During the Tang Dynasty, there were six kingdoms in the Er Lake area of Dali in Yunnan Province. Legend has it that the kings of these six kingdoms were six Yi brothers, and their ancestral home was the famous Taoist mountain Weibaoshan, south of the current Wēishān Yízú Huízú Zìzhìxiàn County. Weibao Mountain is a beautiful area with green mountains and clear water, full of tall pines and cypresses, ancient trees, mountain springs, singing birds and playful animals. The home of the six zhaowang is in a Yi village at the foot of Weibao Mountain, called Qianxin Village. The parents of the six Zhao kings, the patriarch and matriarch, were a hardworking and simple Yi couple. They toiled every day farming the land on Weishan (the ancient name of Weibaoshan), living a happy life. However, nearing the age of 60, the old couple still had no children. They were very distressed about this and hoped to have a child in their old age so that their lineage would continue.
It was the year the couple turned 60. One day, while the husband was farming the mountain, the wife prepared lunch and took it to him at noon. When he reached the halfway point of the mountain, a bearded man wearing a white robe with eight trigrams and a red lotus crown sat cross-legged on a large stone by the roadside, his right hand holding a goose feather fan and his left hand holding a white mosquito broom. He looked at her with a smile and begged for food. Seeing that the old man was starving, the goddess felt great sympathy for him. She put down her basket and took out her lunch, which she handed to the bearded man. “Please eat, teacher!” she said politely. The bearded man took the lunch and began to eat without any hesitation. The goddess sat down on the stone next to him and smiled as she watched the bearded man eat with relish. In no time at all, he had finished the entire meal. The bearded man returned the bowl and chopsticks to the matriarch, thanked her, then closed his eyes, held his feather fan in his hand, and began to chant. The matriarch did not want to disturb him, so after gathering up the bowl and chopsticks, she turned and walked back down the mountain, preparing to go home and cook lunch for her husband.
After the matriarch returned home, she quickly prepared lunch, gathered her things, and set off for Weishan for the second time. When she reached the mountainside, the bearded man was still sitting upright on the stone, and to his right was a middle-aged Taoist priest. When he saw her coming, the bearded man smiled and pointed to the Taoist priest next to him and said to her, “He is my disciple. He hasn't had breakfast yet. Do you have anything to eat?”
The old woman had a kind heart, and as soon as she heard that the Taoist priest had not yet had breakfast, she hurriedly took the food out of her basket and gave it to the Taoist priest. After the Taoist priest had finished eating, he happily packed up the bowl and chopsticks and went home to prepare lunch.
When the local arrived at the mountainside for the third time, the bearded man and the Taoist priest were still sitting on the same stone as before, and there was an additional middle-aged Taoist priest to the left of the bearded man. The bearded man saw her coming and pointed to the Taoist priest on the left and said to her, “He is my second disciple. He hasn't eaten yet. Do you have any food?”
Without saying a word, the matriarch again enthusiastically took out lunch and gave it to the Taoist priest. After the Taoist priest finished eating, he, the bearded man, and the Taoist priest who had arrived first, once again intently recited the sutra. The matriarch did not disturb them, quietly gathered up the bowls and chopsticks, picked up her basket, and walked down the mountain, going home to make another lunch for her husband.
As for the ancestor who farmed the mountains on Weishan, he looked up and saw that the sun was high in the sky, but his wife was nowhere to be seen. He was hungry and his stomach grumbled. He put down the plough several times, walked to the intersection and looked down the hill, but he never saw his wife. Finally, he simply unhitched the plough frame, herded the two yellow oxen to the edge of the field to eat grass, and then went to the intersection again, sat on the lawn, smoked a grass pipe, and looked down the hill. At that moment, he saw his wife carrying a basket on her back and hunched over, hurrying up the hill. When she got close, he said angrily, “The sun's about to set, and you're only bringing lunch now. What took you so long?”
Without saying a word, she knew that her husband was angry because she was late with lunch and was hungry. She quickly set the food on the lawn and served a bowl of rice to the ancestor.
