Zi Wei Dou Shu‘s Master Chen Tuan: The Sleeping Immortal

In ancient times, Taoist masters practiced an unusual form of meditation—prolonged sleep, sometimes lasting decades. Among them, Chen Tuan, known as The Sleeping Immortal, became legendary for his ability to rest for months without waking.

Born mute, Chen Tuan’s destiny shifted after a mystical encounter by the river. Gifted with speech and extraordinary intelligence, he soon mastered ancient texts with ease. Yet, his heart longed for a life beyond worldly fame.

Summoned by Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang dynasty, Chen Tuan declined imperial luxuries and retreated to cultivate in the cliffs of Wudang Mountain for over 20 years. Later, he continued his practice in the stone caves of Mount Huashan, where he was said to have slept for over 100 days at a time. On one occasion, a woodcutter mistook his motionless body, covered in dirt, for a corpse. After a long while, Chen Tuan awoke and said, “I was enjoying a deep sleep—why did you disturb me?”

(to be continued…)