Taoist sorcerer
Li Shao-chün ?- 133 B.C.E.; Taoist sorcerer (fang-shih) who declared the aim of the Taoist path to be the attainment of immortality by alchemical methods. He himself claimed to be immortal and to have visited the isles of the immortals (P’eng-lai, Ying-chou, Fang chang). He also knew prescriptions for prolonging life, performed hygiene exercises, and abstained from eating grain (pi-ku). In addition, he introduced the veneration of the deity of the hearth (Tsao-chün). He died of an illness. Taoist literature records his death as the first example of a separation from the corpse (shih-chieh).
In 133 B.C.E. Li Shao-chiin persuaded the emperor Han Wu-ti to permit experiments, the aim of which consisted in transforming cinnabar into gold. These were the first recorded alchemical experiments in the history of mankind. The transformed cinnabar, however, was not ingested, as was the case later. Instead it was fashioned into crockery. Anyone eating from such crockery would enjoy a long life (but not immortality) and behold the immortals of the isles of P’eng lai. Li promised the emperor immortality, if, upon beholding the hsien, he were to perform certain sacrifices.
According to Li Shao-chün cinnabar could not be transformed into gold without the help of Tsao-chün, the hearth deity. These alchemical practices thus marked the beginning of the cult of the hearth deity, which continues to this day.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion: Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Zen. Shambhala Publications, Inc.
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