辯偽錄 1.12

1.12

The third transformation says: In the beginning there was the pneumatic vapor of the Great Void. Its vapors struck one another, shooting back and forth erratically. After a hundred billion vapors, the vapor gradually slowed, flowing back and forth to become the natural vapor (this steals the Buddhist account of the wind wheel whirling below when the world is first formed), also called the vapor of the pervasive net of myriad Brahmas. After another ninety-nine billion nine hundred ninety-nine million vapors, it congealed into an auspicious vapor, forming a single holy person who called himself Heavenly King of Primal Beginning. At the same time were born the Five Elders (masters of the Five Elements). His kalpa was titled Yankang, and the reign era was titled Longhan. After another span of vapors like the above, the Daoist Lord was born; at that time the kalpa was titled Chiming, and the reign era was also titled Chiming. At the same time were born the Nine Elders, divided into the Nine Heavens. After another span of vapors like the above, Lord Lao was finally born; the kalpa was titled Qingyun, and the reign era was titled Shanghuang. At that time the Eight Dukes were born. He also established the five cyclical turns: Supreme Change, Supreme Beginning, and so forth. Lord Lao then congealed the two breaths of yin and yang into Chaos, thereby deploying Heaven, Earth, and the myriad things, which then began to be fully prepared.