Folk Worship of Fox Immortals in Fuzhou

This article is reprinted. Author: Lian Zhi.

In a world where animals are revered as deities, there are many legends about fox immortals, and their personalities and supernatural abilities vary by region. Although foxes do not naturally exist in Fujian, fox immortals appear in folk legends, and Fuzhou is no exception. The Tang Dynasty collection of anecdotal novels, "Chaoye Qianzai," states: "Since the early Tang Dynasty, many common people have worshipped fox gods, conducting sacrifices in their homes to beg for blessings. Their food and drink are shared with humans, and they are not served by a single master. At that time, there was a proverb: 'No fox spirits, no village.'" However, no one has yet found from historical records when the worship of fox immortals began within the territory of Fuzhou. In the north, fox immortals are also known as "Hu Xian" (Hu Immortals).

According to Fuzhou folk legends, fox immortals who have cultivated themselves to become immortals, like humans, are divided into male and female. Fuzhou believers cannot speak of them directly as foxes; instead, they must respectfully address male foxes as "Zhenren" (True Person) or "Xianshi" (Immortal Master), equivalent to "Xianye" (Immortal Grandfather); female foxes are called "Xiangu" (Immortal Aunt). According to folk and heavenly regulations, after male and female foxes successfully complete their cultivation, they are listed as Heavenly Immortals and managed by the Xiafu (Cloud Mansion). Xiafu is a mansion created by Daoism where groups of immortals reside. Although fox immortals are powerful, if they violate "heavenly rules," they will be struck by lightning. Foxes struck by lightning die and are reborn as Earth Immortals. According to research, the foxes worshipped by Fuzhou believers are all Earth Immortals. Heavenly foxes cannot be seen and refuse to descend to the mortal realm. The foxes enshrined within Fuzhou are Earth Immortals who were punished and demoted to the mortal world for making mistakes, but there are very few of them. Thus, Fuzhou believers who have read "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio" (Liaozhai Zhiyi) must feel puzzled: why are there so many erring Earth Immortals in Pu Songling's writings? A smile.

Earth Immortals are quite strict in choosing their residences within Fuzhou. Those who live in private homes and share joys with the people are extremely rare; they generally reside in large "mansions" and prefer high-rise buildings, perhaps due to their attachment to the Xiafu. Therefore, the incense for worshipping Earth Immortals must be placed high in buildings. Among the various items offered, rock sugar and eggs are indispensable. If believers are not sincere in their offerings or slight the Earth Immortals, the Earth Immortals will issue warnings and admonitions but will not abuse the believers. They only play pranks, creating various strange occurrences, and never take lives. When angry, Fuzhou Earth Immortals resemble mischievous children but harbor compassion. If believers worship two or three Earth Immortals simultaneously, they are arranged on the altar with males on the left and females on the right, as "Xianye" (Immortal Grandfather) and "Xiangu" (Immortal Aunt), facilitating their continued cultivation to return to the Xiafu.

