Gazetteer of the Twenty-four Dioceses [1]

By Franciscus Verellen
Ecole française d’Extrême-Orient

A. Superior Dioceses

A1 Yangping zhi 陽平治

Localization: Xinxing 新興, Pengxian 彭縣, in the Chengdu plain. The diocese was moved to Hanzhong 漢中 (cf. C2 Jinkou zhi) under Zhang Lu 張魯. [2] Notable legends or features: Important site in the mythology concerning the kings of pre-historic Shu. Yangping zhi was also known as the Successor Diocese, Sishi zhi 嗣師治, because the succession from Zhang Daoling to Zhang Heng was said to have taken place here. Chief diocese and seat of the Heavenly Master.

A2 Lutang zhi 鹿堂治

Localization: Zundao chang 遵道場, Mianzhu 綿竹, in the Chengdu plain. Notable legends or features: Place of ascensions in antiquity. Zhang Daoling swore the oath of the Zhengyi mengwei 正一盟威 covenant with the assembled gods and demons here in AD 155, prior to his own ascension at C1 Yuntai zhi. Archaeology: Discoveries in the 1970s of Warring States boat coffins and Ba 巴 bronze weapons.

A3 Heming zhi 鶴鳴治

Localization: At Mt. Heming 鶴鳴山 in Yuelai 悅來, Dayi 大邑,on the western edge of the Chengdu plain. Notable legends or features: The founding site of Heavenly Master Taoism. All early sources agree that Zhang Daoling first settled here after moving to Shu. Laozi’s disciple Yin Xi 尹喜 presides over the site. Archaeology: Han period Taoist bronze seal with Ba-style inscription, discovered 1993.

A4 Liyuan zhi 漓沅治

Localization: At Mt. Liyuan 漓沅山, Bailu chang 白鹿場, Pengxian 彭縣, in the Chengdu plain. Notable legends or features: Adjacent to A2 Lutang shan. Drugs of immortality found here. The immortal Fan Li 范蠡 (fl. 496-465 BC) presides.

A5 Gegui zhi 葛璝治

Localization: At Mt. Gegui 葛璝山, Wannian xiang 萬年鄉, Pengxian 彭縣, Chengdu plain. Notable legends or features: Today also named Ge xian shan 葛仙山. Site of a major silkworm market under the Tang; temple fairs. Adjacent to Liyuan shan.

A6 Gengchu zhi 更除治

Localization: Mianyuan 綿遠, Mianzhu 綿竹, Chengdu plain. Notable legends or features: The immortal Zhang Li 張力 attained the Way here.

A7 Qinzhong zhi 秦中治

Localization: Mengjia 孟家, Deyang, Chengdu plain. Notable legends or features: The fangshi Han Zhong 韓眾 received a celestial writ here and ascended into heaven.

A8 Zhenduo zhi 真多治

Localization: Huopen shan 火盆山, Jintang, on the Tuojiang 沱江 river in the Chengdu plain. Notable legends or features: Named after Li Zhenduo 李真多, sister of the immortal Li Babai 李八百. Site in the legend of Bieling 鱉靈, mythical king of ancient Shu. Fungi and divine drugs. Archaeology: Excavation of Taoist objects (mirror, seal, and others), dating from the Han to the Song, in 1985.

B. Middle Dioceses

B1 Changli zhi 昌利治

Localization: Mt. Changli 昌利山, Qixian 栖賢, Jintang 金堂, in the Chengdu plain. Also known as Sanxue shan 三學山. Notable legends or features:Retreat of the immortal Li Babai 李八百, site of his alchemical experiments. Large grotto, Three Dragon Gate 三龍門, with inscription. Drugs and fungi.

B2 Lishang zhi 隸上治

Localization: Shoufeng 壽豐, Deyang 德陽, Chengdu plain. Notable legends or features:Master Jizi 季子, i.e. the Former Han diviner Sima Jizhu 司馬季主, presides here. Various immortals ascended from this site. Caverns, magic well.

B3 Yongquan zhi 涌泉治

Localization: Bolong zhen 伯隆鎮, Deyang 德陽, Chengdu plain. Notable legends or features: The Later Han immortal and alchemist Ma Mingsheng 馬明生 ascended here in AD 180. Manifestation of Laojun. The spring, also called lingquan 靈泉, produces holy water with healing power.

B4 Choujing zhi 稠稉治

Localization: Five km south of Xinjin 新津 city, Xinjin county, Chengdu plain. Notable legends or features: Residence of Xuanyuan 軒轅, the Yellow Emperor; drugs for nourishing vitality and attaining immortality. Early site of Laozi worship, with an important Laozi temple. Archaeology: site of Han cliff carvings and carved funerary bricks.

B5 Beiping zhi 北平治

Localization: Between the towns of Gongyi 公義 and Baosheng 保勝 in Pengshan Pengshan 彭山 county. Notable legends or features: Pond, drugs of longevity. Pengzu 彭祖 practiced longevity arts and the Han immortal Wangzi Qiao 王子喬 is said to have ascended here (among other places). According to one version (Yizhou ji 益州記), Zhang Daoling himself attained immortality here. Archaeology: Taoist bronze seal, discovered in the tenth century.

