The wandering Taoist
The Wandering Taoist is the story of Kwan Saihung, a solitary Taoist ascetic and only member of the Zhengyi-Huashan sect outside of China. He caries the seeds of Taoism but walks on alien soil. Perhaps those seeds could sprout here. But they can't be planted until the tree that bears them is understood and accepted. In order to do this, we have to reverse the time warp, span the distance, and go back to early twentieth century China--a land that might initially seem as alien to us as modern American society must seem to Kwan. Kwan Saihung entered the South Peak Temple at the age of nine. He eventually became the last of thirteen disciples under the Grand Master of Huashan, for Taoist practices could be transmitted only directly through the guidance of an accomplished master. How a young boy was led to a life of renunciation and how he preserved his legacy in spite of the turmoil of Chinese society in the early twentieth century are critical reminders that spirituality is possible even in the darkest of times. Understanding his struggles to nurture the Tao right into a different era, country and culture is an inspiration to save any possible portions of his tradition before he leaves the world for this final stage.