Introduction of Heavenly Marshal Chen Da Nian (正一法籙靈官陳大年天君)

Chen Da Nian (陳大年) aka The Zheng Yi Celestial Officer Chen or Heavenly Marshal Chen, whom was appointed to be In-charge of the Spiritual Certificates that being issued to All Taoist Priests under Zheng Yi Sect.

He was born in Southern Song Dynasty Shao Xing Period (宋朝紹興年間), Ancestral Hometown in China Hokkien Province, Yong An City (中國福建省永安市), with Birthday unknown (生辰不詳).

For Chen Da Nian, a few names of him were recorded, such as Chen Sen (陳森) and in some Contexts, he was also known as Chen Fu Zhi (陳輔之).

According to records, Chen Da Nian was the Manifestation of the Spirit of Fire and used to station in the Southern Hemisphere in the Celestial Realm, assisting Heavenly Marshal Jin Jia (九天金甲天君) & Heavenly Marshal Ma Hua Guang (馬華光天君).

One Day, while Chen Da Nian was accompanying his sworn brother – Heavenly Marshal Zhu Fan Zhi (朱梵之天君), which was also the assistant of the 2 senior Heavenly Marshals, to do patrolling in the Three Realms, they spotted an area in the Eastern Part of China, filled with Poisonous Energies.

Without delayed, both the Marshals descended into the Mortal Realm to check on what had happened in that area.

Just as both of them descended to the spot where the Poisonous Energies were emitted, Chen Da Nian saw a White Snake (白蛇) & Red Crow (赤鴉) fighting against each other and as the White Snake was about to curl up the leg of the Red Crow, the Red Crow spit out a gust of Red Energy onto the White Snake.

As Chen & Zhu trying to get nearer to the 2 Demons, they were being drugged by the Poisonous Energies and soon, Chen got giddy and fainted onto one of the rocks on the Mountain.

Upon waking-up, Chen found himself in the Hall of Heavenly Marshal Ma’s Court. He was shocked but due to he was being poisoned, he was too weak to explain the whole situation to Heavenly Marshal Ma. Just as Chen wanted to get up, Zhu had entered into the Hall and in his hands, the White Snake & Red Crow were being locked in a Golden Pyramid Cage.

Chen was delighted to see that and Heavenly Marshal Ma had explained to him that, the 2 demons were subdued by him and due to these 2 demons, Chen & Zhu had to be appointed to reborn into the Mortal Realm for a special task.

With a gust of Bright Shiny Energy, Chen & Zhu were being sent off from the Celestial Realm into the Mortal Realm for reborn.

This year, it was AD1132, Southern Song Dynasty Shao Xing Period 2nd Year (南宋绍兴二年), Chen was being appointed to be reborn in the Chen Family in Hokkien Province, Yong An City.

On the Day of his reborn, the whole house was filled with a special warming heat and just as the delivery-maid carried the new born baby to show Old Mister Chen, a Red Ray appeared on top of the Mansion and followed by a nicely fragrance that covered the whole house.

Old Mister Chen was shocked and as he was about to carry the baby from the Maid, he heard a Taoist Priest calling out to him from the Courtyard.

Without delaying, Old Mister Chen had to proceed to the Courtyard to return his respect to the Priest. Just as Old Mister Chen approached the Priest, the little infant start to laugh aloud and Old Mister Chen felt weirder with the sight of his son laughing at the 1st day of his birth.

By looking at the baby and caressing the baby’s head, the Priest told Old Mister Chen that, this boy was a gift from the Celestial Realm, hoping that Old Mister Chen would be able to pay more attention on this boy and best, to give the boy a good education & freedom in learning any form of skills.

Upon hearing that, Old Mister Chen agreed and just as the Priest was about to learn the Mansion, Old Mister Chen requested him to give a name to the newly born boy. After thinking thru for a short moment, the Priest suggested Da Nian (大年literally as Great Year) & also, Fu Zhi (輔之literally Assisting-in).

Time flies, in AD1152 (南宋绍兴廿二年), age of 20, Chen was being sent to study by his parent and in AD1157 (南宋绍兴廿七年), he passed his examination and was appointed as Scholar (進士).

After 5 years of being a Magistrate Officer, Chen felt that the things that he could do for the people was minimal and most of the time, he was being restricted by the Imperial Rules & Regulations and so, at the age of 30, he resigned from his post and started to wander around in the Country to seek for Spiritual Masters/Teachers to cultivate in the Taoist Skills.

AD1165, at the age of 33, he reached Mt He Ming (鶴鳴山) and was able to seek his learning from one of the Old Priests that resided in the Mountain.

With 2 years of studying the theory on the Taoist Manuals, Chen was able to recite them without difficulties and with another 5 years of learning the practical skills, Chen had finally mastered most of the skills from his Master.

By the age of 40, he left Mt He Ming and wandered around in the Country to assist the needy and he promised that, if anything would to happen, he would returned back to Mt He Ming to seek for his Master’s assistance.

With a year’s travelling, Chen had reached Mt Wu Lv (無慮山 literally No Doubt/Trouble), which later was known as Mt Lv (閭山).

Just as Chen stepped into the territory of Mt Wu Lv, he was deeply attracted by the Taoist Monastery that was built at the peak of the Mountain and so, without delaying, he made his trip to the Monastery. As he was about to enter into the Main Hall, he was stopped by an Old Priest, which the Priest was able to call out Chen’s name.

Upon hearing the Priest called-out, Chen was surprised but also, delighted.

