Volume 204 Biographies 129: Medicine and Divination

Wikisource chapter banner for Volume 204, Biographies 129 — Occult Arts and Techniques; navigational links to volumes 203 and 205; notes list Li Chunfeng, Zhen Quan (with Xu Yinzong and Zhang Wenzong), Yuan Tiangang (with Keshi, Zhang Jingzang, Yifu Sil, Jin Liangfeng, and Wang Yuanzhi), Xue Yi (with Ye Fashan), Ming Chongyan, Shang Xianfu, Yan Shansi, Du Sheng, Zhang Guo (with Xing Hebao, Shi Yeguang, and Luo Siyuan), Jiang Fu, and Sang Daomao.

凡推步、卜、相、醫、巧，皆技也。能以技自顯地一世，亦悟之天，非積習致然。然士君子能之，則不迂，不泥，不矜，不神；小人能之，則迂而入諸拘礙，泥而弗通大方，矜以誇眾，神以誣人，故前聖不以為教，蓋吝之也。若李淳風諫太宗不濫誅，許胤宗不著方劑書，嚴譔諫不合乾陵，乃卓然有益於時者，茲可珍也。至遠知、果、撫等詭行紀怪，又技之下者焉。

Calendrical astronomy, divination, physiognomy, medicine, and mechanical craft—all count as specialized techniques. When someone can rise to fame in a single age through a craft alone, that gift is also a kind of heaven-sent insight—not something mere long practice can fully explain. When gentlemen master such arts, they are neither pedantic nor rigid, neither boastful nor given to mystification; but when petty men do, they turn pedantic and trap themselves in narrow rules, cling to method and miss the larger view, strut to impress crowds, and play the wonder-worker to mislead others. That is why the ancient sages did not treat such skills as proper instruction—they held them back. Li Chunfeng's counsel to Emperor Taizong against indiscriminate killing, Xu Yinzong's refusal to publish formula books, and Yan Zan's protest against the Qianling mausoleum project—all stand out as men who genuinely served their times. Such figures are worth cherishing. Men such as Wang Yuanzhi, Zhang Guo, and Jiang Fu, with their eccentric deeds and tales of the uncanny, belong to an even lower rung of the craft.

李淳風，岐州雍人。父播，仕隋高唐尉，棄官為道士，號黃冠子，以論譔自見。淳風幼爽秀，通群書，明步天歷算。貞觀初，與傅仁均爭歷法，議者多附淳風，故以將仁郎直太史局。制渾得儀，詆摭前世失，著《法象書》七篇上之。擢承務郎，遷太常博士，改太史丞，與諸儒修書，遷為令。太宗得秘讖，言「唐中弱，有女武代王」。以問淳風，對曰：「其兆既成，已在宮中。又四十年而王，王而夷唐子孫且盡。」帝曰：「我求而殺之，奈何？」對曰：「天之所命，不可去也，而王者果不死，徒使疑似之戳淫及無辜。且陛下所親愛，四十年而老，老則仁，雖受終易姓，而不能絕唐。若殺之，復生壯者，多殺而逞，則陛下子孫無遺種矣！」帝采其言，止。

Li Chunfeng came from Yong in Qizhou. His father Li Bo had served the Sui as magistrate of Gaotang, then left office to become a Daoist priest under the name Huangguanzi and won notice through scholarly writings. Chunfeng was clever and refined as a boy, read widely, and excelled in astronomy and calendrical mathematics. Early in the Zhenguan reign he debated the calendar with Fu Renjun; most court opinion favored Chunfeng, and he was posted to the Astronomical Bureau as a Jiangrenlang. He built an armillary sphere and related instruments, catalogued earlier calendrical errors, and submitted seven chapters of his Book of Celestial Patterns. Promoted to Chengwulang, then Erudite of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, he became Vice Director of the Astronomical Bureau, took part in the great book project with other scholars, and rose to Director of the bureau. Taizong came upon a secret prophecy: "Tang will grow feeble midway; a martial woman will seize the throne." He asked Chunfeng, who answered, "The omen is already fulfilled—the person is already in the palace. In another forty years she will reign, and once enthroned she will wipe out Tang's line almost entirely." The emperor said, "If I hunt her down and kill her, what then?" He replied, "Heaven's mandate cannot be undone. A future sovereign will not die from your blade; you would only spread suspicion and slaughter among the innocent. Besides, she is someone you cherish. In forty years she will be old, and age will soften her. Though the throne changes hands at last, Tang itself cannot be utterly destroyed. Kill her, and a younger, stronger claimant will appear. The more you kill, the bolder such omens grow—and Your Majesty's line will leave no survivor!" The emperor accepted his counsel and desisted.