The ancestor god received the bowl of rice and noticed that his wife's neck and face were covered in sweat, and her clothes were clinging to her body. He had never seen her late with the lunch before, and seeing her so tired today, he knew that something must have happened at home or on the way. So he asked his wife, “What's wrong? What happened?” So the ancestor god's wife told him everything that had happened on the way.
After hearing this, the ancestor master hurriedly put down his chopsticks and said in surprise, “You met immortals. The bearded man in the white robe and red lotus crown is Taishang Laojun. Those two Taoist priests are his disciples. The one on the right is called Zhang Taishi and the one on the left is called Li Taishi. Their statues are in the Three Masters Hall. We went to worship them last year and asked for blessings for our children. Hurry! We mustn't neglect them. Go down and see them.”
Upon hearing her husband's words, Ancestor Mother woke up from her daze and hurriedly prayed, “Lao Jun in the sky, please forgive me for not taking good care of them!” After finishing her prayer, she said to Ancestor Father with regret, “Where are we going to find them? They were already gone when I came up here.”
“I guess they didn't go far. Let's hurry up, and we'll see them again,” Ancestor Father said to his wife while tidying up the plow frame.
The sun had set behind the western hills, the evening glow coloring the peaks and ridges of the Weishan Mountains red. The returning forest was full of mountain tits jumping from branch to branch. The patriarch, carrying the ploughshare and leading the ox, and the matriarch, carrying a basket on her back, followed behind. When they reached the middle of the mountain, they looked up and saw three colorful clouds floating above a flat stone. The bearded old man was sitting cross-legged on the stone, his face glowing with red light. He was wearing a crown of red lotuses, holding a goose feather fan in his right hand and a white mosquito broom in his left. Standing to his left and right were two middle-aged Taoist priests dressed in grey robes: Li the Taoist priest and Zhang the Taoist priest.
The Bearded Hero smiled and said to the old couple, “May you live as long as the southern mountains and be as blessed as the East China Sea. Do you want to live a long life or enjoy blessings? Just say it, and I will grant your wish.”
The old couple were overjoyed to see Taishang Laojun sitting on the throne and talking to them, and they were speechless. They kept saying, ”We don't want anything. We are just a humble family, and we are content with a good harvest and peace and safety.”
Lao Jun saw that the old couple were honest and trustworthy, and said to them, “You have no children. I know your difficulties.” Then he took out six precious orbs and gave them to the ancestor god, saying, “From now on, your family line will continue, with sons and grandsons in abundance, and you will be hereditary kings.” While he was speaking, he used a goose feather fan to tap the handle of the ancestor god's plough thirteen times gently. Then he waved his hand in the air, and that day, colorful auspicious clouds immediately floated down and landed at the feet of Laojun and the two middle-aged Daoist priests. So the three of them slowly floated into the sky on the auspicious clouds.
The old couple saw this and hurriedly knelt on the ground, clasping their hands together and bowing to Laojun and the Daoist priests in the air to say goodbye. They didn't get up from the ground until they could no longer see their figures, and then they packed up their things and went home. After this, the matriarch suddenly became pregnant, and the following year she gave birth to two sons at once. The following year she was pregnant again, and again gave birth to two sons at once. In the fourth year, she was pregnant for the third time, and again gave birth to two sons at once. In just three afternoons, the matriarch gave birth to six sons, and the news spread like the spring breeze throughout the mountains and villages, far and wide. For a time, the house was full of people congratulating the couple, and the quiet mountain village was full of laughter. The two elderly founders of the clan were overjoyed.
It was truly a miraculous event. Whenever the founder's wife gave birth to two sons, the six orbs that Laojun had given to the founder would disappear by two. After the founder's wife gave birth to her sixth son, the six orbs that Laojun had given to the founder disappeared without a trace. Later, people realized that the six orbs Lao Jun gave the ancestor were actually immortal orbs, and they had reincarnated as the ancestor's six sons. The six sons grew up quickly and in no time at all they had all become young men. Each was strong and handsome, with a commanding presence and a distinguished air. Among the six sons, the eldest was especially intelligent and outstanding. He had bushy eyebrows and big eyes, and was exceptionally well-dressed. He could do anything at first glance, knew how to farm, was proficient in all the martial arts, and could recite the Four Books and Five Classics. The old couple especially loved him and gave him the nickname Xinuo.
