Observations placeholder
Mircea Eliade - The Chen dynasty men of flight
Identifier
011440
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
The Chen dynasty (simplified Chinese: 陈朝; traditional Chinese: 陳朝; pinyin: Chén Cháo; 557-589), also known as the Southern Chen dynasty, was the fourth and last of the Southern Dynasties in China.
I have grouped this under Taoism, although this may be wrong.
A description of the experience
Mircea Eliade – Shamanism Archaic techniques of ecstasy
The Kuo yu relates that King Chao (515-488 BC) one day said to his minister:
‘The writings of the Chen dynasty state that Chung-li was actually sent as an envoy to the inaccessible parts of heaven and earth; how was such a thing possible?… Tell me whether there be any possibility for people to ascend to heaven?’
The minister explained that the true meaning of this tradition was spiritual; those who were upright and could concentrate were able to ‘rise to higher spheres and descend into the lower and distinguish there the things which it would be proper to do