During the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China period, there were several famous "mansions" for Earth Immortals in Fuzhou: one at the Zhenhai Tower on Ping Shan in the northern suburbs, one at the Da Miao Mountain in South Tai, one at the Wanghai Tower in the South City Park, and one at the Yamen of the Viceroy of Min and Zhe. Over several decades, these buildings were destroyed. For example, the Zhenhai Tower on Ping Shan was destroyed during the "Cultural Revolution," and its reconstruction is a recent event. The Wanghai Tower on South Tai was destroyed during the Anti-Japanese War. After these buildings were destroyed, the Earth Immortals were moved by believers to other locations for worship, and the situation in folk circles was similar. According to expert research, the worship of Earth Immortals in Fuzhou should not be later than the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Because starting from the Qing Dynasty, the government often worshipped the "An Yin Da Xian" (Great Immortal Who Guards the Seal). The so-called "Da Xian" refers to Earth Immortals, a practice that continued into the Republic of China period. In this sense, Fuzhou's Earth Immortals also had to "work" for the government back then. It is said that among the government's "An Yin Da Xian," four Earth Immortals named Bai, Pei, etc., were the most famous. Commonly referred to as "Shi" (Master), they were the grand masters among "Zhenren" (True Persons), all male foxes. These four True Persons had extensive supernatural powers and important duties, influencing the common people. Pei Zhenren is a representative among them. Pei Zhenren's full title is "Xiafu Fuwang Xianshi Guang Da Dao Duan Pin Pei Da Zhenren" (Immortal Master Pei the Great True Person of Broad and Upright Virtue from the Xiafu Mansion of Fuwang). According to the book "Fuzhou Shen Su" (Fuzhou Gods and Customs), Pei Zhenren is also known as the Dushu Pei Zhenren (Pei Zhenren of the Viceroy's Office), commonly called Pei Xianshi or Pei Xianye, and is very famous among locals in Fuzhou both domestically and abroad. The Immortal Master's surname is Zhou, given name Jian, from Shaoxing, Zhejiang. It is said that he was a幕僚 (staff member) in the ancient Fujian Viceroy's Office. During his lifetime, while assisting in governance at the Viceroy's Office, he loved the people, cherished objects, handled affairs fairly, understood public sentiment, punished evil, promoted good, and bestowed many favors on the people. Often, after official duties, he widely propagated Daoist principles, encouraged people to do good, and had many followers. Later, he abandoned his official post to follow the Dao, practicing hardship. When his cultivation was complete, he ascended to immortality under an ancient banyan tree within the Viceroy's Office. The Daoist community revered him as an Immortal Master and built the Xianye Tower on the spot for worship. Thus, Pei Xianye is also a human immortal, making believers even more respectful. There are two theories here, but whether they are fox immortals or human immortals, they are all local deities who accumulate virtue, perform good deeds, possess great supernatural powers, and assist believers.

After entering the Republic of China period, the former site, now No. 1 Shengfu Road in Fuzhou, which was the Min-Zhe Viceroy's Mansion, was changed to the Min-Zhe Governor's Office and the Fujian Provincial Governor's Office. In 1923, when Sa Zhenbing served as Fujian Provincial Governor, he allocated a portion of the land within the Governor's Office, merged it with an alley on the left, and expanded it into a road. Sa Zhenbing held the title of "Suwei Shang Jiangjun" (General of Solemn Might), so the newly built road was named Suwei Road (now located between Shengfu Road and Gu Xi Road, where the Fujian Daoist Association is situated). In the middle section on the east side of this road, adjacent to the wall of the Governor's Office, there was at that time a Xianshi Tower to worship Pei Zhenren, which Sa Zhenbing rebuilt. Because Pei Zhenren was the Provincial Governor's Seal-Guarding Great Immortal with specific duties, believers increasingly revered him, and the incense worship was very prosperous. Later, the building was renovated, and Pei Zhenren was temporarily moved elsewhere, known in folk circles as the "Pei Zhenren Temporary Palace." During the Republic of China period, on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month, the heads of various departments of the Provincial Government would personally go to Pei Zhenren's "Xianye Tower" to burn incense and worship, often with common people watching. In 1934, when Chen Yi served as Chairman of the Provincial Government, someone suggested destroying the "Xianye Tower," and Chen Yi agreed. While the demolition plan was being formulated, a case of the Provincial Government's seal being lost occurred. In his confusion, Chen Yi revoked the demolition plan, and the Provincial Government's seal reappeared in its original place. Chen Yi believed in Pei Zhenren's supernatural powers and ordered the expansion of the Xianshi Tower. He originally intended to worship at the Xianye Tower himself but worried about being accused of superstition, so he had his Japanese concubine go in his place, while he silently prayed to the empty air. This incident spread throughout Fuzhou at the time. Some said it was a man-made trap and that Chen Yi fell for it. Among high-ranking officials of the Republic of China, those who believed in such deities were endless. Even after the Anti-Japanese War ended, there were events of burning incense and worshipping the Seal-Guarding Great Immortal in the courtyard of the Provincial Government, and the person in charge of worshipping Pei Zhenren at the Provincial Government at that time corresponded with the personnel related to the Xianye Tower.