佛祖統紀 36.149

36.149

Ge Hong broadly investigated canonical books, and was especially fond of the methods of immortals and of nourishing life. His great-uncle Ge Xuan had studied immortality during the Wu dynasty and attained the Way, being called Immortal Lord Ge; he transmitted the secret arts of alchemical compounding to his disciple Zheng Yin. Hong studied under Yin and acquired his methods. In his old age, wishing to compound elixirs to pray for long life, and hearing that Jiaozhi produced cinnabar, he sought to become magistrate of Julou. He said, 'It is not that I desire honor; it is simply because there is cinnabar.' The Emperor granted it. When he reached Guangzhou, the Regional Inspector detained him and would not allow him to leave. He therefore halted at Mount Luofu to compound elixirs and composed the inner and outer chapters [of his work], styling himself Baopuzi. Later, having sat until noon, he died motionless as if asleep. When they lifted the corpse into the coffin, it was as light as empty clothes; the world considered that he had attained immortality through deliverance from the corpse.