At that time, the three counties of Weishan (formerly Menghua), Nanjian and Midu formed a large tribe, with the main camp in Midu and the Weishan and Nanjian counties as sub-camps. The tribal chief was named Zhang Lejinqiu, and he was a Bo people official appointed by the imperial court. At that time, there was an Iron Pillar Temple in Midu. Every year from the first to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Yi, Han and other ethnic groups from Midu, Weishan and Nanjian would go to worship at the Iron Pillar Temple. Legend has it that worshiping there could ward off disasters and diseases, bring prosperity to livestock, bumper harvests and population growth. What's more interesting is that the tribal leader Zhang Lejin sought an imperial edict, which stated: “Anyone who comes to worship at Tiezhumen, regardless of wealth or poverty, as long as they can worship the golden sparrow cast on the iron pillar, they will be allowed to take his place and marry his daughter.” The girl Zhang Lejin sought had a pair of intelligent and beautiful golden phoenix eyes and a good singing voice like a lark. When she sang folk songs, she could make the birds in the trees stop singing and listen to her. Her appearance and smile were so beautiful that even the moon goddess would feel ashamed to compare with her. She made many young men fall in love with her. Once the edict was issued, young men from all directions immediately gathered at Tie Zhu Temple. The stream of people worshipping at Tie Zhu Temple never stopped, but year after year, no one could knock the golden sparrow off the iron pillar.
The year Sinuola turned 18, which happened to be the peak year for worship at Tiezhumen Temple, he went to worship at the temple with his five younger brothers. On the first day of the first lunar month, the six brothers arrived at Tiezhumiao. As Sinuo Luo was just about to pay homage to the temple, the two goldfinches on the iron pillar suddenly flapped their wings a few times, chirped, and flew up together, circling once above Tiezhumiao before flying down. One landed on Sinuo Luo's right shoulder and the other on his left. The crowd of worshipers were all ecstatic, and they surrounded Xinuo on all sides. Yi young men played the sheng and the xiao, and Yi girls danced and sang joyful songs and dances to celebrate with him. The two goldfinches did not fly off Xinuo's shoulders until the 15th day of the first lunar month, when the fair ended. Zhang Lejin sought to fulfill his promise, summoned Xinuo, invited him to take over as king, and offered to marry his daughter to him. Xinuolu declined, but Zhang Lejin begged him again and again to take the throne. Xinuolu had no choice but to point to a large stone and swear, “If I am to be king, my sword will go into this stone.” So he raised his sword and slashed at the stone. Sparks flew as the sword cut the stone, and Xinuolu's sword went three inches into the stone. Xinuo Luo could not refuse anymore, so he took over the throne and chose a date to marry Zhang Lejin's daughter. Later, in order to commemorate Xinuo Luo's oath to become king, the people named a village in this area Mengshi Village, which is now the Mengshi Village of Miaojie Township in Weishan Yi and Hui Autonomous County. After Xinuo became king, he built a city and established a capital on the Yuyu Mountain in the Weishan area, naming it the Great Mong Kingdom (also known as the Mengshe Chao or Nanzhao), and calling himself King Qijia. He then often led troops to recover many scattered small tribes in the Erhai area of Dali, and divided them into five chao, namely the Dengzhao Chao, Shilang Chao, Langqiong Chao, Mengsong Chao and Yuexi Zhao, and appointed his five younger brothers as the kings of these five states according to their merits. He himself became the king of the Southern Zhao state. This is the famous story of the Six Zhao states in the Erhai area of Dali, Yunnan.
After Xinuo Luo ascended the throne, in order to repay the old man for bestowing the gift of making his six brothers kings, he built the Laojun Temple under the Laojun Meditation Stone on Weishan (Weibao Mountain). The temple is dedicated to Laojun, Zhang Tian Shi and Li Tian Shi, so that they can enjoy the incense of the world forever. The Laojun Temple still stands majestically in the middle of the front mountain of Weibao Mountain, welcoming tourists with its magnificent and exquisite architectural art.
