| | 薊子訓: |
薊達，字子訓，齊國臨淄人，李少君之邑人也。少仕州郡，舉孝廉，除郎中，又從軍拜駙馬都尉。晚悟治世俗綜理官無益於年命也，乃從少君學治病作醫法，漸久，見少君有不死之道，遂以弟子之禮事少君而師焉。少君亦以子訓用心專，知可成就，漸漸告之以道家事，因教令胎息胎食住年止白之法，行之二百余年，顏色不老。 |
| | Ji Da, courtesy name Zixun, was a native of Linzi, Qi Guo; he was a fellow townsman of Li Shaojun. He began his career in the state and commandery offices, was recommended as a filial and upright official, appointed as Langzhong, and later joined the military and was conferred the title of Fuma Duwei. Later, he realized that managing worldly affairs and holding official positions were of no benefit to longevity, so he followed Shaojun to study medical methods for treating illnesses. After some time, he observed that Shaojun possessed the way to immortality, and thus treated Shaojun with the respect due a teacher, becoming his disciple. Shaojun also recognized that Zixun was devoted and focused, knowing he could be cultivated, so gradually instructed him in Daoist matters. He then taught him the methods of fetal breathing, internal nourishment, halting aging, and preventing graying hair. Practicing these for more than two hundred years, his appearance did not show signs of aging.
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| | 薊子訓: |
在鄉裏與人信讓從事，性好清凈，常閑居讀《易》，時作小小文疏，皆有意義。少君晚又授子訓無常子大幻化之術，按事施行，皆效。曾見比舍家抱一兒，從求抱之，失手而隨地，即死，其家素尊敬之，不敢有悲哀之色而埋之，謂此兒命應不成人，行已積日，轉不能復，思之，子訓因還外抱兒還家，家人恐是鬼，乞不復用，子訓曰：「但取，無苦，故是汝兒也。」兒識其母，喜笑欲往母，乃取之，意猶不了，子訓既去，夫婦共往掘視所埋死兒窆器中，有泥兒長六寸許耳，此兒遂長大。又諸老人發必白者，子訓但與之對坐共語，宿昔之間，則明旦皆發黑矣，亦無所施為，為黑可期一年二百日也；亦復有不使人發黑者，蓋神幻之大變者也。 |
| | In his hometown, he interacted with people in a trustworthy and yielding manner. By nature, he preferred tranquility and often spent his leisure time reading the Yijing. Occasionally, he composed short essays or commentaries, all of which carried meaningful insights. In his later years, Shaojun also taught Zixun the techniques of the Great Illusory Transformation of the Unchanging Child. When applied in practice, they all proved effective. He once saw a neighbor holding an infant, who was handed to him for a moment. The child slipped from his hands and fell to the ground, dying instantly. Since the family had always held great respect for Zixun, they did not show sorrow when burying the child, believing that the child's fate was never meant to live long. Several days passed, and the child showed no sign of returning or reviving. Thinking about it, Zixun went outside and brought back an infant from elsewhere, returning it to the family. The family feared it might be a ghost and begged him not to use it again. Zixun said, "Just take it; there is no need for worry. It is indeed your child." The child recognized his mother, smiled happily and wished to go toward her, so they took him. Still uncertain in their minds, after Zixun had left, the parents went together to dig up the coffin where the dead child had been buried. Inside, they found only a clay-like object about six cun long. The returned child then grew up normally. Other elderly people whose hair was turning white would simply sit and converse with Zixun. Within a short time, by the next morning their hair would turn black again; no special actions were taken. The effect could be expected to last for about 200 days in a year. There were also instances where Zixun did not cause someone's hair to turn black, which was considered a great transformation of divine illusion.
