The Medicine King and the Coloured Glaze Beast
The Medicine King is offered sacrifices in Gubai Nunnery.On the side of the King's seat，there is a Coloured Glaze Beast，like a dog but not a dog，like a tiger but not a tiger，more like a lynx.There is a fascinating story about the Medicine King and the Coloured Glaze Beast.
Once there was a big stone on Laojun mountain，called Yuzhaokuai（jade stone in Bai language），where Jinchang River flowed down.And there was a rosewood tree on Yuzhaokuai.This rosewood tree，which had been eating wind and drinking dew for 88,000 years，had acquired an immortal spirit.The tree emitted a fragrance，like orchid or musk，which spread for thousands of miles.
One day，the Prince of Snow Mountain was bathing in the river of heaven when he smelled the delicate fragrance and felt refreshing.He drove along the colorful clouds and came to Yuzhaokuai with the guide of the fragrance.
The Prince was a rash young man.When he saw the rosewood tree，he was pleased.He drew out his sword to cut it down without hesitation，and ordered his attendants to take it back to Snow Mountain.
Though the rosewood tree was cut down by the Prince，its root remained in Yuzhaokuai.One year there was a flood，the root was washed down to the beach of the Jinchang River near Dianxin Village.Being an old tree knot，no man wanted it.It was dragged out by the children to herd the sheep and pigs.They treated it as rotten wood and burned it.Just as the saying goes：When people cannot distinguish gold inlaid with jade，even the rosewood is used as rotten wood to burn.
The rosewood's root had been burned for nine days and nine nights.The aroma drifted into the Southern Gate of Heaven，alarming the officer on duty.He thought it must be some filial son in the human world who was praying for blessings sincerely.The officer on duty hurriedly reported it to the Jade Emperor.
The Jade Emperor was very happy to hear it and joyfully took all kinds of immortals out of the palace to the Southern Gate of Heaven.Before he reached there，a fragrant smell came to him.The Jade Emperor didn't enjoy the fireworks in the world.But he did not smell this kind of fragrance before.At that time，he felt treading on air and was very happy.The same was true to other immortals.When they arrived at the Southern Gate of Heaven，they parted the clouds and opened their eyes wide.Looking down，they saw a group of stripped little kids running out of the Jinchang River，who were fighting around the root of the rosewood tree.Some were baking their bellies，some were baking their buttocks，and some were holding their“little brothers”and urinating on the root.A burst of disgusting air rushed up to the Southern Gate of Heaven.
The Jade Emperor was so angry that his face turned blue and purple.He returned to the palace to announce the Plague God and ordered him to send a plague to the children there for three years.
In a short time，the beautiful Jianchuan Bazi was spread the infantile pestilence such as icteric plague，blister，mumps，malnutrition syndrome，measles and erysipelas，etc.Nine out of ten children were ill and people were in panic.No one was in the mood to do farm work，and they would harvest nothing very soon.
The news that children got plague and people had difficulties was reported to the King of the Bai people.The King loved his people very much，so he immediately sent some imperial doctors to treat the children.
The imperial doctors did their best according to the decree of the King.They went to every family with medicines.It took them three months and took them a hundred horses to carry the medicine，but they could not cure a baby.The plague still prevailed.There was no way but to report it to the King truthfully.
The King had to call his ministers to discuss about it.Grandpa Guoshi（the National Teacher）said，“It's the common people's destiny to encounter this difficulty.The only thing to do is to set up an altar to do Buddhist rites for 49 days.Please pray for Buddha，who is merciful in rescuing the suffering and the needy.”“This is a disease caused by ghosts，”said Granny Shiyou.“Only by biting the plowshares and through sorcerer's dance in a trance to drive away the ghosts，can people keep safe.”In the Golden Temple，both of them have their own ways to save people，and the King could not make up his mind.Suddenly the imperial secretary came to report that an old man outside the door，saying that he could cure all kinds of diseases and was willing to share the worries for the King.
The King ordered the imperial secretary to invite the old man in.The old man's hair was white but with a young face，and he dressed like a mountaineer，wearing a woolen felt hat and a pair of linen shoes，with a large-breasted gown with a linen waist band around the waist，the front and back corners of the gown folded in the waist band.A flat basket was slung across his back.In the basket were a copper gourd and a pickaxe.The old man had bright eyes and was holding a monster that looked like both a dog and a tiger.
The Bai people in this kingdom had the tradition to respect the elderly，and the King was no exception.After the old man entered into the palace，the King ordered the attendant to set up a seat and asked the old man to sit down.Then he asked the old man's name.
The old man said，“Ihave no surname and have been collecting medicine since childhood.People in my village use the word‘medicine’to name me.When I was a child，they called me‘the small medicine’；when I grew up，they called me‘the big medicine’；now I'm old，they call me‘the old medicine’.At present，all families are suffering from disasters，and you are worried.I know a little about the medicinal properties and I should share the worries with the King，but...”The King said，“Only if you can relieve the pain of the people，tell me whatever your requests are.”The old man pointed to the monster nearby and said，“This is a Coloured Glaze Beast，which can tell the nature of the medicine.But it is 38,000 years old，and its body is not yet transparent and translucent.Only until it is 42,000 years old，will its body shed all its filiform hairs and become transparent and translucent.At that time，if I ask it to take some medicine，we can see its inside clearly and know whether the medicine is to pass through the tendons and pulse，or through the body's internal organs.But now the plague is spreading，and we can't wait till the day to come.”
