Sa Tian Shi (薩天師) aka Heavenly Master Sa, real name known as Sa Shou Jian (薩守堅), born in Song Dynasty (生於宋朝), hometown in Xi Shu (屬西蜀人). In some contexts, he was only recorded as a Song Dynasty Taoist Priest with no birthday recorded (據傳是宋代時一名道士).
Since young, Sa Shou Jian was also strongly connected with Taoism, after growing up, he seek Mastership under the 30th Generation Heavenly Master Zhang aka Xu Jing Zhen Ren (第三十代天師虛靖真人), Master Lin Ling Su (林靈素) & Wang Shi Chen (王恃辰).
After doing training under the 3 Masters, Sa Shou Jian mastered the Skills in Spiritual Skills, Chinese Medical Skills, etc. Just before Sa Shou Jian got his Enlightenment, one of his Masters, Master Lin Ling Su gave him as Palm Leave shape Fan (芭蕉寶扇), advised him that in the future, when he’s doing his salvation, the Fan would assist him. And this is why, till today, a lot of Sa Shou Jian’s painting, you can see him holding on to a Palm Leave Fan.
One year, while Sa Shou Jian doing his salvation around the Country, he reached a City known as Tan Zhou (潭州), due to the time was getting late, Sa Shou Jian had to look for a place to stay for the night. As a wandering Spiritual Person, usually there wouldn’t be choices for Sa Shou Jian to stay in good quanlity Inn and so, he had to look for a Free venue to rest.
After searching, finally he saw a vacant Cheng Huang Temple (城隍廟 City Deity Temple) and so, without any second thoughts, he went in to stay for a night.
Soon, the Indicating Houring Watchman (更夫) hit the gong to indicate it’s 3am in the morning, suddenly the Magistrate Officer of Tan Zhou (潭州縣令) dashed out of his bedroom, calling for his subordinates. One of his subordinates were shocked and asked the Officer what had happened. Immediately, the Officer ordered the subordinate to go to Cheng Huang Temple to invite back the person resting under the Altar. Without any choices of asking further, the subordinate had to perform the task according (actually the subordinate thought that the Officer was having just a nightmare).
Upon reaching the Temple, the subordinate was shocked to see there's a person resting under the Altar. He was amazed and due to he was being ordered to perform the task, he had to wake Sa Shou Jian up.
After being woke-up by the subordinate, Sa Shou Jian was blurred with the situation, but with no choice, Sa Shou Jian had to follow the subordinate to the Magistrate Court (縣府).
Just about to reach the Magistrate Court, the Officer was there outside waiting to usher Sa Shou Jian in. Sa Shou Jian was getting even more blurred with the situation. Just before Sa Shou Jian got a choice to ask, the Officer reported the whole incident of Lord Cheng Huang came into his dream to tell him that a future high ranking Deity was having a rest in the humble Temple, Lord Cheng Huang hope that the Officer could entertain the Deity on behalf of him. And this was why the Officer was shocked and dashed out of his bedroom in the middle of the night.
After that incident, forever where Sa Shou Jian went, there would sure be someone waiting to entertain him.
Soon, Sa Shou Jian had completed all his appointed tasks in this Mortal World. Upon approaching one of the popular lake in one of the City, Sa Shou Jian got his Enlightenment on the bay of the Long Xing Lake (龍興湖).
Immediate after his Enlightenment, Sa Shou Jian was being summoned to the Celestial Palace (天庭) to meet up with Jade Emperor (玉皇大天尊). Due to his Determination in Promoting the Upright Culture of Taoism, salvaging the needy, he was being bestowed with the title Heavenly Master – Tian Shi (天師之職) and also, the title of Chong En Zhen Jun (崇恩真君).
According to records, after Sa Shou Jian got his Enlightenment, one year while he was doing his regular inspection, he came to a mountainous area and noticed that some entities were hiding around the area. Immediately, he landed on one of the peak and summoned the entity out.
After summoning the entity out, then Sa Shou Jian realized that this entity was actually a Fire Spirit (火精) in the Thunderial Department (雷部) in the Heavenly Realm (天界). So with his advises and support, the entity was being brought to Heaven and after going thru the records of this entity, Jade Emperor bestowed the entity as a Marshal in looking after the Heavenly Armies.
This entity was known as Wang Ling Guan (王靈官). Due to Sa Shou Jian was the one who gave him the advises, Sa Shou Jian was known as the Master of Wang Ling Guan.