Returning his respect to the Elder, Chen asked the Old Priest on why he knew his name.

The Old Priest returned with a smile and just kept quiet and signalled Chen to follow.

With about 15 minutes of walking, they reached a Rear Hall in the Monastery. Just as Chen entered into the Hall, he was not able to shift further, no matter how hard he tried to lift his leg from the spot where he was standing; his leg seems to have rooted to the ground.

Without fear in him, Chen wanted to scream out and just at the moment of opening of his mouth, a bright Golden ray emitted out from the statue of Heavenly Marshal Ma Hua Guang, from the right Altar, into his mouth. In a few seconds, Chen collapsed onto the floor and entered a coma state.

During his coma, Chen entered into a state that he was being brought to the Celestial Realm by an Old Priest. After entering into the Celestial Gate, he was led to a Hall with many Generals standing guard outside the corridor and upon entering, he saw a familiar-face Marshal sitting at the Main Seat in the Central of the Hall. Trying to recall who the Marshal was and with a moment of recollection, he recognised the Marshal as Ma Hua Guang.

Knowing that Chen had recognised him, Ma Hua Guang smiled and signalled Chen to step forward.

Chen nodded his head and moved forward.

Ma Hua Guang advised him to take his seat and Ma Hua Guang started to tell Chen about his past. Upon hearing that, Chen was shocked and he stayed motionless for a while, telling himself that this was just a dream. Knowing that Chen might not had believed in the stories, Ma Hua Guang asked the Old Priest to pass Chen a Spiritual Sword (火靈劍) and signalled Chen to take his leave.

Getting the signal of asking him to leave the Hall, Chen stood up and paid his respect to Ma Hua Guang and immediately, he dashed out of the Hall without any further delaying. Soon the Old Priest catch-up with Chen and with a push, Chen was being pushed into a Valley and with a great fright, Chen shouted out and soon, he was awaked from the dream.

Immediately after gaining conscious, Chen looked at the surrounding and he found himself in a Resting room in the Taoist Monastery. And to his surprise, the Sword that he received in the dream was laying beside him.

As Chen was still wondering how this Sword got onto his bed, the Old Priest that he met outside the Monastery entered into the room to check on Chen out.

Looking at the Sword, the Old Priest smiled again and told Chen that, he had to take good care of the Sword as this Sword would assist him in gaining his Immortal-hood soon.

Chen was blurred by the words from the Old Priest but he had to keep quiet, cos at that very moment, in his mind, there were too many Doubts & Unsolved mysteries.

After resting for a week, Chen left the Monastery. Just as Chen was walking out of the Main Gate, the Old Priest appeared again in front of him and advised Chen to proceed to the East Region of China.

Taking his advice, Chen started his East Journey.

Soon, Chen had reached the Shan Dong Province (山東省), the Eastern Region of China and this period, it was the Period where Southern Song Dynasty having War with the Invaders.

One Day, while Chen was trying his best to assist the refugees, he was being alerted by an old man on a demon appearing in a cave at one of the forested areas. Without delaying, Chen grab-hold of his Spiritual Sword and with the instruction on the direction to get to the cave, Chen ride a horse and dashed towards the cave.

Upon approaching the cave, Chen could see the area was being fogged with poisonous energies and knowing that, the demon was somewhere nearby, Chen had to release his Spiritual Sword and just as he released the Sword, a Silvery-ray flied over his head and within a few seconds, an enormous Snake appeared in front of him.

At first sight, Chen was shocked, but knowing that there wouldn’t be any way of backing-out, Chen had to try his best to fight with the demon.

With a few rounds of trying to subdue the demon, Chen was not able to put the demon down and just as the demon was approaching nearer to him, Chen suddenly recalled on the words that his Master had advised him before he left Mt He Ming and so, Chen started to chant a series of Incantations and just as he finished the Incantations, a bright ray descended from the Celestial Realm and in the bright ray, Heavenly Marshal Jin Jia & Ma Hua Guang appeared.

Soon, the Snake demon was being subdued again by Ma Hua Guang and this time round, the Red Crow was there to present a Green Robes (青玉袍) to Chen, advising him to put on before paying his respect to the 2 Heavenly Marshals.

Obeying the Celestial advise, Chen put on the Robes and immediately, he felt that his body began to get lighter and with a motion of pushing, the whole body floating into the air and while Chen was ascending to the air, he turned to look at the ground and to his horror, he found his own body laying on the floor with his faced tinted green & brown. This day was dated as 18th Day of Lunar 2 Month (陳大年得道日記載為農曆二月十八日).

Know that he had attained his Immortality, Chen followed Heavenly Marshal Jin Jia & Ma Hua Guang back to the Celestial Realm to get his bestowed title from the Jade Emperor of Heaven (玉皇大天尊).

Upon approaching the Celestial Imperial Court, Heavenly Master Zhang Dao Ling (正一張祖天師) was there to announce Chen’s Official Title on behalf of Jade Emperor of Heaven. By getting his Official title of Zheng Yi Jian Du Fa Lu Ling Guan Wu Lei Si Pin Yu Mian Yuan Shuai Chen Da Tian Jun (正一監督法籙靈官五雷四品玉面元帥大天君), Chen kowtowed to the Celestial Edict and received his Seal from Heavenly Master Zhang and left the Imperial Court.

From then, he was appointed to return to his original post at Jin Jia Department (金甲府) & Celestial Firey Department (火部) as before he was being granted the reborn to the Mortal Realm in Southern Song Dynasty.