God's Own Tale

Terry F. Kleeman is Assistant Professor of Chinese Language and Culture in the Asian and Middle Eastern Studies Department at the University of Pennsylvania.

"It provides a thorough history of the cult of Wenchang, the patron saint of scholars, one of the deities still worshipped by the Chinese in their temples today. The Book of Transformations is a delightful and unique autobiography of the god in which he traces his various lives in the world and his various divine appointments. Kleeman's chapter by chapter commentary to the translation is jam-packed with information on customs and traditions in traditional China, those of the aristocracy and those of common folk. It is also loaded with information on the workings of Chinese folk religion and Buddhism and Taoism, and in following the incarnations of Wenchang, the reader learns a good deal along the way about the history of China from early Chou times into the fourth century of the Common Era." — Robert G. Henricks, Dartmouth College

• IllustrationsPrefaceAbbreviationsIntroductionEarly History of the CultThe Book of TransformationsThe Cult in Late Imperial ChinaTranslationTraces of the Transformation1. Primordial Mandate2. Flowing Form 3. Born as a Commoner4. Changing Customs5. Investigating Antiquity6. Worshiping the Perfected7. Giving Repose to My Parents8. Spirit Marriage9. Yuanshi 10. The Tame Pheasants11. Diverting the Stream12. Subduing the Epidemic13. Loving the Living14. The Celestial Office15. Recommending the Worthy 16. Correcting Errors17. Returning Home in Glory18. Consideration for the Clan19. Returning to Nirvana20. Mount Monarch21. Moved to be Born 22. Serving Forebears23. The Filial Friend24. The Mian River 25. The White Colt 26. Recommending an Enemy for Promotion 27. Taking Pity on Orphans 28. Compassionate Instructions 29. Exhausting Loyalty>30. A Perch in Perfection 31. The Mountain King 32. Punishments and Rewards33. Preserving Bao34. The Whirlwind 35. Clarifying Injustice36. The Town of Ju37. Saving the Drowning38. Raining Grain39. Diverting the Rain40. Slaying the Bandit41. The Northern Suburb42. Turning Back the Fire43. Pacifying Ju44. The Fei Stalwarts45. The Stone Oxen46. The Five Wives47. Manifesting My Numinous Power48. The Grand Elixir49. Badu50. Posuo51. Warning the Dragons52. Mount Pheonix53. Yufu54. Verbal Karma55. The Eastern Rampart56. Ox Mountain57. The Daunting Power of Heaven58. Esteeming Righteousness 59. Recognizing a Recluse60. Aiding the Upright61. Killing Living Creatures62. Cruel Mistreatment63. Commiserating with the World64. Xianyang 65. Qiong Pool66. Liberation67. Benevolent Administration68. The Quick and the Dead69. Planning70. The Ruyi Scepter71. Dingwei72. The Water Bureau73. The Cinnamon RecordAppendix: Extant Editions of the Book Of TransformationsBibliographyIndex