Introduction of Jiang Xian Guan aka Zhang Fei Jie of 36 Heavenly Generals (三十六天將之江仙官/張飛捷)

  Jiang Xian Guan (江仙官) aka The Celestial Chief-Secretary Officer Jiang or Heavenly Marshal Jiang In-charging of the Credits & Merits In-returning , was born in Song Dynasty Xian Ping Period AD1000 (宋朝咸平年間), Hometown in China Hokkien Province, Tong An County (中國福建省同安縣). Actual name known as Jiang Fei Jie (江飛捷), whereas in some Contexts, he was also known as Zhang Xian Guan (張仙官) or Zhang Fei Jie (張飛捷).

Ten months before Jiang Fei Jie was born, on the night of Mid-autumn, Jiang’s Parent was in the yard enjoying the Autumn Breeze and admiring the Moon, Jiang’s Mother saw a flash in the Sky and within seconds, the flash dashed into the stomach of her and just at the moment, Jiang’s Father saw a Heavenly Marshal standing on the Cloud holding onto to a Flag (which later found out was Heavenly Marshal Jin Jia 九天金甲天君).

As Jiang’s Father staring at the Flag, Madam Jiang yelled out loud and with a sudden, collapsed onto the ground.

Upon hearing the yelling, Master Jiang turned back to hurry carried Madam Jiang back to their room. On that night, Madam Jiang started to have high fever and the fever last her for 3 months before she could regained her conscious.

During the pregnant period, every night, Madam Jiang would see a few strange People walking around outside her room and whenever she walked out to check on these People, she couldn’t find any sight of them but just smell something nice.

On the 8th Month of her pregnant, Madam Jiang started to dream of an old man passing her a Flag and a sword. On the Flag, it wrote 2 characters – Fei Jie (飛捷), meaning Fast & Furious.

After a Month or so, Madam Jiang’s date-for-delivery was due and so, on the 16th Day of Lunar 5 Month, baby Jiang was born. Due to the dream that Madam Jiang had, Master Jiang decided to name their son as Jiang Fei Jie (江飛捷).

At the age of 5, Jiang Fei Jie was able to memorize all the Classics that his Father thought him and one day, while small Fei Jie was outside running after his friends, a Mid-age Taoist Priest stopped him. Jiang Fei Jie didn’t show his fear, instead, he pulled onto the Priest’s sleeve and invited him to his home.

Looking at the small Fei Jie, the Priest smiled and nodded his head, with little effort, he carried Fei Jie up onto his shoulder and brought him back home.

Upon reaching at the doorway, Master Jiang was shocked and immediately brought Fei Jie down from the Priest’s shoulder and apologized to him on behalf of Fei Jie for being rude. The Priest smiled and introduced himself as Wu Tao (吳本).

Knowing that Wu Tao was doing no harm to Fei Jie, Master Jiang ushered him into the House and respectfully offered Tea to him and asked whether Wu Tao needed any assistance.

While Master Jiang was talking to Wu Tao, Fei Jie pestered his Father by cutting into his conversation of asking Wu Tao to stay in their House to teach him the Knowledge on Taoism. Looking shocking at his son, Master Jiang was stunned and couldn’t reply to him. Just as Master Jiang was in an awkward situation, Wu Tao spoke-up and asked for permission to take Jiang Fei Jie as his Un-official Disciple.

Upon hearing that Wu Tao was willingly to accept Jiang Fei Jie was his young Disciple, Master Jiang had to accept his request and advised his servants to prepare a room for Wu Tao.

3 years later, one day while Jiang Fei Jie was having his nap in the noon, Wu Tao left Jiang’s Mansion and leave a letter to Jiang Fei Jie. After a few hours nap, Jiang Fei Jie woke up finding no sight of his Teacher, he went to his Father’s room to ask for his Teacher, only then, Master Jiang handed him the letter and asked Fei Jie to do according to what was being mentioned in the letter.

Crying loudly and un-reluctantly, Jiang Fei Jie had to accept the advises that his Teacher had pass-down to him.

At the age of 20 (AD1020), Jiang Fei Jie attended the Imperial Examination (宋朝科舉) – which followed the system of what had being implemented, in Tang Dynasty (依據唐朝科舉制度). Just with one trial, Jiang Fei Jie scored in the first 3 position and was bestowed with the title of Magistration Officer of his hometown in Hokkien Province, Tong An County (科舉前三甲﹐授職同安縣縣令).

In AD 1025, 5 Years after his service in serving the Nation, Fei Jie suddenly recalled about his Teacher’s letter and so, he retrieved it out and go through the letter again.

In the letter, Wu Tao told Fei Jie to go to Hokkien Province Long Hai City (福建省龍海市 – which later, a Temple was built dedicating to Wu Tao known as Bai Jiao Ci Ji Gong 白礁慈濟宮) when he was 28 years old and so, after another 3 years of serving the Nation, Fei Jie applied leave from his post and after bidding farewell to his family, he proceed to Long Hai City to look for his Teacher.

