1
《易》曰：定天下之吉兇，成天下之亹亹，莫善於蓍龜。 是故天生神物，聖人則之。 又神農、桐君論《本草》藥性，黃帝、岐伯說病候治方，皆聖人之所重也。 故太史公著《龜策》、《日者》及《扁鵲倉公傳》，皆所以廣其聞見，昭示後昆。 齊氏作霸以來，招引英俊，但有藝能，無不畢策，今並錄之以備《方伎》云。
The Book of Changes says: To discern fortune and ruin for the realm and to sustain its ceaseless work, nothing surpasses divination by milfoil and tortoise. Heaven produces sacred things, and the sage models himself upon them. Shennong and Lord Tong classified herbs in the Root Canon; the Yellow Emperor and Qibo set forth disease and cure—all arts the sages held dear. Hence Sima Qian’s treatises on tortoise divination, day-selection, and the physicians Bian Que and Lord Cang—all to widen what we know and guide posterity. Since Qi began its rise, it has gathered talent; anyone with a craft was pressed into service. They are recorded here for the account of Arts and Techniques.
2
由吾道榮王春信都芳宋景業許遵吳遵世趙輔和皇甫玉解法選魏寧綦母懷文張子信馬嗣明
You Wudao Rong, Wang Chun, Xindu Fang, Song Jingye, Xu Zun, Wu Zunshi, Zhao Fuhe, Huangfu Yu, Jiefa Xuan, Wei Ning, Qimu Huaiwen, Zhang Zixin, and Ma Siming
3
由吾道榮，琅邪人。 少好道法，與其同類相求，入長白、太山潛隱，具聞道術。 仍遊鄒、魯之間，習儒業。 晉陽人某，大明法術，乃尋之。 是人為人家庸力，無識之者，久乃訪知。 其人道家符水、咒禁、陰陽歷數、天文、藥性無不通解，以道榮好尚，乃悉授之。 是人謂道榮雲：「我本恒岳仙人，有少罪過，為天官所謫。 今限滿將歸，卿宜送吾至汾水。」 及河，值水暴長，橋壞，船渡艱難。 是人乃臨水禹步，以一符投水中，流便絕。 俄頃水積將至天，是人徐自沙石上渡。 唯道榮見其如是，傍人咸云水如此長，此人遂能浮過，共驚異之。 道榮仍歸本部，隱於琅邪山，辟穀，餌松術、茯苓，求長生之秘。 尋為顯祖追往晉陽。 至遼陽山中，有猛獸去馬十步，所追人驚怖將走。 道榮以杖畫地成火坑，猛獸遽走。 俄值國廢，道榮歸周。 隋初乃卒。 又有張遠遊者，顯祖時令與諸術士合九轉金丹。 及成，顯祖置之玉匣，云：「我貪世間作樂，不能卽飛上天，待臨死時取服。」
You Wudao Rong was from Langye. As a youth he loved Daoist practice; with kindred spirits he withdrew to Mount Changbai and Mount Tai and mastered the arts of the Way. He later wandered between Zou and Lu and studied the classics. A man of Jinyang, deeply versed in the arts, set out to find him. The man was a hired hand in a private home; none knew his worth until a long search revealed him. He knew talismans, spells, calendrics, astronomy, and medicine; seeing Dao Rong’s devotion, he taught him all of it. The man told Dao Rong, “I am an immortal of Mount Heng, banished for a minor fault by heaven’s officers. My term is up and I must return—escort me to the Fen.” At the river the flood had burst its banks, the bridge was gone, and boats could scarcely cross. He paced the Yu steps at the bank and threw a talisman into the water; the current halted. Water piled to the sky; he walked calmly across on the stones of the ford. Only Dao Rong saw how it was done; onlookers, seeing him cross such a flood, were astounded. Dao Rong went home to Mount Langye, lived on pine and tuckahoe, abstained from grain, and sought immortality. Soon Xianzu summoned him to Jinyang. In the Liaoyang hills a beast blocked the road ten paces from the horses; the escort panicked and nearly fled. Dao Rong traced a fiery pit with his staff, and the beast bolted. When Qi fell, Dao Rong entered Zhou service. He died in early Sui times. Zhang Yuanyou, in Xianzu’s day, was set to refine the ninefold golden elixir with other adepts. When the elixir was ready, Xianzu locked it in a jade box: “I love the world too well to ascend now—I will swallow it on my deathbed.”