淳風於占候吉兇，若節契然，當世術家意有鬼神相之，非學習可致，終不能測也。以勞封昌樂縣男。奉詔與算博士梁述、助教王真儒等是正《五曹》、《孫子》等書，刊定註解，立於學官。撰《麟德歷》代《戊寅歷》，候者推最密。自秘閣郎中復為太史令，卒。所撰《典章文物志》、《乙巳占》等書傳於世。子該，孫仙宗，並擢太史令。

In divining good and ill fortune Chunfeng was uncannily exact, as if reading off tallies. Contemporary experts believed spirits aided him—no mere training could explain it—and no one could finally plumb his methods. For his service he was enfeoffed as Baron of Changle. By imperial order he worked with Calculation Erudite Liang Shu, Assistant Instructor Wang Zhenru, and others to collate the Wucao, Sunzi, and related mathematical texts, settle their commentaries, and place them in the official curriculum. He authored the Lindé Calendar to replace the Wuyin Calendar, and astronomers judged its predictions the most accurate yet. After serving as Secretariat Drafter he again became Director of the Astronomical Bureau, and died in office. His works, including the Record of Institutions and Cultural Relics and the Yisi Divinations, circulated widely. His son Gai and grandson Xianzong both rose to Director of the Astronomical Bureau.

唐初言歷者惟傅仁均。仁均，滑州人，終太史令。

In early Tang, Fu Renjun alone dominated calendrical debate. Renjun came from Huazhou and ended his career as Director of the Astronomical Bureau.

甄權，許州扶溝人。以母病，與弟立言究習方書，遂為高醫。仕隋為秘書省正字，稱疾免。魯州刺史庫狄嵚風痺不得挽弓，權使彀矢向堋立，鍼其肩隅，一進，曰：「可以射矣。」果如言。貞觀中，權已百歲，太宗幸其舍，視飲食，訪逮其術，擢朝散大夫，賜幾杖衣服。尋卒，年一百三歲。所撰《脈經》、《針方》、《明堂》等圖傳於時。

Zhen Quan was from Fugou in Xuzhou. When his mother fell ill, he and his younger brother Liyan threw themselves into medical texts and became celebrated physicians. Under the Sui he served as Proofreader in the Secretariat, then resigned on grounds of illness. Kudie Qin, prefect of Lu, suffered wind paralysis and could not draw a bow. Quan had him stand with arrows nocked toward the target, inserted a needle at the corner of his shoulder, withdrew it once, and said, "You can shoot now." It proved exactly as he had said. During Zhenguan, Quan was already a centenarian. Taizong visited his home, watched how he ate and drank, asked about his medical methods, promoted him to Grand Master for Palace Leisure, and granted him an honor staff, cane, and robes. He died soon afterward, aged one hundred three. His Pulse Classic, Acupuncture Formulas, Bright Hall diagrams, and related works circulated widely in his day.

立言仕為太常丞。杜淹苦流腫，帝遣視，曰：「去此十日，午漏上，且死。」如之，有道人必腹懣煩彌二歲，診曰：「腹有蠱，誤食發而然。」令餌雄黃一劑，少選，吐一蛇如拇，無目，燒之有發氣，乃愈。

Liyan served as Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Du Yan was tormented by running sores; the emperor sent Liyan to examine him. He said, "In ten days, before the noon clepsydra stroke, he will die." It happened as he predicted. A Daoist priest had suffered abdominal distension and distress for nearly two years. Liyan diagnosed him: "You have gu in the belly—caused by eating something that triggered it." He gave him one dose of realgar; shortly afterward the man vomited a thumb-sized, eyeless snake. When burned it smelled of hair, and he recovered.

後以醫顯者，清漳宋俠、義興許胤宗、洛陽張文仲李虔縱、京兆韋慈藏。俠官朝散大夫，藥藏監。

Later physicians who won fame included Song Xia of Qingzhang, Xu Yinzong of Yixing, Zhang Wenzong and Li Qianzong of Luoyang, and Wei Cizang of the capital region. Xia held the posts of Grand Master for Palace Leisure and Superintendent of the Medicine Repository.

