaired to the hills of Pooming, and gave himself up to religious devotedness, and having thus perfected himself in merit he ascended to heaven, where he secured eternal life. He, however, descended again to earth eight hundred times, but still rejecting his kingdom, and sever- ing his affections from all worldly care he became a companion of the common people, and instructed them in his doctrines. At the close of these eight hundred descensions, he engaged in medical practice, and in his attendance upon the sick he successfully rescued the peo- ple from disease, and administered to them peace and gladness. These eight hundred descensions being all ended, he made still eight hundred more, and throughout all places from hades to earth he ex- ercised universal beneficence, expounded all abstruse doctrines, eluci- dated the spiritual literature, magnanimously promulged abroad the correct renovating ethics, gave glory to the widely spread merits of the gods, assisted the nation, and saved the people.

After the above had terminated, he again descended eight hundred times to earth, and though men destroyed his body and put an end to his earthly existence, yet he patiently bore it all, even parting with his own blood and flesh. Thus in the dissemination of his holy prin- ciples, he made three thousand two hundred visitations to earth, and became the first of the verified golden genii, and was denominated

pure and immaculate one, self-existing, of highest intelligence. In the records of Chintsung of the Sung dynasty, it is stated that in the seventh year and ninth moon of the reign of Tachung tseäng foo, his majesty addressing himself to his privy ministers, said, I have

the