4
王春，河東人，少好易占，明風角，遊於趙、魏之間，飛符上天。 高祖起於信都，引為館客。 韓陵之戰，四面受敵，從寅至午，三合三離。 高祖將退軍，春叩馬諫曰：「比未時，必當大捷。」 遽縛其子詣王為質，不勝請斬之。 俄而賊大敗。 其後每從征討，其言多中，位徐州刺史，卒。
Wang Chun of Hedong loved the Changes in youth, read the winds, wandered Zhao and Wei, and was famed for sending talismans heavenward. When Gaozu raised his banner at Xindu, Chun became his house diviner. At Hanling they were surrounded; from dawn to noon they clashed three times and broke off three times. Gaozu meant to retreat; Chun caught his bridle: “Before mid-afternoon you will win decisively.” He bound his son and offered him as hostage, asking to be beheaded himself if he proved wrong. Soon the enemy was routed. On later campaigns his forecasts usually proved right; he became inspector of Xu Province and died in office.
5
信都芳，河間人。 少明算術，為州裏所稱。 有巧思，每精研究，忘寢與食，或墜坑坎。 嘗語人云：「算之妙，機巧精微，我每一沈思，不聞雷霆之聲也。」 其用心如此。 以術數干高祖為館客，授參軍丞相倉曹。 祖珽謂芳曰：「律管吹灰，術甚微妙，絕來旣久，吾思所不至，卿試思之。」 芳遂留意，十數日，便云：「吾得矣，然終須河內葭莩灰。」 後得河內葭莩，用其術，應節便飛，餘灰卽不動也。 不為時所重，竟不行，故此法遂絕云。 芳又撰次古來渾天、地動、欹器、漏刻諸巧事，並畫圖，名曰《器準》。 又著《樂書》、《遁甲經》、《四術周髀宗》。 芳又私撰歷書，名為《靈憲歷》，算月有頻大頻小，食必以朔，證據甚甄明，每云：「何承天亦為此法，不能精，靈憲若成，必當百代無異議。」 書未就而卒。
Xindu Fang was from Hejian. From youth he excelled at mathematics and was praised locally. Ingenious and obsessive, he forgot food and sleep over his work and once fell into a ditch. He said, “Calculation is so subtle that when I ponder it I hear no thunder.” Such was his concentration. He offered his arts to Gaozu, became a house guest, and was made staff officer in the chancellor’s granary bureau. Zu Ting said, “The pitch-pipe ash test is subtle and long lost—I cannot recover it; try.” Fang labored ten days and said, “I have it—but only with reed-ash from Henei.” With Henei reed-ash the ash leapt at each season’s turn; other ash stayed still. The court ignored him, the method was never used, and the art died out. He compiled ancient devices—armillary spheres, seismoscopes, tipping vessels, clepsydras—illustrated them in Standards of Instruments. He also wrote Books of Music, the Classic of Hidden Stem, and Four Arts and the Gnomon of the Zhou. His private Spiritual Constitution Calendar tracked the moon’s varying size and fixed eclipses at new moon with rare clarity. “He Chengtian tried this but lacked precision,” he said; “finish this calendar and posterity will not quarrel.” He died before the book was finished.