After Xinuo's death, his descendants continued to be the kings of the Nanzhao Kingdom. It was his great-grandson Piroge who unified the other five kingdoms and established the Nanzhao Kingdom in the Erhai District of Dali. From the time when Xinuolu became the King of the Nanzhao Kingdom until its demise, he and his descendants ruled for 13 generations. It is said that this was because the Supreme Lord of the Heavens struck the ploughshare of Xinuolu's father, the Patriarch, 13 times with a goose feather fan on Mount Weishan. Since then, this miraculous and wonderful legend has been widely circulated among the various ethnic groups in Weishan and has been passed down to the present day.
(Originally published in “Chinese Taoism” 1990, No. 2)
唐代，在云南省大理洱海地区有六个诏，传说这六个诏的诏王是六个彝族亲兄弟，他们的发祥地在现今巍山彝族回族自治县城南的道教名山巍宝山。巍宝山苍松翠柏，古木参天，山泉流淌，百鸟争鸣，奇兽嘻戏，是个山青水秀的好地区。六个诏王的家就在巍宝山下的一个彝族山寨里，这山寨名叫前新村。六诏王的父母亲祖师爷和祖师娘是一对勤劳朴实的彝族夫妇，他们每日耕于巍山(巍宝山的古山名)，辛劳度日，生活过得美满幸福，可是快到六十岁了，老两口还没有孩子。为此，他们非常苦恼，很希望能够在老年得子，后继有人，使香火不断。
就在老俩口满六十岁的这一年，一日祖师爷在巍山耕种山地，中午时分，祖师娘做好了午饭，给老头子送去，他走到巍山的半山腰时，一位身穿八卦白袍、头戴赤莲冠的美髯公盘腿坐在路边的一块大石头上，右手握着一把鹅毛扇，左手持着一根白蚊帚，笑呵呵地望着她，向她乞食。祖师娘看这老人肚子饿得发慌，非常同情他，于是放下背篓，从中拿出午饭，递给美髯公：“请吃吧，老师傅!”她很客气地说。美髯公接过午饭，毫不拘束地吃了起来。祖师娘坐在旁边的石头上，微笑地看着美髯公津津有味地吃着饭菜。不一会儿，一盆饭菜就让美髯公吃光了。美髯公把碗筷还给祖师娘，向她道了声谢谢，就双目眯闭，手持羽扇念起经来。祖师娘不便打搅他，收拾起盆子碗筷后，就转身向山下走去，准备回家另给老伴做午饭。
祖师娘回家后，很快做好了午饭，收拾好后又第二次向巍山走去。当她来到半山腰时，那位美髯公仍然涨端正正地坐在石头上，在他右边又多了一位中年道士。美髯公见他来了，又笑着指旁边的那位道士对她说：“他是我的徒弟，还没有吃早饭，还有吃的东西吗?”
祖师娘有着好心肠，一听说那道士还没有吃早饭，又赶忙从背篓中拿出饭菜送给那道士。等那道士吃完后，又高高兴兴地收拾起碗筷回家另做午饭。
当地第三次来到半山腰时，那美髯公和那道士仍然端坐在原来的石头上，在美髯公的左边又多了一位中年道士。美髯公见她来了，又指指左边的那位道士对她说：“他是我的二徒弟，还没有吃饭，还有吃的东西吗?”
祖师娘二话没说，又热情地再次拿出午饭给了那道士。那道士吃完饭后，和那美髯公及先来的那道士，又聚精会神地念起经来。祖师娘不惊扰他们，又悄悄地收拾起碗筷，背起背篓向山下走去，回家给老伴另做午饭。
再说在巍山上耕种山地的祖师爷，看看太阳都老高了，还不见老伴送午饭来，肚子已饿得咕咕响，他几次放下手中的犁头，走到路口向山下瞭望，总不见老伴的身影。最后他干脆把犁架解了，把两条黄牯子牛吆到地边去吃青草，然后又一次来到路口坐在草坪上，一边抽草烟一边望着山下。这时，他看见老伴背着背篓，弓着腰，正匆匆忙忙地向山上走来。等老伴走拢后，他生气地对老伴说：“太阳都快落山了，你才送午饭来，你做什么事情去了?”