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| | 薊子訓: |
京師貴人聞之，莫不虛心欲見子訓，而無緣致之。子訓比居有年少為太學生，於是諸貴人共呼語之：「卿所以勤苦讀書者，欲以課試規富貴耳。但為吾一致薊子訓來，能使卿不勞而達。」書生許諾，乃歸，就事子訓，朝夕灑掃，立侍左右，如此且二百日，子訓語書生曰：「卿非學道者，何能如此？」書生曰：「忝鄉裏末流，長幼之道自當爾。」子訓曰：「何以不道實而作虛飾邪？吾以具知卿意，諸貴人欲得見我，我亦何惜一行之勞而不使卿得榮位乎？便可還語諸人，吾某月某日當往。」書生甚喜，到京師，具向諸貴人說此意。到期日，子訓未行，書生父母憂之，往視子訓，子訓曰：「恐我不行也，不使卿兒失信，當發以食時去所居。」書生父母相謂曰：「薊先生雖不如期至，要是往也，定後日。」書生歸，推計之，子訓以其日中時到京師，是不能半日行千余裏。既至，書生往見之子訓，子訓問書生曰：「誰欲見我者？」書生曰：「欲見先生者甚多，不敢枉屈，但乞知先生所止，自當來也。」子訓曰：「不須使來，吾尚千余裏來寧，復與諸人計此邪？卿今日使人人盡語之，使各絕賓客，吾日中當往，臨時自當擇所先詣。」書生如其言語貴人，貴人各灑掃，到日中子訓往。凡二十三處，便有二十三子訓，各往一處，諸貴人各各喜，自謂子訓先詣之。定明日相參同，同時各有一子訓，其衣服顏色皆如一，而論說隨主人諮問，各各對答不同耳。主人竝為設酒食之具，以餉子訓，皆各家家盡禮飲食之。於是遠近大驚，諸貴人竝欲詣之。子訓謂書生曰：「諸人謂我當有重瞳八采，故欲見我，我亦無所道，我不復往便爾，去矣！」適出門，諸貴人冠蓋塞道，到門。書生言：適去東陌上乘青騾者是也。於是各各走馬逐之，望見其騾徐徐而行，各走馬逐之不及，如此行半日，而常相去一裏許，不可及也，乃各罷還。 |
| | The noble and influential people in the capital heard about him, and none failed to feel eager to meet Zixun with humility, yet no opportunity presented itself. Zixun once lived with a young man who was a Taixuesheng. At that time, the noble officials together called out to him and said: "The reason you work hard at your studies is simply to pass examinations and attain wealth and rank." "Just bring Ji Zixun here for me, and he will enable you to achieve wealth and honor without effort." The scholar accepted the offer and returned, then began serving Zixun by sweeping and cleaning day and night, standing attentively at his side. After about two hundred days, Zixun said to the scholar: "You are not one who seeks the Dao; how could you endure this?" The scholar replied: "I am but a humble member of my hometown's lower ranks, and it is only proper to observe the etiquette of respect for elders." Zixun said: "Why do you not speak the truth but instead offer empty flattery?" Zixun said: "I already know your true intentions. The noble officials wish to see me, and I would not hesitate to make a single journey for the sake of granting you honor and position." Zixun said: "You may return and inform them that on a certain day of a certain month, I shall go to see them." The scholar was very pleased. Upon arriving in the capital, he fully conveyed this message to the noble officials. On the appointed day, Zixun had not yet set out. The scholar's parents became anxious and went to see him. Zixun said: "I fear I may not go after all. To prevent your son from breaking his word, I shall leave my home at mealtime." The scholar's parents said to each other: "Although Master Ji did not arrive on the appointed day, he is still going; it will surely be the next day." The scholar returned and calculated that Zixun had arrived in the capital at midday on that day, which meant he could not have traveled more than a thousand li in half a day. After arriving, the scholar went to see Zixun. Zixun asked the scholar: "Who is it that wishes to see me?" The scholar said: "Many people wish to meet you, but they dare not trouble you. They only ask for the place where you are staying, and will come of their own accord." Zixun said: "There is no need for them to come. I have already traveled more than a thousand li here; would I now bother with such matters for others?" Zixun said: "You should now inform everyone, telling them all to stop receiving guests. At midday today, I shall go there myself and at the time will choose which person to visit first." The scholar conveyed Zixun's words to the noble officials, and each of them prepared by sweeping and tidying their homes. On midday, Zixun arrived. There were a total of twenty-three places, and suddenly there appeared twenty-three Zixuns, each going to one location. The noble officials at each place rejoiced, believing that Zixun had come especially to visit them first. On the following day, they met together to verify the matter. At the same time, there was one Zixun at each location; their clothing and colors were exactly alike, yet in response to questions from their respective hosts, each gave different answers tailored to the individual. The hosts all prepared banquets and food offerings for Zixun, each household treating him with full courtesy and hospitality. At this, people near and far were greatly astonished, and all the noble officials wished to visit him in person. Zixun said to the scholar: "These people think I must have a double pupil and eight-colored eyes, so they wish to see me. But there is nothing special about me; if I do not go again, I will leave!" Just as he stepped out the door, the noble officials arrived in such numbers that their carriages and retinues blocked the road, reaching all the way to his gate. The scholar said: "Just now, the man riding a green donkey on the eastern path was he." Each noble official then rode off in pursuit. They saw the donkey moving slowly ahead and chased after it, but could not catch up. In this way they followed for half a day, always remaining about one li behind, unable to overtake him. Eventually, each gave up and returned.
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| | 薊子訓: |
子訓既少君鄉裏弟子，微密謹慎，思證道奧，隨時明匠，將足甄綜眾妙矣。 |
| | Zixun was a fellow townsman and disciple of Shaojun, discreet and cautious in nature. He earnestly sought to comprehend the profound mysteries of the Dao, learning from capable mentors whenever possible; thus, he had fully mastered the essential principles and refined techniques of cultivation.
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