6
宋景業，廣宗人。 明《周易》，為陰陽，緯候之學，兼明歷數。 魏末，任北平守。 顯祖作相，在晉陽，景業因高德政上言：「《易稽覽圖》曰：『《鼎》，五月，聖人君，天與延年齒，東北水中，庶人王，高得之。』 謹案東北水謂渤海也，高得之，明高氏得天下也。」 是時魏武定八年五月也。 高德政、徐之才並勸顯祖應天受禪，乃之鄴。 至平城都，諸大臣沮計，將還。 賀拔仁等又云：「景業誤王，宜斬之以謝天下。」 顯祖曰：「景業當為帝王師，何可殺也。」 還至幷，顯祖令景業筮，遇《乾》之《鼎》。 景業曰：「《乾》為君，天也。 《易》曰：『時乘六龍以禦天。』 《鼎》，五月卦也。 宜以仲夏吉辰御天受禪。」 或曰：「陰陽書，五月不可入官，犯之卒於其位。」 景業曰：「此乃大吉，王為天子，無復下期，豈得不終於其位。」 顯祖大悅。 天保初，授散騎侍郎。
Song Jingye was from Guangzong. He mastered the Changes, yin-yang lore, weft-text prophecy, and calendrics. At the end of Wei he governed Beiping. While Xianzu was chief minister at Jinyang, Jingye reported through Gao Dezheng: “The Appraisal Diagram of the Changes reads: ‘Ding, the fifth month—a sage reigns; Heaven grants long life; in the northeastern waters a commoner becomes king; Gao shall obtain it.’ The northeastern waters are Bohai; ‘Gao obtains it’ means the Gao will take the realm.” This was the fifth month of Wei Wuding year eight. Gao Dezheng and Xu Zhicai urged Xianzu to take the throne, and he marched on Ye. At Pingcheng the ministers dissuaded him and he nearly turned back. Heba Ren urged, “Jingye misled you—behead him to satisfy the realm.” Xianzu said, “Jingye is fit to teach emperors—he cannot be killed.” Back at Bing, Xianzu had Jingye cast the hexagrams and drew Qian changing to Ding. Jingye said, “Qian is the ruler—it is Heaven. The Changes says, “He rides six dragons to govern Heaven.” Ding is the fifth-month hexagram. Take the throne on an auspicious midsummer day.” Others cited yin-yang taboos: “The fifth month forbids taking office—violators die in their posts.” Jingye answered, “That is excellent: as Son of Heaven you have no term to end—how would you not die in office?” Xianzu was delighted. At the opening of Tianbao he was made gentleman attendant at the palace secretariat.
7
又有荊次德，有術數，預知尒朱榮成敗，又言代魏者齊。 葛榮聞之，故自號齊王。 待次德以殊禮，問其天人之事。 對曰：「齊當興，東海出天子，今王據渤海，是齊地。 又太白與月幷，宜速用兵，遲則不吉。」 榮不從也。
Jing Cide, versed in numerology, foretold Erzhu Rong’s fall and declared that Qi would replace Wei. Ge Rong heard this and took the title King of Qi. Ge Rong honored him and asked about heaven and earth. Cide answered, “Qi will rise; a Son of Heaven will come from the Eastern Sea. You hold Bohai—that is Qi’s ground. Venus stands with the moon—strike at once; delay is ill-omened.” Rong ignored him.