祖师娘没有吭声，她知道老伴是为她午饭送迟了，肚子饿了，才生气的。她赶紧把饭菜摆在草坪上，并盛了满满的一碗饭给祖师爷。
祖师爷接过饭碗，发现老伴的脖子上、脸上到处流着汗水，一身衣服湿漉漉地贴在肉上，想到平日老伴送午饭从未迟到过，看她今天累成这个样子，准是在家中或路上出了事情。于是便问老伴道：“看你这样子，出了什么事情?”于是祖师娘就把在路上碰到的事全告诉给了祖师爷。
祖师爷听后，忙放下碗筷，惊喜地说：“你遇见仙人了，那身穿白袍、头戴赤莲冠的美髯公就是太上老君。那两个道士是他的徒弟，右边那位叫张天师，左边那位叫李天师。三师殿塑着他们的像，去年我们还去朝拜过他们，要求给子求福，你难道忘记了吗?快!不能怠慢了他们，快下去看看他们。”
经老伴一说，祖师娘如梦初醒，忙祷告说：“老君在天，请原谅我照顾不周!”祷告完后，她后悔地对祖师爷说：“我们去哪里找他们呢?我上来时，他们已不在了。”
“我猜他们不会走远，走快点，我们还会见到他们。”祖师爷一边收拾犁架一边对老伴说。
太阳梭进了西山，晚霞染红了巍山的苍峰翠岭，归林的山雀在树枝上跳跃着。祖师爷扛着犁头赶着牛走在前边，祖师娘背着背篓跟在后边，老俩口一前一后向山下走去。当他们来到半山腰时，抬头一看，在一块盘石的上方飘着三朵彩色祥云，美髯公盘腿坐在石头上，红光满面，头戴赤莲冠，右手握着鹅毛扇，左手拿着白蚊帚。在他的左右两边站着两个身着灰布道袍的中年道士，那是李天师和张天师。
美髯公笑着对老俩口说：“寿比南山，福如东海，你们是要长寿还是要享福?直说吧，我会满足你们的要求的。”
老俩口见上座坐着的太上老君，和他们说话，喜得无言以对，口中连连说道：“不要什么不要什么?我们小户人家只求有十五谷丰登，清吉平安，就心满意足了。”
老君见老俩口为人忠厚老实，对他们说：“你们无儿无女，我知道你们的苦衷。”说着就拿出六颗宝珠送给祖师爷，说：“今后你家香火不断，儿孙满堂，世袭为王。”边说边用鹅毛扇在祖师爷的犁把上轻轻地敲厂十三下。然后把手向空中一挥，那天朵彩色祥云立即飘将下来，分別落在老君和两个中年道士的脚旁，于是他们三人就驾着祥云慢慢地向空小飘去。
老俩口见此情景，赶忙双膝跪地，双手合掌向空中老君和道士作揖告別，直到完全看不见他们的身影了，才从地上爬起来，收拾东西下山回家。从这以后，祖师娘突然有了身孕，第二年一胎生下两个儿子；第三年又怀了第二胎，也是一胎生下两个儿子；到第四年又怀了第三胎，也还是一胎生下两个儿。在短短的三午时间内，祖师娘三胎生下六个儿子，这消息象春风吹遍了山野，一下子传遍了远近村寨。一时间前来贺喜的人，门庭若市，寂静的山寨到处是欢声笑语，祖师爷老俩口喜得合不拢嘴。
说是奇事也真是奇事，每当祖师娘生下两个儿子，老君送给祖师爷的六颗宝珠也就少了两颗，到祖师娘六个儿子落地后，祖师爷的六颗宝珠也就不翼而飞了。后来人们才知道，原来老君送给祖师爷的六颗宝珠是仙珠，它们转世成了祖师爷的六个儿子。六个儿子长得很快转眼间都成了年轻小伙子。个个腰阔体壮，英俊威武，一表人材。六个儿子中又数老大天资聪明，超群出众。生得浓眉大眼，仪表非凡。没做过的事一看就会，田园农活样样会做，十八般武艺件件精通，四书五经背得滚瓜烂熟。老俩口特别宠爱他，给他取了个小名叫细奴罗。
