It can be seen that Taoism was once popular in Chinese history. Even today, Taoist culture has been integrated into folk culture in many places, and many ideas that Taoism attaches importance to are also highly respected. In our eyes, Taoist priests are a group of elegant hermits, with the demeanor of saints. They have no fixed place to live, running around, trying to save lives. Because Taoism has always paid attention to self-cultivation, there have been many famous longevity Taoist priests in history. Li Chengyu, the 24th generation disciple of the Xuanmen Sect in Wudang Mountain, is one of them. Born in Guangxu period, he lived to 1 18 years old until his death.
In the 10th year of Guangxu (1885), Nathan Scott Lee was born into a ruined merchant family in Yunyang House at the foot of Wudang Mountain and beside the Han River in Hubei Province. Born in such a family, Li Chengyu had a hard life since childhood. When she was six years old, her father betrothed her to a local squire as the child bride of his second wife. Because of his poor family, he is often bullied by big houses. At the age of seventeen, Li Chengyu, who was slim and graceful, married her husband, and their married life was fairly happy. Although I still have to be squeezed out by the big house, fortunately, my husband still feels sorry for her, so life is still passable.
The good times didn't last long. Li Chengyu, who just got married, contracted tuberculosis. At first, her husband's family also sought medical treatment for her everywhere. However, Li Chengyu's illness did not improve, but he spent a lot of money. Over time, her husband's family was unwilling to spend money to treat her. In desperation, Li Chengyu plans to go to Wudang Mountain to pray for God to eliminate evil. God won't close one door, but he will open another. In Wudang Mountain, Li Chengyu met Zhang, a Taoist priest of Wudang Mountain. Historically, Taoism was famous for its alchemy and pharmacy. Most Taoist priests know some medical skills, but Zhang really cured her. Li Chengyu thought that Zhang was kind and wanted to repay him, so he became a monk and became a Taoist in Wudang Mountain. He was accepted as the 24th generation disciple by the Xuanmen Sect of Wudang Mountain and practiced in Yuxu Palace of Wudang Mountain.
After that, Li Chengyu bid farewell to worldly troubles, devoted himself to studying Taoism, and spent one spring and autumn in Yuxu Palace. In the 1950s and 1960s, when New China was just founded, many Taoist priests in Wudang Mountain were returning to the secular world. However, Li Chengyu insisted on staying in the Taoist temple and continuing his practice.
1989 Winter, Wudang Wonderland is covered with ice and snow. Li Chengyu accidentally slipped on an outing, broke his right hip and was unfortunately paralyzed. After that, Nathan Scott Lee was once depressed. At this time, it was her teacher Zhang who gave her a longevity stick and taught her how to stick it. In this way, even after paralysis, Li Chengyu quickly recovered from the fatal blow of life, and realized the Tao in the mountains day after day and year after year.
On February 13, 2003, Li Chengyu knew that her time was coming, so she asked her disciples to dress and scrub for her. After all, Li Chengyu looked at the snowflakes outside the window and read "Jing Jing" and "Message". After watching, Li Chengyu's eyes slowly dimmed. I only heard Li Chengyu whisper to his disciples and himself, "I'll go too ...". At 5 o'clock in the morning, sitting on the couch, 1 18 years old became immortal.
Li Chengyu practiced in Wudang Mountain for 90 years, from shaving to becoming a monk to dying in Taoist temple. Born in Guangxu period, this longevity Taoist experienced a legendary life. In the eyes of many people, 90 years is long enough to witness the changes of the times. But maybe in Li Chengyu's eyes, 90 years is very short, so short that he only knows his own life. Life lies in practice.