8
許遵，高陽人。 明《易》，善筮，兼曉天文、風角、占相、逆刺，其驗若神。 高祖引為館客，自言祿命不富貴，不橫死，是以任性疏誕，多所犯忤，高祖常容惜之。 邙陰之役，遵謂李業興曰：「彼為火陣，我木陣，火勝木，我必敗。」 果如其言。 清河王岳以遵為開府田曹記室。 岳封王，以告遵，遵曰：「蜜蜂亦作王。」 岳後將救江陵，遵曰：「此行必致後凶，宜辭疾勿去。」 岳曰：「勢不免去，正當與君同行。」 遵曰：「好與生人相隨，不欲共死人同路。」 還。 岳至京尋喪。 顯祖無道日甚，遵語人曰：「多折算來，吾筮此狂夫何時當死。」 遂布算滿床，大言曰：「不出冬初，我乃不見。」 顯祖以十月崩，遵果以九月死。
Xu Zun was from Gaoyang. He mastered the Changes and milfoil, astronomy, wind lore, physiognomy, and geomantic needles—with uncanny accuracy. Gaozu kept him as house diviner; Zun said his fate held neither riches nor violent death, so he spoke freely and often gave offense, yet Gaozu indulged him. At the Mang’s north bank he told Li Yexing, “Their formation is fire, ours wood—fire defeats wood; we will lose.” It happened as he said. Prince Qinghe Yue made him recorder in his field bureau. When Yue became a prince, Zun remarked, “Bees make kings too.” When Yue prepared to relieve Jiangling, Zun warned, “This march brings disaster—plead illness and stay.” Yue said, “I cannot refuse—I ought to take you along.” Zun said, “I keep company with the living—I will not share a road with the dead.” He stayed behind. Yue reached the capital and soon died. As Xianzu grew more lawless, Zun said, “I keep casting when this madman will die.” He spread rods across his bed and cried, “Before winter I shall not see him.” Xianzu died in the tenth month; Zun died in the ninth as he foretold.
9
吳遵世，字季緒，渤海人，少學《易》，入恒山從隱居道士遊處。 數年，忽見一老翁謂之云：「授君開心符。」 遵世跪取吞之，遂明占候。 後出遊京洛，以《易》筮知名。 魏武帝之將卽位也，使遵世筮之，遇《明夷》之《賁》曰：「初登于天，後入于地。」 帝曰：「何謂也？」 遵世曰：「初登于天，當作天子。 後入于地，不得久也。」 終如其言。 世祖以丞相在京師居守，自致猜疑，甚懷憂懼，謀將起兵，每宿蓍令遵世筮之，遵世云：「不須起動，自有大慶。」 俄而趙郡王奉太後令以遺詔追世祖。 及卽祚，授其中書舍人，固辭疾。
Wu Zunshi, styled Jixu, was from Bohai; he studied the Changes in youth and lived with a hermit priest on Mount Heng. After years an old man said, “I give you the Heart-Opening Talisman.” Zunshi knelt, swallowed it, and became a master of divination. In the capital he became famed for the Changes. Before Wei Wudi took the throne, Zunshi cast Mingyi changing to Bi: “First he rises to heaven, then he goes into the earth.” The emperor asked, “What does that mean?” Zunshi said, “Rising to heaven means he becomes Son of Heaven. Entering the earth means his reign will not last.” It ended exactly as he said. Shizu, holding the capital as chief minister, feared suspicion and plotted revolt; nightly he had Zunshi divine. Zunshi said, “Do not move—great fortune will come unbidden.” Soon the Prince of Zhao, by the empress dowager’s testament, recalled Shizu. On his accession he offered Zunshi a secretariat post; Zunshi pleaded illness and refused.
10
趙輔和，清都人。 少以明《易》善筮為館客。 高祖崩於晉陽，葬有日矣，世宗書令顯祖親卜宅兆相於鄴西北漳水北原。 顯祖與吳遵世擇地，頻卜不吉，又至一所，命遵世筮之，遇《革》，遵世等數十人咸云不可用。 輔和少年，在衆人之後，進云：「《革卦》於天下人皆凶，唯王家用之大吉。 《革彖辭》云：『湯武革命，應天順人。』」 顯祖遽登車，顧云：「卽以此地為定。」 卽義平陵也。 有一人父疾，是人詣館別托相知者筮之，遇《泰》，筮者云：「此卦甚吉，疾愈。」 是人喜。 出後，和謂筮者云：「《泰卦》《乾》下《坤》上，然則入土矣，豈得言吉？」 果以凶問至。 和大寧、武平中筮後宮誕男女及時日多中，遂授通直常侍。
Zhao Fuhe was from Qingdu. From youth he mastered the Changes and milfoil and served as a house diviner. After Gaozu died at Jinyang, Shizong ordered Xianzu to choose a tomb on the Zhang’s north bank west of Ye. Xianzu and Wu Zunshi cast repeatedly with ill results; at one site Zunshi drew Ge, and dozens agreed it was unlucky. Young Fuhe spoke last: “Ge bodes ill for commoners, but for a royal house it is excellent. The Ge judgment reads, “Tang and Wu changed the mandate, obeying Heaven and the people.” Xianzu mounted at once and said, “This is the place.” That became Yiping Tomb. When a man’s father fell ill, a friend divined Tai for him and declared the illness would pass. The man rejoiced. Fuhe told the diviner afterward, “Tai puts Qian under Kun—he goes into the earth; how is that auspicious?” Soon came word of death. In Daning and Wuping he divined palace births and dates with great success and was made regular attendant in direct communication.
