重脩白雲觀碑記
The Tablet Records on the Renovations of White Cloud Monastery
From the introductory material of the Dragon Gate’s Core Methods 龍門心法 Vol.1 (Purple Cloud Press forthcoming)：
The Tablet Records on the Renovations of White Cloud Monastery (Chongxiu Baiyunguan Beiji 重脩白雲觀碑記) is originally attributed to Wang Changyue in 1706 and re-carved in 1886, and one of the few literary remnants left behind by Wang Changyue besides his three text, The Dragon Gate’s Core Methods, The Altar Scripture of the Jasper Garden, and The Precepts and Statues of the Initial Truth:
粵自唐堯垂統，廟額始傳，載諸祀典禮也。白雲觀在都城西南三里許，乃長春邱真人藏蛻之所。創自元太祖時，慕真人高誼，遣近臣劉仲祿聘召。
From [the period of the emperors] Tang and Yao passing on their rules, [the usage of] horizontal inscribed boards began to spread in temples, where they documented various types of libation sacrificial ceremonies. The White Cloud Monastery is located about three li southwest of the capital city, and it is the place where the Realized One Changchun Qiu [Chuji] went into seclusion and shed [his shell]. It was first established/founded during the time of the Progenitor of the Yuan [Dynasty], who admired the lofty character of the Realized One and dispatched his trusted official Liu Zhonglu to extend [Qiu] an invitation.
至庚辰年，抵燕召見，賜坐就食。問至道，與談累日，不過持盈守成，敬天愛民，節欲保躬，天道好生惡殺，治尚無爲清靜之理數語。特賜號神仙，進爵大宗師，掌管天下道教事。
By the year geng chen, [Qiu] arrived in Yan, where he was summoned to meet [the khan], and he was granted a seat and food. [The khan] inquired [Qiu] about the ultimate dao and conversed with him for a few days. [Qiu] spoke exclusively about the principes of preserving abundance and safeguarding accomplishments of predecessors, respecting heaven and loving populace, and restraining desires to protect the body; in addition, as the heavenly dao is fond of life and abhors killings, [the ruler should] esteem to govern with non-action, purity, and stillness. [Qiu] was conferred the distinguished appellation of ‘Spirit Immortal’ and bestowed the nobility title of Grandmaster, in charge of all affairs of the Daoist religion under the heavens.
-Tablet Records on the Renovations of White Cloud Monastery 重脩白雲觀碑記
Image: White Cloud Monastery
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