The Emperor's Divine Obsession: Yongzheng and the 100,000 Taels Restoration of Longhu Mountain
Geographic Connections Longhu Mountain, Great Shangqing Palace, Beijing, Qin’an Hall, Great Real Man’s Mansion, Shangqing Town, Guixi County, West Mountain Wanshou Palace. The Divine Cure: Lou Jinyuan’s Meteoric Political Ascent Emperor Yongzheng’s fascination with Daoism was more than a personal hobby; it was a sophisticated political instrument. This “divine obsession” reached its peak in 1727 (the 5th year of Yongzheng), following a unique physician-patient encounter. [1, 2] According to the Chronicle of Longhu Mountain, Lou Jinyuan, a Daoist with the religious title “Sancheng,” arrived in Beijing as an assistant to the 55th Celestial Master, Zhang Xilin. Born in Songjiang and trained under Superintendent Zhou Dajing, Lou was a master of the “Thunder Rites.” [2] In the 1st month of 1731 (Yongzheng 9), the Emperor fell gravely ill. When imperial physicians failed, Lou was summoned to the Qin’an Hall within the Forbidden City. Through his “Green Paper Petitions” (Lü Zhang), the Emperor reportedly felt a “divine harmony returning to his body and spirit.” [1, 2] ...