The King asked hastily，“Is there no other way？”
The old man said，“Yes，there is.But I'm afraid the King will not agree to do it.”The King asked what he wanted.The old man said，“I need a dragon's liver and a phoenix's gallbladder（the dragon means the King，and the phoenix means the Queen）.As long as the King can take out a piece of liver from his belly and a few drops of bile from the queen，and let the Coloured Glaze Beast eat it，its hair will shed off，and its whole body will be transparent and translucent.Then I will take it to Laojun Mountain to collect 100 kinds of medicine and make it into catholicon.The plague will be quelled within three months.”
The King was frightened to hear it.The old man sensed it and bid farewell to the King，“I often hear that the King loves his people and treats them like his sons.Now I know you have an unearned reputation and I'm leaving.”The King watched the old man go down from the throne hall，and his brow puckered.Then a stratagem came to his mind.He shouted loudly，“Old man，please wait a minute.I will make you the Medicine King，and give you the King's robe and gown，and an imperial carriage used by ministers.You will become a lord.When it comes to the dragon's liver，would you please bear some hardships for me and take your liver out？”The old man thought for a while，went back to the throne hall，and put down the flat basket on his back.He took a pill from a copper gourd，swallowed it and untied his belt.He opened his chest and exposed his abdomen，and said to the King，“Please tell the attendants to bring knives and plates.Once I'm granted a gift by the King，I will rid the people's disasters.”
After a while，the attendant took the knife and dish，and the old man took the liver out of his belly without any fear.He took another pill from the copper gourd and asked the attendant to send it to the Queen.After he got the“phoenix bile”（the Queen's bile），he told the glazed beast to eat it.In less than a moment，the Coloured Glaze Beast shed all its hairs and was completely transparent.Its insides could be seen clearly from the outside.
The old man said good-bye to the King and took the Coloured Glaze Beast to Laojun Mountain to collect medicines.After thirty-six days of tasting thousands of herbs，he selected ninety-nine kinds of good medicines，but one medicine was still needed to make a magic pill.
One day，the old man took the Coloured Glaze Beast to Shangke Mountain and saw a medicine tree with fine leaves and blue flowers and transparent stems on the hillside.From the outside，it looks like a cold-natured drug for clearing away the fire and poison.The old man thought：Among the 99 selected medicines，there are those for nourishing yin and reducing fire，those for refreshing and invigorating qi，and those for promoting the production of body fluid and quenching thirst，so there is need to eliminate fire and sweep away poison.It seems that the Heaven grants man's wish.So he pulled the tree up and watched it for a while and threw it to the glazed beast to taste.But the beast sniffed it for a while，and then stood back.
The old man was eager to save the patient.Seeing the glazed beast cowering and retreating，he angrily scolded it and picked up the medicine.He wanted to try it himself.Before he put it to his mouth，the Coloured Glaze Beast jumped up to him and slapped the medicine to the ground.
Rubbing his hands，the old man cursed the glazed beast，“Evil beast！I give you my heart to eat，but you bite my hand.I told you to try the medicine，but you didn't try it.Will this medicine kill you？Don't you see the common people are suffering？”
The Coloured Glaze Beast looked at him and nodded.It shook its tail a few times and lowered the head to eat the blue flower.
The old man watched the blue flower entering into the belly of the glazed beast，churning constantly.The blue-black juice spread everywhere，and there was a black spot where it scattered，without walking along the ribs or spleen and lung.The Coloured Glaze Beast's body was shaking，struggling painfully.
The old man was frightened.He quickly took some antidote pill from the copper gourd and fed the Coloured Glaze Beast，but it was too late.The juice of the blue flower had flowed into the beast's intestines.In a blink of an eye，the intestines broke into several segments，and the beast died after struggling for a few minutes.
It turned out that this slender blue flower was called“Gelsemium”.Growing behind the mountain and watered daily by the saliva of the poisonous dragon under the back side of the mountain，it was the most poisonous grass in the world.When the Plague God learned that the old man wanted to make a magic pill，he was afraid that he would not be able to cause plagues.He secretly moved the herb to Shangke Mountain to poison the Coloured Glaze Beast so that the old man could not make a magic pill.
The old man was deeply grieved to see the Coloured Glaze Beast's death.Without the beast's help，he found it was difficult to make the magic pill.So he picked up the dead Coloured Glaze Beast，and went to Gubai Nunnery with ninety-nine kinds of medicine.He then built a shack，and set up a few big pots to boil medicine to make pills.He distributed the pills to the sick children.In less than three months，the plague was quelled.
The King sent for the King's robe and gown with an imperial carriage used by ministers，and invited the old man to sit together in the golden throne hall.Because the Coloured Glaze Beast was dead，the old man could not make a magic pill.Although the plague subsided，it would still come back in the future，which meant he had not kept his promise.Besides，there was the saying：There are no two suns in the sky and no two kings for one country.He did not want to share the throne hall with the King，so he returned the King's robe and gown，and the imperial carriage to the King.He only accepted the title of the Medicine King and lived in the shack where he made the medicine for the people until he died of his old age.
After he died，people built a temple in the place where he built the shack and named it Gubai Nunnery，where people shaped a golden body for him and honored him as“the Medicine King”.And the Coloured Glaze Beast was shaped on his side.People offered sacrifice to them when festivals came.