sparhawk
January 6th, 2008, 01:56 AM
Later Han History
Tuan Yi
Tuan Yi, styled Yüan-chang, was a native of Hsin-tu in Kuang-han. He practiced the arts of the Book of Changes and understood clearly the techniques of Wind Angles. Often when students on their way to take up study with him, he would know about them and even know their names before they arrived.
Once he said to the ford guard, "On a certain day, two students will appear. they will be carrying baggage and they will ask for my residence. I would be grateful if you wold tell them how to find me." Later, events transpired exactly as he had predicted.
In another instance, a student came to study wit Yi, but after several years declared that he had already grasped enough of the essential techniques. He excused himself to return home. Yi prepared a special ointment for him and packed it with brief instructions inside a small bamboo tube. He told the student, "If you have an emergency, open this and look inside."
The student reached Chia-meng Ford and got involved in a wrangle wit the local clerk about crossing. The ford guard struck the student's companion, injuring his head. The student opened the tube and took out the note, which said, "When you arrive at Chia-meng, spread this ointment on the head of the one injured in the fight with the guard." The student followed the instructions and the wound healed instantly. Then he sighed in submission and returned to Tuan Yi to complete his course of study.
Later Tuan Yi went into reclusion, completely covering his tracks. He died at home.
Che Hsiang
Che Hsiang, style Po-shih, was a native of Lo in Kuang-han. An ancestor by the name of Chang Chiang was enfeoffed as marquis of Che, and his grandson Kuo became grand protector of Yu-lin and moved to Kuang-han. As a result, his descendants were enfeoffed there. Kuo was the father of Hsiang.
Kuo had wealth totaling over 200 million cash and had over eight hundred people in his household employ. when Hsiang was quite young he showed such compassion that he was unwilling even to kill an insect or break off a sprout. He was capable of mastering the Book of Changes: Commentary of Ching Fang, and was fond of the tenets of the Huang-lao Taoists. When his father Kuo died, he podered the significance of Lao-tzu's words, "He who has accumulated much can lose heavily," and distributed all his gold, possessions, and property, passing the wealth around to close kin and to strangers alike. Someone upbraided Hsiang, saying, "Sir, you have three sons and two daughters. Your progeny will be numerous, so you ought to add to your store of surplus wealth. Why are you proceeding with this policy of intentionally exhausting what you have?"
Hsiang replied, "In ancient times, a man named Tou Tzu-wen was quoted as saying, "I am running from disaster, not running from wealth!" My family has accumulated wealth for a very long time. Baneful hoarding without bounds is something that Lao-tzu abhorred. At present, the world faces decline, and my offspring are lacking in talents. To have great wealth but lack compassion is a very unfortunate thing. when a wall with fractures is of towering height, its collapse will be swift." Knowledgeable people who heard this explanation had to agree with it.
Hsiang was able to predict the date of his own death. He assembled guests from all branches of his family, feasted with them, and said his parting words. Then in no time, it was over. He died at the age of eighty-four. His family had no wealth remaining at all, and his offspring, just as Hsiang had predicted, weakened and declined.
Doctors, Diviners, and Magicians of Ancient China: Biographies of Fang-shih
Translated by
Kenneth J. DeWoskin
1983
Tuan Yi
Tuan Yi, styled Yüan-chang, was a native of Hsin-tu in Kuang-han. He practiced the arts of the Book of Changes and understood clearly the techniques of Wind Angles. Often when students on their way to take up study with him, he would know about them and even know their names before they arrived.
Once he said to the ford guard, "On a certain day, two students will appear. they will be carrying baggage and they will ask for my residence. I would be grateful if you wold tell them how to find me." Later, events transpired exactly as he had predicted.
In another instance, a student came to study wit Yi, but after several years declared that he had already grasped enough of the essential techniques. He excused himself to return home. Yi prepared a special ointment for him and packed it with brief instructions inside a small bamboo tube. He told the student, "If you have an emergency, open this and look inside."
The student reached Chia-meng Ford and got involved in a wrangle wit the local clerk about crossing. The ford guard struck the student's companion, injuring his head. The student opened the tube and took out the note, which said, "When you arrive at Chia-meng, spread this ointment on the head of the one injured in the fight with the guard." The student followed the instructions and the wound healed instantly. Then he sighed in submission and returned to Tuan Yi to complete his course of study.
Later Tuan Yi went into reclusion, completely covering his tracks. He died at home.
Che Hsiang
Che Hsiang, style Po-shih, was a native of Lo in Kuang-han. An ancestor by the name of Chang Chiang was enfeoffed as marquis of Che, and his grandson Kuo became grand protector of Yu-lin and moved to Kuang-han. As a result, his descendants were enfeoffed there. Kuo was the father of Hsiang.
Kuo had wealth totaling over 200 million cash and had over eight hundred people in his household employ. when Hsiang was quite young he showed such compassion that he was unwilling even to kill an insect or break off a sprout. He was capable of mastering the Book of Changes: Commentary of Ching Fang, and was fond of the tenets of the Huang-lao Taoists. When his father Kuo died, he podered the significance of Lao-tzu's words, "He who has accumulated much can lose heavily," and distributed all his gold, possessions, and property, passing the wealth around to close kin and to strangers alike. Someone upbraided Hsiang, saying, "Sir, you have three sons and two daughters. Your progeny will be numerous, so you ought to add to your store of surplus wealth. Why are you proceeding with this policy of intentionally exhausting what you have?"
Hsiang replied, "In ancient times, a man named Tou Tzu-wen was quoted as saying, "I am running from disaster, not running from wealth!" My family has accumulated wealth for a very long time. Baneful hoarding without bounds is something that Lao-tzu abhorred. At present, the world faces decline, and my offspring are lacking in talents. To have great wealth but lack compassion is a very unfortunate thing. when a wall with fractures is of towering height, its collapse will be swift." Knowledgeable people who heard this explanation had to agree with it.
Hsiang was able to predict the date of his own death. He assembled guests from all branches of his family, feasted with them, and said his parting words. Then in no time, it was over. He died at the age of eighty-four. His family had no wealth remaining at all, and his offspring, just as Hsiang had predicted, weakened and declined.
Doctors, Diviners, and Magicians of Ancient China: Biographies of Fang-shih
Translated by
Kenneth J. DeWoskin
1983