Lao-tzŭ having now settled all his mundane affairs, bade farewell to the keeper of the Pass, telling him that he would return to earth after the lapse of a thousand days and that he would be recognised by the sign of a Chʽing Yang (青羊), literally, an azure sheep. He then mounted a cloud and soared out of sight of the weeping Yin-hsi in a dazzling glare of light away into the etherial regions, to his home in the heavens.[32]
[1] Tʽai-pʽing-kwang-chī (太平廣志) ch. 1; and the Shen-hsien-chuan, vol. 1.
[2] Shi-chi—老莊申韓列傳三
[3] An author named Chʽen (陳) quoted by Ma Tuan-lin, says that, as Tan means flat-eared, it is not probable that it would be given as a posthumous title. Perhaps it is better to regard it as a name or nickname given to him during life.
[4] Wên-hsíen-tʽung-kʽao (文獻通考), Ch. 211.
[5] Chine, p. 111.
[6] Tao-tê-king, Introduction, Note 1 on page xix.
[7] See the 十字全書, the extract from Szŭ Ma-chien.
[8] Dict. Villes et Arrond., p. 244.
[9] Julien, Tao-tê-king, Introduction, Note 2 on page xix.