Even though Fei Jie under-study Wu Tao for few years, Fei Jie didn’t really understand what his Teacher was really dealing with but with the bonding that he had with his Teacher, he was not able to neglect his Teacher and the teachings that he had received.

Just before reaching Long Hai City, Fei Jie had started to notice that his Teacher, Wu Tao, was quite popular and well-known in the area, cos wherever he landed, Wu Tao’s name was being mentioned. By using the information the residents provided him, Fei Jie went into the main City Central and found his Teacher sitting by the road side, providing medication services for the people.

Did not dare to disturb his Teacher, Fei Jie stood by the road side waiting for his Teacher for more than 8 hours and finally, after the last patient, Fei Jie went forward to his Teacher and kneeled down in front of Wu Tao kowtowing to him.

Upon seeing that, Wu Tao was shocked and quickly assisted him up. Seeing Fei Jie sobbing sadly, Wu Tao asked him why he was crying, Fei Jie replied saying that he was deeply touched by Wu Tao for non-stopping providing the assistances to the needy, neglected ownself’s need such as meals, breaks, etc (行醫忘己而利人。下藥輕重而意人。忘私顧眾。為大任也。).

On that very Day, Wu Tao accepted Jiang Fei Jie as his Official Disciple and knowing that his Teacher was a compassionate and kind-hearted Physician who going around to provide assistances to folks who in need of supports and care, Jiang Xian Guan decided to give up his Official Post and not willing to return back to his Hometown to serve the Nation but instead, seek-mastership under Wu Tao in the Medical knowledge & provide endless supports to the needy.

Soon after Jiang Fei Jie made his decision on resigning on his position, he wrote a letter back and informed his Parent and his Sworn Brother Zhang Ci Guan (張慈觀), which was the Recording Officer (主簿) in his Magistrate Office.

Knowing that Jiang Fei Jie had decided to give up all the Fame & Reputation, Zhang Ci Guan also followed the foot-step of Fei Jie and he handed both their Resignation Letters up to the Imperial Palace and within a few days, Zhang Ci Guan left his hometown to join Wu Tao & Fei Jie.

With Zhang Ci Guan’s joining-in, Fei Jie & Ci Guan under-study Wu Tao. Within Years, both of them were able to assist Wu Tao in giving prescriptions to the ill needy.

In AD 1036 (宋仁宗景佑三年), 2nd Day of Lunar 5 Month (農曆五月初二日), while the 3 of them were out in the Town assisting the needy, a strong Ray shined upon them.

Soon, the main Ray shined onto Wu Tao and a loud voice was heard summoning Wu Tao to the Celestial Realm. Zhang Fei Jie & Zhang Ci Guan were shocked and just as they were about to dash over to protect their Master, another 2 Rays shined upon them and their names were being called.

On this day of Wu Tao's gaining Immortal-hood, Jiang Fei Jie & Zhang Ci Guan also gained their Immortal-hood too (from record, at that time, Jiang Fei Jie shall be 36 years old and Zhang Ci Guan was about 40 years old).

At the Celestial Palace, after Wu Tao being bestowed as Ling Miao Hui Zhen Jun Wan Shou Wu Ji Bao Sheng Da Di (靈妙惠真君萬壽無極保生大帝), Zhang Ci Guan as Yi Sheng Xian Guan Xuan Tian Shang Jiang Huo Su Hui Bao Zhang Da Sheng Zhe (醫聖仙官玄天上將火速回報張大聖者) and last, Jiang Fei Jie as Yi Sheng Xian Guan Xuan Tian Shang Jiang Fei Jie Bao Ying Da Yuan Shuai (醫聖仙官玄天上將飛捷報應大元帥).

Upon Bestowing the Official Titles, Jade Emperor of Heaven (玉皇大天尊) allocated Jiang Fei Jie as the Overall In-charge of the Delivery of Documents for the Three Realms, besides that, he was also put In-charge for the Recording of ALL Goods & Bads of Beings and also, to release the Punishment for those who have ill-treated their Masters/Teachers (欺師滅祖).

Three Years later, during a Celestial Gathering – Preaching by Yuan Shi Tian Zun (元始天尊), a Scripture was being recited on the Merits of Jiang Fei Jie and the Gratitude that he had returned back to his Mother due to the sufferings that she had got during the pregnant period. This Scripture was later known as Yuan Shi Tian Zun Shuo Da Ren Jiang Fu Tian Jun Xing Xiao Bao En Miao Jing (元始天尊說大仁江府天君行孝報恩妙經).

For High Res Pictures, please proceed to this link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/taoism_deity_singapore_2007/photos/album/23165024/pic/list