The 30th generation of Daoist priests, Zhang Jixian (1092–1128), style name Jiawen, courtesy name Xu Jing, was exceptionally intelligent from an early age and good at answering poems. At the time, there was talk of a “prodigy”. According to the Taoist history book “Longhu Shanzhi”, he was born in Menggu'an in the seventh year of Yuanyou. At the age of five, he stopped speaking. One day, when he heard the rooster crow, he suddenly smiled and composed a poem: “The rooster has five virtues: its crown and wattles never leave its body. At the fifth watch, it opens its mouth wide, waking the dreamer.” The next day, he sat in meditation on a lotus flower, and everyone was surprised.
In the third year of the Chongning reign period of the Song Dynasty, the Taoist priest Xu Jing was summoned to Beijing to meet Emperor Huizong of Song. When he arrived at the Hall of Supreme Glory, the prime minister and the empress each offered a cup of fragrant tea to greet him. As the Taoist priest was using his left and right hands to respectfully receive the fragrant tea, the emperor followed suit and offered a cup of fragrant tea as well. According to the rules, to respectfully receive the emperor's fragrant tea, both hands must be used to show respect. However, he had already received two cups of tea with both hands. How could he receive the emperor's cup of tea with both hands in this situation? Master Xu Jing immediately used qigong to suspend the two cups of tea from the prime minister and the empress, and then used both hands to respectfully receive the emperor's cup of tea. Song Huizong witnessed Master Xu Jing's stunt and praised him on the spot, saying, “Master Xu Jing, your skills are truly impressive and your reputation is well-deserved.” After taking his seat, Emperor Huizong hosted a banquet in his honor. After three rounds of wine, Huizong took the opportunity to ask, “You live on Longhu Mountain, have you ever seen a dragon or a tiger?” With this question, Huizong wanted to test Master Xu Jing's literary talent and see how he would respond. Because dragons are mythical creatures that do not exist in the universe, if Master Xu Jing answered that he had seen a dragon, it would be untrue. If he answered that he had not seen a dragon, why was the mountain named Longhu Mountain? The Taoist priest replied tactfully: “Tigers live in the mountains, so I see them often. Today is the first time I see a dragon!” He compared Emperor Huizong to a dragon king, and this flattery won Huizong's favour. He instructed the ministers to thank the Taoist priest and reward him generously.
(Originally published in “Chinese Taoism” 2004, No. 1)
第 30代天师张继先(1092—1128)，字嘉闻，赐号虚靖先生，自幼聪敏过人，善于题诗答对，当时有“神童”之说。据道教史书《龙虎山志》记载：元佑七年生于蒙谷庵，五岁不言，一日闻鸡鸣，忽失笑赋诗曰：‘灵鸡有五德，冠距不离身，五更张大口，唤醒梦中人"。翌日，宴坐碧莲花上，人皆异之”。
宋崇宁三年，虚靖天师奉诏进京谒见宋徽宗，当他行至金銮殿前，宰相和正宫娘娘各献一杯香茶迎接，虚靖天师正在用左右手恭接香茶时，徽宗皇帝接着也敬献一杯香茗。按规定，恭接皇帝的香茗，必须用双手，才能表达尊敬之礼。可是，双手已经接到两杯香茶，在这种情况下怎能恭接皇帝的香茗呢?虚靖天师立即运用气功，将宰相和正宫娘娘的两杯茶悬空一吊，然后用双手恭接皇帝的香茗。宋徽宗目睹虚靖天师这一绝技，当场称赞曰：“先生真功，名不虚传”。入坐后，徽宗设宴招待，酒至三巡，徽宗趁兴问曰：“卿居龙虎山，曾见龙虎否?”徽宗这一问，想考考虚靖天师的文才，看着他如何对答。因为龙是神话中的动物，宇宙间是没有的，虚靖天师如果答见龙，那是不符合事实的，倘若答不见龙，为何又取名龙虎山呢?虚靖天师巧妙地答道：“居山虎则常见，今日始睹龙颜!”他把徽宗比作龙颜天子，这一阿谀奉承，博得徽宗喜上眉头，指示文武百臣向虚靖天师道谢，并大加奖赏。
（原载《中国道教》 2004年第1期）