11
皇甫玉，不知何許人。 善相人，常遊王侯家。 世宗自潁川振旅而還，顯祖從後，玉於道旁縱觀，謂人曰：「大將軍不作物，會是道北垂鼻涕者。」 顯祖旣卽位，試玉相術，故以帛巾袜其眼，而使歷摸諸人。 至於顯祖，曰：「此是最大達官。」 於任城王，曰：「當至丞相。」 於常山、長廣二王，並亦貴，而各私掐之。 至石動統，曰：「此弄癡人。」 至供膳，曰：「正得好飲食而已。」 玉嘗為高歸彥相，曰：「位極人臣，但莫反。」 歸彥曰：「我何為反？」 玉曰：「不然，公有反骨。」 玉謂其妻曰：「殿上者不過二年。」 妻以告舍人斛斯慶，慶以啟帝，帝怒召之。 玉每照鏡，自言當兵死，及被召，謂其妻曰：「我今去不迴，若得過日午時，或當得活。」 旣至正中，遂斬之。
Huangfu Yu’s origins were unknown. A physiognomer, he frequented the houses of nobles. As Shizong marched back from Yingchuan with Xianzu behind, Yu watched from the roadside: “The Grand General will not prevail—the man north of the road who wipes his nose will.” Xianzu blindfolded him and had him feel his way among the courtiers to test his art. At Xianzu he said, “Here is the greatest man in office.” Of Rencheng he said, “He will reach the chancellorship.” Changshan and Changuang he also called noble—and pinched each in secret. At Shi Dongtong he said, “A court fool.” At the pantry steward: “Good meals, nothing more.” Reading Gao Guiyan’s face, Yu said, “You will rise to the summit of rank—only do not rebel.” Guiyan asked, “Why would I rebel?” Yu said, “You bear a rebel’s bone.” Yu told his wife, “The throne will not hold two years.” His wife told Husiqing, who told the emperor; the emperor summoned him in anger. Yu had long said he would die by the blade; summoned, he told his wife, “I will not return—unless I pass noon.” At noon he was beheaded.
12
世宗時有吳士，雙盲而妙於聲相，世宗歷試之。 聞劉桃枝之聲，曰：「有所繫屬，然當大富貴，王侯將相多死其手，譬如鷹犬為人所使。」 聞趙道德之聲，曰：「亦繫屬人，富貴翕赫，不及前人。」 聞太原公之聲，曰：「當為人主，」聞世宗之聲，不動，崔暹私掐之，乃謬言：「亦國主也。」 世宗以為我群奴猶當極貴，況吾身也。
In Shizong’s day a blind Wu man judged men by voice; Shizong tested him often. Liu Taozhi’s voice, he said, betokened great wealth—and many lords would die by his hand, like hawks trained for others. Zhao Daode too served others; he would shine, but less than Liu. Taiyuan’s voice meant a throne; at Shizong’s he was silent until Cui Xian pinched him, then he lied, “A ruler too.” Shizong thought, “If my slaves rise so high, what of me?”
