An Qisheng was a native of Langya. He studied under the Elder of the River and made a living by selling medicinal herbs by the sea. Though he grew old, he never took official office, and the people of his time called him the “Thousand-Year Lord.”
When Qin Shi Huang toured the east, he conversed with An Qisheng for three days and three nights, and bestowed upon him gold and jade worth tens of millions. Upon leaving, An Qisheng left all the gifts at the Fuqiang Pavilion and departed, leaving behind a pair of red jade shoes as a token of his gratitude. He also left a letter for the First Emperor, which read: “Seek me beneath Mount Penglai in a few decades.”
Later, when the Qin dynasty fell, An Qisheng associated closely with his friend Kuai Tong. Xiang Yu wished to grant him a noble title, but he ultimately refused to accept it.
Note
Daoist immortal An Qisheng sold herbs by the sea and never took office. He rejected Emperor Qin’s lavish treasures, leaving red jade shoes and an invitation to meet at Penglai. Later he also turned down noble rank offered by Xiang Yu.
An Qisheng (安期生):
A legendary Daoist immortal and alchemist of the Qin and early Han dynasties. He is a central figure in Chinese mythology, representing the ultimate Daoist ideal of transcending worldly power and achieving immortality.
The Elder of the River (河上丈人):
A mysterious, semi-mythical Daoist sage who is traditionally credited with writing the Heshang Gong commentary on the Dao De Jing. His role as An Qisheng’s teacher firmly roots An Qisheng in the esoteric Daoist lineage.
Kuai Tong (蒯通):
Originally named Kuai Che (蒯彻), was a highly legendary political strategist and advisor during the late Qin and early Han dynasties. He was a native of Fanyang and was renowned for his unparalleled eloquence and his skill in analyzing the pros and cons of political and military situations.
Several key pieces of advice he offered throughout his life profoundly influenced the political landscape of his time:
- Conquering a thousand li with a single proclamation: In the late Qin period, he successfully persuaded the magistrate of Fanyang to surrender through his persuasive tongue. He then convinced King Wuchen of Zhao to treat the magistrate with respect and courtesy, enabling Wuchen to subdue over thirty cities in the Yan and Zhao regions with almost no bloodshed, thereby astonishing the realm.
- Assisting Han Xin in conquering Qi: During the Chu-Han contention, Kuai Tong joined Han Xin’s service and became his chief strategist. After Han Xin pacified the State of Qi, Kuai Tong keenly perceived that Han Xin possessed the power to determine the fate of the empire. He advised Han Xin to declare independence and divide the empire into three parts with Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, forming a tripartite balance of power. However, Han Xin, mindful of Liu Bang’s past kindness and trust, ultimately did not adopt this strategy.
- Saving his own life with a single remark: After Han Xin was executed by Empress Lü, he lamented on his deathbed, “I regret not having followed Kuai Tong’s advice!” When Liu Bang heard this, he was furious and had Kuai Tong arrested, intending to boil him alive. Kuai Tong defended himself, saying, “When the Qin dynasty lost its deer (the empire), everyone in the realm gave chase. At that time, I knew only Han Xin and knew nothing of Your Majesty. Besides, there are many in the world who desire to become emperor—can Your Majesty possibly execute them all?” Liu Bang found his reasoning convincing and ultimately pardoned him.
Red Jade Shoes (赤玉舄):
In ancient Chinese mythology, jade shoes were considered the footwear of immortals. By leaving these behind, An Qisheng was signaling his divine nature and his complete detachment from the Emperor’s worldly wealth.
Mount Penglai:
One of the legendary islands of the immortals in Chinese mythology. The First Emperor’s obsession with finding Penglai and seeking the elixir of life is one of the most famous historical anecdotes of his reign, highlighting the futility of trying to conquer death through political power.
Refusing Xiang Yu’s Title:
Even after the fall of the Qin dynasty, An Qisheng continued to reject political entanglements. His refusal of Xiang Yu’s offer proves that his withdrawal from politics was a permanent, principled commitment to Daoist freedom, rather than a mere protest against Qin Shi Huang.
安期生者，琅琊人也，受学河上丈人，卖药海边，老而不仕，时人谓之千岁公。秦始皇东游，请与语三曰三夜，赐金璧直数千万。出置阜乡亭而去，留赤玉舄为报，留书与始皇曰：“后数十年求我於蓬莱山下。”及秦败，安期生与其友蒯通交往，项羽欲封之，卒不肯受。
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