Chanjiao

Yuanshi Tianzun founded the Chan Sect at Yuxu Palace on Mount Kunlun, taking in the Twelve Golden Immortals, Nanji Xianweng, Yunzhongzi and other disciples.

The Twelve Golden Immortals took disciples of their own: Yang Jian entered Yuding Zhenren’s gate at the Jinxia Cave on Mount Yuquan, and Nezha, Jinzha and Muzha entered those of Taiyi Zhenren, Wenshu Guangfa Tianzun and Puxian Zhenren.

Jiang Ziya studied the Dao on Mount Kunlun for forty years, and Yuanshi Tianzun sent him down to Western Qi to serve Ji Chang and Ji Fa and help Zhou against King Zhou.

Jiang Ziya went first to Chaoge, then left the Shang capital for Western Qi. He met Ji Chang by the River Wei, was brought into Western Qi as chancellor, and the third generation of Chan disciples came down one after another to the camp.

Wen Zhong called the Ten Heavenly Lords to set out the Ten Absolutes outside Western Qi, and the Twelve Golden Immortals gathered at the reed pavilion. Randeng assigned them formation by formation, and Guangchengzi, Chijingzi, Wenshu, Puxian and Cihang entered in turn.

Zhao Gongming wounded Chan disciples one after another with the Sea-Stilling Pearls, and the Three Xiao then set out the Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation and took all twelve into it. Laozi and Yuanshi broke it themselves, and only then did the Golden Immortals wake on the ground.

After Huoling Shengmu wounded Jiang Ziya at Jiameng Pass, Guangchengzi killed her with the Sky-Overturning Seal and picked up her golden coronet. He went three times into the Biyou Palace to return it, the Jie disciples chased him outside, and the quarrel between the two sects reached Tongtian himself.

Guangchengzi and the others were then ordered to Jiepai Pass to take the four swords Zhuxian, Luxian, Xianxian and Juexian, helping Yuanshi, Laozi, Jieyin and Zhunti break the Zhuxian Formation.

Before the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, Yuanshi reassigned the four swords, giving one each to Guangchengzi, Chijingzi, Yuding Zhenren and Daoxing Tianzun with orders to charge as soon as the pagoda rose before the eight-trigram terrace.

In the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation the pagoda rose, the four swords were raised together, and the Chan disciples engaged the Jie disciples fighting for Shang.

After Shang fell, Jiang Ziya climbed the investiture terrace by order and enfeoffed the fallen. Li Jing, Jinzha, Muzha, Nezha, Yang Jian, Weihu and Lei Zhenzi were not on the roll and took their leave of King Wu when the war was over.

After Hongjun had quieted the quarrel of the Three Pure Ones, Laozi, Yuanshi and the Twelve Golden Immortals left the field. The Buddhist identities of Wenshu, Puxian and Cihang were carried forward by later accounts from the title of “the three great ones” at the end of Investiture of the Gods.