佛祖統紀 35.99

35.99

○ Zhuangzi, named Zhou, was a native of Meng in the state of Liang, and served as an official of the Lacquer Garden. In the time of King Hui of Liang, there was nothing his learning did not examine; yet its essentials ultimately returned to the words of Laozi. He composed a book of more than one hundred thousand words, which were mostly allegories. King Wei of Chu heard that Zhou was virtuous, and sent an envoy with rich presents to welcome him, promising to make him prime minister. Zhou smiled and said to the envoy: "A thousand pieces of gold is a great profit, and the position of prime minister is an exalted status. Have you alone not seen the sacrificial ox for the suburban sacrifice? It is nourished and fed for several years, clothed in patterned embroidery, and led into the Grand Ancestral Temple. At that moment, even if it wished to be a solitary piglet, could it be so? Sir, leave at once; do not sully me!" Zhuangzi took Changsang Gongzi as his master, lived in seclusion on Mount Baodu, ingested the Northern-Nurtured Fire Elixir, and ascended to heaven in broad daylight.