13
解法選，河內人。 少明相術，鑒照人物，皆如其言。 頻為和士開相中，士開牒為府參軍。
Jiefa Xuan was from Henei. From youth his mirror-reading of faces never failed. He Shikai kept him as mansion staff after repeated favorable readings.
14
魏寧，鉅鹿人。 以善推祿命征為館客。 武成親試之，皆中。 乃以己生年月託為異人而問之，寧曰：「極富貴，今年入墓。」 武成驚曰：「是我！」 寧變辭曰：「若帝王，自有法。」 又有陽子術，語人曰：「謠言：『盧十六，雉十四，犍子拍頭三十二。』 且四八天之大數，太上之祚，恐不過此。」 旣而武成崩，年三十二也。
Wei Ning was from Julu. Summoned as house guest for his skill in fate calculation. Wucheng tested him personally; he never missed. Wucheng disguised his birth date; Ning said, “Supreme fortune—and the tomb this year.” Wucheng cried, “That is me!” Ning backtracked: “Emperors follow other rules.” Master Yang cited a rhyme: “Lu sixteen, pheasant fourteen, the colt strikes his head at thirty-two. Four eights are heaven’s great number—the Grand Supreme’s reign will not pass it.” Wucheng died at thirty-two, as he said.
15
綦母懷文，不知何郡人。 以道術事高祖。 武定初，官軍與周文戰於邙山。 是時官軍旗幟盡赤，西軍盡黑，懷文言於高祖曰：「赤火色，黑水色，水能滅火，不宜以赤對黑。 土勝水，宜改為黃。」 高祖遂改為赭黃，所謂河陽幡者。
Qimu Huaiwen’s home commandery was unknown. He served Gaozu with Daoist arts. Early in Wuding the royal army fought Zhou Wen at Mount Mang. The royal banners were red, the western army black. Huaiwen said, “Fire against water is ill-omened—do not meet black with red. Earth conquers water—use yellow.” Gaozu switched to ochre yellow—the Heyang banners.
16
又造宿鐵刀，其法燒生鐵精以重柔鋌，數宿則成剛，以柔鐵為刀脊，浴以五牲之溺，淬以五牲之脂，斬甲過三十札。 今襄國冶家所鑄宿柔鋌，乃其遺法，作刀猶甚快利，不能截三十札也。 懷文云：「廣平郡南斡子城是干將鑄劍處，其土可以瑩刀。」 懷文官至信州刺史。
He forged night-quenched blades: layer soft iron on hardened steel, quench in the five beasts’ urine and fat—the edge cut thirty layers of armor. Xiangguo smiths still use his night-soft ingots; their blades are keen but not thirty-fold. He said the soil at Ganzi Castle south of Guangping, where Gan Jiang forged swords, polishes blades. Huaiwen became inspector of Xin Province.
17
又有孫正言，謂人曰：「我昔武定中為廣州士曹，聞城人曹普演言：『高王諸兒，阿保當為天子，至高德之承之，當滅。』」 阿保謂天保，德之謂德昌也，滅年號承光，卽承之也。
Sun Zhengyan recalled hearing in Guangzhou during Wuding: “Among Gao’s sons, Abao will reign; when Degao’s Chengzhi comes, the line ends. Abao is Tianbao, Degao is Dechang; the doomed era Chengguang is Chengzhi.”
18
張子信，河內人也。 性清凈，頗涉文學。 少以醫術知名，恒隱於白鹿山。 時遊京邑，甚為魏收、崔季舒等所禮，有贈答子信詩數篇。 後魏以太中大夫徵之，聽其時還山，不常在鄴。
Zhang Zixin was from Henei. Quiet and literate by nature. Famed young as a physician, he lived as a hermit on White Deer Mountain. In the capital Wei Shou and Cui Jishu honored him; poems between them survive. Wei made him grand master of palace leisure, letting him return to the hills; he was seldom at Ye.
