I want to go to the state of Qin and the western regions, and I must pass through Hangu Pass. Another way of saying this is great diversion. Hangu Pass was probably originally located in today's Lingbao County, Henan Province, and later it was moved to today's Xin 'an County, Henan Province. The two mountains face each other here, with a path in the middle. Because the Tao is in the valley, it is deep and dangerous, and it seems to be in the letter, so it is named Hanguguan.
The head of the customs guard is Yin, who is called Guan Ling Yin. On this day, he stood on the gate and watched, only to see a purple gas coming from the valley in the east of Ran Ran. Xi is a man with profound cultivation and knowledge. As soon as he saw this weather, he thought, there is a saint coming! Only a saint can have such a cloud. Today, there must be saints passing by my city. I don't know who it is. Not long after, I saw a man with extraordinary personality and sage like type riding a green cow and slowly coming to the pass. It's Lao Tzu! Guan Lingyin Xi knew that he was going to fly away, so he must let this most famous thinker leave his wisdom, so he pestered him to write some works as a condition for him to go through the customs.
Of course I don't want to, but I won't let Yin pass unless I promise to. He won't give you a passport and visa! I have no choice, so I have to agree to these conditions. Besides, I promised him for another reason. According to Records of Historical Records, Guan Ling ordered Yin to be "good at learning the stars", so he could see astronomical phenomena, stars and clouds, and knew he was a saint when he saw purple gas floating. Even if we see this purple gas, we can't read it. It is said that Xi himself has a book called Guan Zi Ling. I also admire this wise man who "takes its essence and hides its benevolence" and "knows its wonders", so I have a feeling of meeting my bosom friend and let me write a book for him. What a pleasure it is to write for a bosom friend?
At that time, I meditated and wrote his wisdom word for word on bamboo slips. I wrote the first part, and then the next part, which is said to have been written for a few days. I wrote a number, * * * with 5000 words, named Tao Te Ching. The first book is called Tao Te Ching, and the second book is called Tao Te Ching, which is divided into 8 1 chapter. So an earth-shattering masterpiece "Five Thousand Words" was born! It is said that Xi was deeply intoxicated and attracted by such a wonderful book. He said to Lao Tzu, "After reading your book, I don't want to be a border officer anymore. I want to elope with you. " I smiled and agreed. It is said that Guan Ling Yin Xi really ran away with Lao Zi. Later, someone saw them together in quicksand in the western regions, and they all lived for a long time!
Laozi's going abroad has always been legendary and is interpreted with relish. Mr. Lu Xun also became interested in this, specially created a new story "Laozi Going through Customs", and also had a little pen-and-ink dispute with others. In addition, the "purple gas from the east" in Laozi's custom has also become a gene in China culture. The royal family regards "purple gas" as auspicious and auspicious things. You see, if purple gas fills the room when a child is born, the ancients thought that the child must have great prospects. People's homes also regard "purple gas" as a symbol of good luck, so words like "purple gas comes from the east" are written on the gate. Ancestors also believed that where there is treasure, there will be purple gas in the sky.
Interestingly, the "green cow" that Lao Zi rode also became a famous image in Taoist culture, and the green cow later became the mount of immortal Taoist priests. Later, "green cow" became synonymous with Laozi, and Laozi was also called "green cow teacher" and "green cow Weng". This green cow is also regarded as a god cow by people in Lao Tzu's hometown. It is said that Lao Tzu flew there by this green cow when he went through customs. There is also a wonderful legend.
Today, in the northeast corner of Luyi County, Henan Province, Lao Zi's hometown, there is also a high platform about 13 meters, which is called "Laojuntai" and "Shengsentai". There is a Laozi temple on the platform. There is an iron column with a thick bowl mouth buried in front of the temple, which is called "Mountain Whip". According to legend, when I was in my fifties, I gave lectures here. There are many roads from my home, and we all go through a mountain called "Yin-Yang Mountain". The mountain is very high and blocks the sun. There is no sun in the north of the mountain, and nothing grows in the snow and ice. The sun in the south of the mountain is like fire, crops are dying, and the people are miserable. Seeing all this, Lao Tzu wants to save the people, but he is willing but can't. Now I have flown over Hangu Pass on a green cow, knowing that I have become an immortal, and the green cow can speak human words, so I want to let the green cow fly back to my hometown to manage the mountain together. When I arrived at my hometown, I whipped the mountain, the top of which was cut off and flew to Shandong, becoming Mount Tai. Another whip, the mountainside arrived in Henan and became Pingdingshan. At this time, the tip of the whip was broken and the broken whip flew to Shanxi. When I saw that there was only one rod left in my whip, I stuck it in the ground. This is the origin of this iron crutch. Lao Tzu was beaten away by the green cow again, and the whip and stick stayed there forever. The people thanked Laozi for driving away the mountains, because the weather was good in Laozi's hometown from now on. The common people call the earthen platform where Laozi stood when he drove the mountain away with a whip "Climbing to Sendai" and the iron pillar on the ground "Driving the Mountain Whip". Tang Gaozu tang gaozu called Lao zi "the old gentleman on the throne" and called this platform "the old gentleman's platform". He also built a temple to offer sacrifices. How rich people's imaginations are! After reading this legend in my hometown, I feel that I am living among the people with flesh and blood! Laozi's culture is accumulated bit by bit, while China's profound culture is derived bit by bit and accumulated layer by layer.