Zhang Meng (張濛) | 24 Histories

Overview

Zhang Meng was a Diviner.

PeriodFive Dynasties

IdentityHistorical · Male

Roles

Found in

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 934 應順元年，歲次甲午，四月庚午朔
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 27, passages 187, 201
AD 934 to AD 936 廢帝之起前後
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 27, passages 100, 102

Career and standing

touring officer of the post stations 館驛巡官
Appointed
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 27, passage 191

Learning and skills

Belief god of Mount Taibai / Cui Hao 太白山神／崔浩 · Relation Medium of
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 27, passage 187

Works and attributed material

Oracle · Medium · Direct quotation
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 27, passages 189-190, 192, 197
神言
Oracle · Speaker
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 27, passage 100

Events and relationships

Relation Servant of deity claimed · Person Cui Hao (崔浩)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 27, passage 187

Assessments and attributes

Assessment oracle proved true yet brought ruin · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 27, passage 100
blind
Physical description
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 27, passage 187

References in the histories

Search passages

History

8 passages

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 27Volume 27 Later Tang Biographies 7: Zhu Hongzhao, Liu Yanlang, Kang Sili, Kang Yicheng, Yao Yanchou · 8 passages

Open chapter

而暠又喜鬼神巫祝之說，有瞽者張濛，自言事太白山神，神，魏崔浩也，其言吉凶無不中，暠素信之。 Hao also favored spirit worship. A blind man named Zhang Meng claimed to serve the god of Mount Taibai—said to be Cui Hao of Wei—and his omens never failed. Hao trusted him deeply.

嘗引濛見帝，聞其語聲，驚曰：「此非人臣也！」 He once presented Meng to the emperor, who started at his voice and cried: “This is no ordinary subject!”

暠使濛問於神，神傳語曰：「三珠並一珠，驢馬沒人驅。歲月甲庚午，中興戊己土。」 Hao had Meng ask the god, who answered: “Three pearls join into one; donkeys and horses sink while men drive on. In the year’s months, jia and gengwu; at Zhongxing, wu and jitu.”

暠不曉其義，使問濛，濛曰：「神言如此，我能傳之，不能解也。」 Hao could not grasp the meaning and asked Meng, who said: “The god spoke thus—I can relay it, but not explain it.”

帝即以濛為館驛巡官。 The emperor then made Meng touring officer of the post stations.

帝將反，而兵少，又乏食，由此甚懼，使暠問濛，濛傳神語曰：「王當有天下，可無憂！」 About to rebel but short of troops and food, the emperor was terrified and had Hao consult Meng, who relayed: “My lord shall rule the realm—fear nothing!”

帝回顧暠曰：「張濛神言，豈不驗哉！」 The emperor turned to Hao and said: “Zhang Meng’s oracle—was it not fulfilled!”

張濛神言驗矣，然焉知其不為禍也！ Zhang Meng’s oracle proved true—yet who could tell it would bring ruin as well!