Record of the Flying Sword

邓志谟赤尔斯 · ChinaApr 2025

3.3

Word count: 43K words
Chapters: 14

Summary

Feijian Ji (The Tale of the Flying Sword) is a classic of Ming-dynasty supernatural fiction, telling the legend of Lü Dongbin, who cultivates from mortal flesh to immortality and then roams the human world in immortal form to deliver countless beings. The novel opens with Lü Dongbin's former and present lives: originally a clever lad attending the Emperor of the Eastern Flower, he succumbs to earthly curiosity when he steals a glimpse of the mortal realm, is banished to earth, and is reborn as Lü Yan of Yongle County in Hezhong Prefecture—the future Lü Dongbin. In the mortal world he endures many trials until he meets the adept Zhongli Quan, who enlightens him; through arduous cultivation he masters powerful arts and attains the Way.

As an immortal, Lü Dongbin does not forget the sufferings of the world. Compassionate at heart, he vows to save all who are destined to be saved. Assuming countless forms—now a Daoist, now a merchant, now a scholar, even a beggar or a drunkard—he moves among the rivers and lakes and city streets, using his flying-sword arts to rid the people of evil and rescue the masses. With his help many escape hardship and find new life. Through various trials he also steadily refines his cultivation, ultimately becoming a grand master whose deeds are handed down through the ages as a celebrated tale.

Editor's review

Feijian Ji is one of the more representative works of Ming-dynasty supernatural fiction. Its author, Deng Zhimo, takes Lü Dongbin's career through the immortal and mortal realms as his main thread, weaving cultivation narratives together with tales of town and marketplace. The story begins with the clever lad's earthly desire and banishment, proceeds through Zhongli Quan's enlightenment and hard-won attainment of the Way, and then follows his countless transformations as he roams the world, using flying-sword arts to vanquish evil and save souls; the structure is complete and clearly layered. Its value lies not only in the excitement of immortal arts and magical combat but also in how the immortals' deeds mirror worldly ways and human hearts, with the theme of compassionate salvation running throughout. The language preserves the mixed texture of Ming vernacular and classical Chinese; readers familiar with the supernatural-fiction tradition will find both religious meaning and the lively flavor of folk narrative. This edition makes it easier for modern readers to revisit this classical work; it serves well as an introductory text for understanding the Lü Dongbin story system and the genealogy of Ming supernatural fiction, and is also suited to casual reading as the plot unfolds.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in Ming supernatural fiction and classical vernacular narrative
Readers who want to learn about the origins of Lü Dongbin legends and the Eight Immortals stories
General readers who enjoy tales of immortals undergoing trials in the mortal world and saving beings
Students of literature and history researching the relationship between folk belief and ancient fiction

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer fast-paced modern narrative and lack patience
Beginners who find the mixed classical and old-vernacular style difficult
Readers expecting strict historical scholarship rather than supernatural legend

Reading tips

Read the opening section on past and present lives first, to clarify the relationship between the lad's banishment and Lü Dongbin's reincarnation before continuing
Treat the various transformation-and-salvation stories as standalone short pieces; there is no need to finish in one sitting
Look up classical vocabulary as you go, and focus on enjoying the dialogue and marketplace scenes
After finishing, compare with Eight Immortals legends or other Lü Dongbin stories to note similarities and differences in plot

About the publisher

赤尔斯 China · Founded in 2022

Chiers is a publishing brand used by Beijing Chiers Culture Media Co., Ltd., established in 2022; publicly available information is limited. Judging from the 13 titles in its catalogue, its publishing focus centres on classical Chinese literature and traditional culture, covering ancient philosophy, historical works, huaben fiction and poetic texts. Representative titles include Ge Hong's Baopuzi, Ye Longli's History of the Khitan State, Qu You's New Tales Under the Lamplight, Hong Pian's Qingping Shantang Huaben, Zhang Zhidong's Shumu Dawen and Ma Zong's Yilin, alongside note-style fiction such as Yue Jun's Ershilu and social novels such as Jiang Guangci's Short Trousers. Its author resources consist mainly of the authors of public-domain classics, and its publishing character lies in reissuing ancient works and classic literature in e-book form, with attention to the systematic organisation of source texts and the popularisation of traditional cultural knowledge.

版权信息
第一回诸仙朝玉皇大帝慧童投吕家出世
第二回吕纯阳遇钟离师钟离子五试洞宾
第三回秘授纯阳子丹诀吕纯阳发大誓愿
第四回洞宾得遁天剑法飞仙剑斩蛟杀虎
第五回吕纯阳宿白牡丹纯阳飞剑斩黄龙
第六回纯阳子卖梳货墨纯阳踏石并化钱
第七回纯阳游大庾谒斋纯阳召将收狐精
第八回纯阳子醉死复生纯阳子罗浮画山
第九回献美人画并泛管活已死鱼并吹笛
第十回吕纯阳杭州卖药吕纯阳三醉岳阳
第十一回纯阳游广陵妓馆纯阳游寺访书斋
第十二回纯阳子掷剑化女纯阳子见火龙君
第十三回吕纯阳度何仙姑吕纯阳升入仙班

FAQ

Can I read Feijian Ji without any grounding in classical Chinese?

You can try. The novel is mainly narrated in vernacular, with some classical vocabulary mixed in; the plot moves clearly and is strongly story-driven. First-time readers can start with the transformation-and-salvation passages and use annotations or reference works for difficult words. The overall barrier is not high, but it takes some patience to get used to the style.

What is the relationship between this book and the Eight Immortals legends?

Feijian Ji centers on Lü Dongbin, recounting his journey from mortal cultivation to immortality and then to roaming the world saving people; it is an important text in the Lü Dongbin story system. It shares characters and immortal background with the Eight Immortals legends, but this book focuses on Lü Dongbin's own cultivation and salvation of the world rather than presenting a full group portrait of the Eight Immortals.

Is the flying-sword art a central part of the book?

The flying sword is an important means by which Lü Dongbin, after becoming an immortal, saves the world and eliminates evil, and it gives the book its title; but the novel is not only about magical combat. The flying-sword art is mostly combined with plots of saving destined people and rescuing the masses; as you read, note the theme of compassionate salvation behind the immortal arts rather than seeing them only as displays of power.

Is it suitable as introductory material for studying supernatural fiction?

It is suitable as supplementary reading. The book has a complete structure and a clear main line, helping readers directly experience the narrative methods and religious meaning of Ming supernatural fiction. For research, it is advisable to read it alongside other supernatural novels and relevant scholarship for a more comprehensive understanding.

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About the author

邓志谟 Author

Deng Zhimo was a writer of popular fiction in the Ming dynasty. Very little is known publicly about his life, official career, or dates of birth and death; all that is known today is that eight works survive under his name. Judging from the titles collected here, his writing centers on gods, demons, and Daoist figures. His representative works include The Date Charm, The Flying Sword, The Iron Tree, and narratives such as The Flying Sword of Lü Chunyang of the Tang Dynasty Achieving the Dao and Master Sa Achieving the Dao through the Date Charm. These works mostly revolve around the cultivation journeys and miraculous deeds of Daoist figures such as Master Sa and Lü Chunyang, with fantastical plots that clearly reflect the taste of Ming dynasty supernatural fiction. Written in accessible language for a popular readership, they are later classified as classical literature and classic works, often used for literary appreciation and cultural reading, and are important material for understanding Ming dynasty fiction on Daoist themes.