Ch: Wang Ziqiao. A Zhou dynasty Taoist immortal
associated with playing the shou, ou , a traditional reed pipe,
and riding a crane. According to RESSENDEN —ñå“` (Ch:Liexianzhuan, The Series of Biographies of Immortals), he was originally the crown prince Jin (Jp: Shin W)
serving Emperor Ling (Jp: Rei —ì). Because Ou Shikyou bravely admonished the emperor,
he was dismissed and became a commoner. Together with the Taoist adept Fuqiu Gong
(Jp:Fukyuu Kou
•‚‹uŒö) he climbed Mt. Song “ in Henan ‰Í“ì. It is said that after 30
years he reappeared atop the mountain riding a white crane, and bid farewell to
the people gathered there, whereupon he achieved immortality. The best known painting
of Ou Shikyou in Japan, attributed to Kanou Eitoku Žë–ì‰i“¿ (1543-90) can be found
on sliding screens in Nanzenji “ì‘TŽ› Kyoto. |