当时巍山(旧称蒙化)、南涧、弥渡三县、为一个大部落，主寨设在弥渡，巍山和南涧为分寨。部落长名叫张乐进求，是朝廷命官的僰人。那时弥渡有一座铁柱庙，每年农历正月初一至十五日，弥渡和巍山、南涧几个分寨的彝汉各族人民都要去朝拜铁柱庙。传说朝拜后可以消灾灭病，六畜兴旺，五谷丰登，人丁发达。更有情趣的是部落长张乐进求下了一道诏书，诏书说：“凡来朝拜铁柱庙的人，不分贫贵富贱，只要能够把铁柱上铸着的金雀朝拜下来，就让位给他，并把女儿嫁给他做媳妇。”张乐进求的姑娘长着一双聪明美丽的金凤眼，生着一幅百灵鸟一样的好歌喉。她唱起山歌来能使树上的小鸟停止歌唱，静听她的歌唱；她的音容笑貌，就是月亮里的嫦娥见了，也自觉 羞愧不如。她使许多年轻的小伙子爱慕倾倒在她的脚下。这诏书一下，四面八方的小伙子立刻云集到铁柱庙。朝拜铁柱庙的人川流不息，可是年复一年，就是没有一个人能把铁柱上的金雀朝拜下来。
细奴罗长到十八岁的这年，恰好是朝拜铁柱庙的极盛年，他和五个弟弟一同去朝拜铁柱庙。初一这天，他们弟兄六人来到铁柱庙，细奴罗刚向铁柱庙朝拜，铁柱上的两只金雀突然扑打了几下翅膀，呜叫一声，同时飞了起来，在铁柱庙上空盘旋一周，然后飞将下来，一只落在细奴罗的右肩上，一只落在左肩上。朝拜的人群个个惊喜若狂，团团把细奴罗围了起来。彝族小伙子吹起了笙箫，彝族姑娘跳起了欢乐的歌舞，向他庆贺。这两只金雀直到正月十五日下会才从细奴罗的肩上飞去。张乐进求履行自己的诺言，召见细奴罗，请他接事当王，并把女儿嫁给他。细奴罗推辞不受，张乐进求一再请他即位，细奴罗无法推让，只好指着一块大石头发誓说：“如果我该当王，剑必入此石。”于是举起宝剑向石头砍去，只见剑起刀落，火花飞溅，细奴罗的宝剑果入石三寸。细奴罗不好再推辞，于是接事当王，并择日娶过张乐进求的女儿完婚。后来人们为了纪念细奴罗盟石当王这件事，就把这个地方的一个村子叫做盟石村，就是现今巍山彝族回族自治县庙街乡的盟石村。细奴罗当王后，在巍山境内的巄吁山筑城建都，建号大蒙国(又叫蒙舍诏或南诏)，自称奇嘉王。随后他又常带兵收复了大理洱海地区的许多个分散的小部落，分设了五个诏，即邓赕诏、施浪诏、浪穹诏、蒙嵩诏、越析诏，并按功大小，分别委派自己的五个弟弟去当这五诏的诏王，自己为南诏王，这就是云南大理洱海区有名的六诏之说。
细奴罗即位后，为了报答老君降化弟兄六人为王的恩赐，在巍山(巍宝山)老君打坐石的下边建盖了老君殿，内祀老君、张天师和李天师，让他们永世享受人间的香火。老君殿如今还巍然屹立在巍宝山的前山之中，以它那雄奇壮观和精湛的建筑艺术，迎送着来来往往的游客。
细奴罗死后，他的子孙后代继续当南诏王，到他的曾孙皮罗阁手上统一了其他五诏，在大理洱海区建立南诏国。从细奴罗当南诏王到南诏国灭亡，他和他的子孙后代一共世袭为王十三代，相传这是因为昔日太上老君在巍山上用鹅毛扇在细奴罗的父亲祖师爷的犁把上敲了十三下之故。从此，这个神奇美妙的传说故事，在巍山各族人民中间广泛地流传着，一直流传到今天。
（原载《中国道教》 1990年第2期）