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According to tradition, in the Jialin Forest (嘉林) in the south of China, a divine turtle once appeared. Jialin is a special land: there are no predators such as tigers or wolves, no birds of prey such as hawks or owls, no poisonous plants or stinging grasses, and even wildfires do not reach it — this is the sacred soil of Jialin.
The turtle lived there.
An old man in the south once used the turtle as the support beneath his bed. Decades passed. When the old man died and the bed was removed, the turtle was still alive. The turtle knew the arts of circulating breath and guiding energy — xingqi daoyin (行气导引之法).
Dream of the Divine Turtle
In the second year of the reign of King Songyuan (宋元王), the river spirit, in the form of a turtle, swam down the river and reached the mouth at Quanyang (泉阳). There it was caught by a fisherman and shut in a cage.
At midnight the turtle appeared in King Songyuan’s dream and said:
“I am the envoy of this river. While patrolling the waters, a fine net blocked my way, and I fell into trouble. I can pass word to no one. I know you are a man of virtue and justice; that is why I have come to you.”
The king awoke in astonishment and summoned the scholar Wei Ping (卫平). He recounted the dream and asked:
“Tonight in a dream I saw a man with an outstretched neck and a long head, wearing black embroidered robes and riding in a black carriage. He said: ‘I am a river envoy. My path is barred by a net. I am imprisoned in Quanyang and no one can hear me. You are virtuous — therefore I appeal to you.’ What creature is this?”
Wei Ping rose, leaned on his staff, looked at the moon, took bearings from the handle of the Big Dipper, surveyed the land, and set the four directions and the arrangement of the Eight Trigrams. In the omens he discerned a beetle with a shell.
Then he said:
“The dream indicates: this very night the Dipper points to Vega (牵牛). The waters of the great rivers converge; spirits are in motion. A south wind has come; the river spirit arrives first. White clouds gather above the Grand Crossroads. All beings are detained. Look to the Dipper — and all becomes clear. Dark robes and a black carriage — this is a turtle. Your Majesty, we must find it at once!”
The king said, “Good,” and dispatched a courier to Quanyang with the order:
“How many fishermen are in the district? Who among them fished today? One of them has caught a turtle. I saw it in a dream — therefore I request its return.”
The magistrate of Quanyang investigated: there were fifty-five fishing households; upstream lived a fisherman named Yudan (渔旦). He was summoned.
He was asked, “What did you catch last night?”
Yudan replied, “I netted a turtle. It’s in a cage now.”
The courier said, “The king already knows. He has sent me for the turtle.”
Yudan agreed, took the turtle from the cage, and handed it to the envoy.
The Turtle’s Return
As the envoy carried the turtle out through the gates of Quanyang, sudden darkness fell in broad daylight; a wind rose, thunder crashed, rain poured down, and the heavens were veiled with clouds shimmering in five colors — green, blue, yellow, and more.
When they reached the palace, the turtle was placed in the eastern niche. Its body was like flowing water, lustrous and damp.
Seeing the king, the turtle stretched out its neck and took three steps forward, then drew back its head and returned to its place.
The king asked Wei Ping, “What does it mean that it stepped forward three times and then hid again?”
Wei Ping answered, “The turtle is a loyal servant. Long has it been confined. Your Majesty showed virtue and saved it. Stepping forward is a sign of gratitude; retreating is because it wishes to return to its dwelling.”
The king said, “Excellent! Such a turtle is truly sacred. We should not detain it. Prepare a carriage and release it at once — let us not disturb its destined time.”
Wei Ping’s Address on the Turtle
The turtle is a treasure of All-under-Heaven. Whoever first obtains it will become a Lord of Heaven. Its prognostications do not err; its victories are assured. It is born in the abyss and dwells in the yellow earth. It knows the Way of Heaven and is illumined by ancient wisdom. It swims for three thousand years and never crosses the bounds. It is calm and even, acts without strain. Its lifespan equals Heaven and Earth — without end. It transforms, and its color follows the seasons: spring green, summer yellow, autumn white, winter black. It is discerning in yin and yang, understands punishments and virtues, foresees benefits and harms, fortune and misfortune. Possess it, and the peoples will incline. Do not lose it, for the good of the state.
Words of King Songyuan
Heaven and Earth join their qi, and from this wealth arises. Yin and yang are distinct yet unbroken through the four seasons. There are twelve months in a year, and within a day revolve three hundred sixty‑five cycles. When a sage appears, his body is free of calamity; when a wise ruler uses it, none dare deceive him. Thus it is said: “When happiness comes, man gives birth to it; when calamity comes, man brings it upon himself. Blessing and disaster are twins; punishment and virtue are one in essence. The wise can distinguish them and know what is fortune and misfortune.”
May this bring benefit to the people, disperse afflictions, and accumulate immeasurable merit.