B6 Benzhu zhi 本竹治

Localization: Wenfeng shan 文峰山, Dengshuang 鄧雙, Xinjin 新津, between the dioceses B4 Choujing and B5 Beiping. Notable legends or features: Named after a bamboo grove planted there by the Yellow Emperor, providing “bamboo for sweeping the sacred area.” The Han immortal Guo Zisheng 郭子聲 ascended here.

B7 Mengqin zhi 蒙秦治

Localization: Lushan 瀘山,Xichang city 西昌市, in what is now the Liangshan Yi 涼山彝 Autonomous District in Southern Sichuan. Notable legends or features: Retreat of the Shang immortal Yi Yin 伊尹; drugs of immortality; residence of Zhao Sheng 趙昇. Archaeology: Site of continuous high civilization from the Shang to the Han periods.

B8 Pinggai zhi 平蓋治

Localization: Either Luzhou 瀘州 in Southern Sichuan or Xinjin 新津 in the Chengdu plain, depending on sources. [3] Notable legends or features: Jade statue, Han stone sculpture of Xi wang mu 西王母. Further sculpture of Cui Xiaotong 崔孝通 who ascended here. Jade Maiden Spring 玉女泉.

C. Lesser Dioceses

C1 Yuntai zhi 雲臺治

Localization: Yuntai village 雲臺鄉, between Cangqi 蒼溪 and Langzhong, on the Northern rim of the Sichuan basin. Notable legends or features: Major site of ancient Ba culture. Early cult of immortals, alchemy. Site of the last of the seven trials to which Zhang subjected his disciples. Zhang Daoling is said to have ascended here in AD 156, together with his wife and leading disciples Zhao Sheng 趙昇 and Wang Chang 王長. Master Gourd (Hu gong 壺公) and several later Taoists (Ge Hong 葛洪, Chen Tuan  陳摶), were associated with this place. Archaeology: Early Taoist seal, excavated in 1985.

C2 Jinkou zhi 濜口治

Localization: Mianxian 勉縣 in Hanzhong 漢中, Shaanxi. After the move to Hanzhong, A1 Yangping zhi was transferred to this site. Notable legends or features: The immortal Chen Anshi 陳安世 ascended here.

C3 Houcheng zhi 後城治

Localization: Originally seventy km south of Nanzheng 南鄭 in Hanzhong 漢中, Shaanxi. Under the Jin, the diocese moved with Hanzhong refugees to Luoshui zhen 洛水鎮, Shifang 什邡, in the Chengdu plain. Notable legends or features: Immortal Nuan Ziran 暖自然 ascended here. Di Qiang peoples who adhered to the Heavenly Master movement from an early date inhabited the territory of Nanzheng. Archaeology: Shifang, major site of Warring States boat coffins, discovered between 1988 and 1995. Li Bing 李冰 cult.

C4 Gongmu zhi 公慕治

Localization: originally between Hanshan qu 漢山區, Nanzheng 南鄭 in Hanzhong 漢中, Shaanxi, and Nanjiang xian 南江縣 in Sichuan. Like C3 Houcheng zhi, this diocese was moved with Hanzhong refugees to Luoshui zhen 洛水鎮, Shifang 什邡, in the Chengdu plain under the Jin. Notable legends or features: Li Bing 李冰 cult (tomb, ascension). Cult of the Han immortal Tang Gongfang 唐公房.

C5 Pinggang zhi 平剛治

Localization: Original site at Lushan xian 蘆山縣 in the Yaan diqu 雅安地區 district, in the territory of the Qingyi Qiang 青衣羌 people to the Southwest of Chengdu. From the Tang onward, the diocese is localized at Xinjin 新津 in the Chengdu plain. Also known as Lingquan zhi 靈泉治. Notable legends or features: The Han immortal Li A 李阿 ascended here. The mythical Shu king Du Yu 杜宇 is said to have been based in this area. Archaeology: The Heavenly Master inscription Jijiu Zhang Pu bei 祭酒張普碑 (AD 173) was unearthed at nearby Hongya 洪雅.

C6 Zhubu zhi 主簿治

Localization: Changqiu shan 長秋山 at Tianhua xiang 天華鄉, Pujiang 蒲江. Notable legends or features: The Han archivist (zhubu) Wang Xing 王興 practiced self-cultivation and ascended here, hence the name. The female immortal Yang Zhengjian 楊正見 also ascended at this place.

C7 Yuju zhi 玉局治

Localization: Near the old South Gate in the city of Chengdu. Notable legends or features: Lord Lao appeared to Zhang Daoling in AD 155 here, descending on a white deer or crane, while a throne surged from the ground for his predication. The throne’s disappearance after Laojun’s departure left a grotto.

C8 Beimang zhi 北邙治

Localization: uncertain— Chang’an 長安, Luoyang 洛陽, or sites in Sichuan. Notable legends or features: The immortal Wu Chengzi 務成子 ascended here.