19
又善易卜風角。 武衛奚永洛與子信對坐，有鵲鳴於庭樹，鬥而墮焉。 子信曰：「鵲言不善，向夕若有風從西南來，歷此樹，拂堂角，則有口舌事。 今夜有人喚，必不得往，雖敕，亦以病辭。」 子信去後，果有風如其言。 是夜，琅邪王五使切召永洛，且雲敕喚。 永洛欲起，其妻苦留之，稱墜馬腰折。 詰朝而難作。 子信齊亡卒。
He also read the Changes and the winds. Xi Yongluo sat with Zixin when magpies fought in the courtyard tree and fell. Zixin said, “The magpie foretells trouble; if southwest wind brushes this tree and the hall corner at dusk, quarrels follow. If summoned tonight, refuse—even an edict; plead illness.” Wind came as he foretold. That night Langye’s fifth son urgently summoned Yongluo, claiming an edict. His wife held him back, claiming a fall had broken his waist. At dawn the coup erupted. Zixin died with the fall of Qi.
20
馬嗣明，河內人。 少明醫術，博綜經方，《甲乙》、《素問》、《明堂》、《本草》莫不咸誦。 為人診候，一年前知其生死。 邢卲子大寶患傷寒，嗣明為之診，候脉，退告楊愔云：「邢公子傷寒不治自差，然脈候不出一年便死，覺之晚，不可治。」 楊、邢並侍宴內殿，顯祖云：「子才兒，我欲乞其隨近一郡。」 楊以此子年少，未合剖符，讌罷，奏云：「馬嗣明稱大寶脉惡，一年內恐死，若其出郡，醫藥難求。」 遂寢。 大寶未期而卒。
Ma Siming was from Henei. He mastered medicine and the classics—Jade A, Plain Questions, Bright Hall, and the materia medica canon. He could tell life or death a year ahead. When Xing Shao’s son Dabao fell ill, Siming said to Yang Yin, “The cold will pass, but the pulse shows death within a year—too late to cure.” At court Xianzu said he would give Dabao a nearby commandery. Yang objected after the feast: “Siming says Dabao’s pulse is fatal within a year—a distant post leaves him without care.” The appointment was dropped. Dabao died within the year.
21
楊令患背腫，嗣明以練石塗之便差。 作練石法：以粗黃色石鵝鴨卵大，猛火燒令赤，內淳醋中，自屑，頻燒至石盡，取石屑曝乾，搗下簁。 和醋以塗腫上，無不愈。 後遷通直散騎常侍。 針灸孔穴，往往與《明堂》不同。
Siming cured Yang’s back abscess with refined stone paste. Refined stone: heat yellow cobbles to red, quench in vinegar until they crumble, dry and sift the powder. Mixed with vinegar and applied, no swelling failed to heal. He later became regular attendant in direct communication. His acupuncture points often differed from the Bright Hall canon.
22
從駕往晉陽，至遼陽山中，數處見牓，云有人家女病，若有能治差者，購錢十萬。 諸名醫多尋牓至，問病狀，不敢下手。 唯嗣明獨治之。 問其病由。 云曾以手將一麥穟，卽見一赤物長二寸，似蛇，入其手指中，因驚怖倒地，卽覺手臂疼腫，漸及半身俱腫，痛不可忍，呻吟晝夜不絕。 嗣明為處方服湯。 比嗣明從駕還，女平復。 嗣明，隋初卒。
On the road to Jinyang in Liaoyang hills, placards offered a hundred thousand cash to heal a girl. Famous doctors came, read the case, and dared not treat. Only Siming took the case. He asked how the illness began. She had touched a wheat ear; a red serpent-like thing two inches long entered her finger. Her arm swelled to half her body in agony day and night. Siming gave her a decoction. When he returned from court, she was healed. Siming died in early Sui.
23
全文以中華書局、一九七二年十一月、第一版《北齊書》為本校。
This text has been collated against the Zhonghua Book Company first edition of the Book of Northern Qi (November 1972).