Xu Fu did not return

[CHUNG Yoon-Ngan <chungyn@mozart.collective.com.au>]

   Xu Fu did not return

   During the period of Warring States (453BC to 221BC) in 246BC Ying
Zheng became the ruler of the State of Qin (present day Feng Xiang county 
in Henan province). He was a very intelligent, clever, capable and rude 
man. He had a vision that one day he would conquer all the other States 
in the land and unite this vast land into one big empire. He accomplished
his vision in 221BC after he had all the other States and united the land
into one big empire which he called it The Qin Empire (221BC to 207BC).
 
   He entitled himself Qin Shi Huang Di (The First Emperor of Qin and
also the first Emperor in China). He divided his Empire into 36
Prefectures. He unified weights and measures. He standardized the coinage.
He even unified the axle lenghts of the wagons. He also uniformed the way
of writing the Chinese characters. He constructed the Great Wall and built
many roads, canals and big palaces.

   He knew memento mori and man could not live forever. He had to die
sooner or later. He was not satisfied as a mortal Emperor. He wanted to 
live forever and become an immortal. He became very superstitious and
employed many sorcerers who lived with him in the palace. Their jobs 
were to report to him the activities of any fairy or immortal who 
travelled about around the counry.

   There was a sorcerer called Xu Fu who was the most prominent sorcerer 
of them all in the Qin Court. Emperor Ying Zheng had spent a lot of money 
on him because his reports were more reliable than the rest.

   Emperor Ying Zheng was an asthmatic and was growing old. He panicked 
because he knew he did not have much time to live. He was in a hurry to 
become an immortal too. He ordered Xu Fu to search for the elixir in the 
country. Xu Fu knew that if he could not find the elixir he could be 
executed.

   One day Xu Fu told Emperor Ying Zheng that there was a mountain called 
Feng Lai in an island in the East Sea where all the immortals lived. If 
anyone could find that mountain he could have no problem to get the elixir 
from the immortals. After hearing this Emperor Ying Zheng was very excited 
and happy. Immediately he ordered Xu Fu to go and find Feng Lai mountain 
at all costs. However, Xu Fu told him that he needed 3000 girls and boys 
as sacrifices to offer to the immortals. Without heitation Emperor Ying 
Zheng agreed. He ordered big boats to be built for Xu Fu's voyage.

   The specially built big boats were ready. In 219BC Xu Fu with 3000 
girls and boys set sailed towards the East Sea in search of Feng Lai 
mountain. Actually he planned not to return to the Qin Empire. He also 
knew that he would be executed if he were to come back without the 
elixir. 

   After sailing for many days they finally arrived at the island in the 
East Sea. It is believed that the island which Xu Fu and the children
went ashored was what we now call Japan. Xu Fu did not find Feng Lai
mountain. He and the children settled down there.

   There are many temples and shrines built to commemorate Xu Fu on the 
East Coast of Japanese islands.

Shi Ji (historical records) 
CHUNG Yoon-Ngan.