胤宗仕陳為新蔡王外兵參軍。王太后病風不能言，脈沈難對，醫家告術窮。胤宗曰：「餌液不可進。」即以黃耆、防風煮湯數十斛，置床下，氣如霧，熏薄之，是夕語。擢義興太守。武德初，累進散騎侍郎。關中多骨蒸疾，轉相染，得者皆死，胤宗療視必愈。或勸其著書貽後世者，答曰：「醫特意耳，思慮精則得之。脈之候幽而難明，吾意所解，口莫能宣也。古之上醫，要在視脈，病乃可識。病與藥值，唯用一物攻之，氣純而愈速。今之人不善為脈，以情度病，多其物以幸有功，譬獵不知兔，廣絡原野，冀一人獲之，術亦疏矣。一藥偶得，它味相制，弗能專力，此難愈之驗也。脈之妙處不可傳，虛著方劑，終無益於世，此吾所以不著書也。」卒年七十餘。

Yinzong had served the Chen as External Troops Adjutant to the Prince of Xincai. The prince's mother suffered a wind ailment and could not speak; her pulse was deep and baffling, and other physicians declared themselves at a loss. Yinzong said, "She cannot take medicine by mouth." He boiled dozens of hu of astragalus and saposhnikovia decoction, set the vessels under her bed so the steam rose like mist, and let the fumes bathe her—by evening she could speak again. He was promoted to prefect of Yixing. Early in the Wude era he rose step by step to Attendant Cavalier. Bone-steaming fever ravaged Guanzhong, spreading contagiously and killing nearly everyone who contracted it—yet Yinzong's patients invariably recovered. When others urged him to write for posterity, he replied, "Medicine depends on focused insight—refine your thinking and you grasp it. Pulse signs are subtle and elusive; what I understand in the mind, words cannot convey. The great physicians of antiquity relied above all on reading the pulse; only then could disease be truly known. When illness and remedy align, use a single drug to strike at it—its force stays pure and recovery comes quickly. Today's doctors cannot read pulses well; they guess at disease by mood and pile on drugs hoping something works—like hunting without knowing where the rabbit lies, casting nets across the whole plain and hoping someone catches one. That is crude practice. One ingredient may suit the case, yet other flavors counteract it and blunt its power—that is why cures fail. The subtle art of the pulse cannot be handed down; empty prescription books would help no one. That is why I refuse to publish." He died in his seventies.

文仲仕武後時，至尚藥奉禦。特進蘇良嗣方朝，疾作，仆廷中。文仲診曰：「憂憤而成，若脅痛者，殆未可救。」頃告脅痛。又曰：「及心則貽。」俄心痛而死。文仲論風與氣尤精。後集諸言方者與共著書，詔王方慶監之。文仲曰：「風狀百二十四，氣狀八十，治不以時，則死及之。惟頭風與上氣、足氣，藥可常禦。病風之人，春秋末月，可使洞利，乃不困劇，自餘須發則治，以時消息。」乃著《四時輕重術》凡十八種上之。

Wenzong served under Empress Wu and rose to Attending Physician of Imperial Medicines. Special Advancement Holder Su Liangsi was at court when he was seized by illness and collapsed in the hall. Wenzong examined him and said, "This arose from worry and anger. If flank pain sets in, he will likely not survive." Before long he complained of flank pain. Wenzong added, "When it reaches the heart, he is lost." Soon heart pain seized him and he died. Wenzong's understanding of wind and qi disorders was especially keen. Later the court gathered leading formula physicians to compile medical books under Wang Fangqing's supervision. Wenzong said, "There are one hundred twenty-four patterns of wind disease and eighty of qi disorder. Treat them out of season and death follows. Only head-wind, upper qi, and foot qi can be held at bay with regular medication. For wind patients, give a strong purge in the last month of spring or autumn to spare them severe attacks; otherwise treat only when symptoms flare, following seasonal rhythms." He then submitted his Treatise on Seasonal Severity in Medicine in eighteen categories.

虔縱官侍禦醫，慈藏光祿卿。

Qianzong served as Attending Imperial Physician; Cizang held the rank of Grand Master for the Palace.

袁天綱，益州成都人。仕隋為鹽官令。仕隨為鹽官令。在洛陽，與杜淹、王珪、韋挺遊，天綱謂淹曰：「公蘭臺、學堂全且博，將以文章顯。」謂珪「法令成，天地相臨，不十年官五品」；謂挺「面如虎，當以武處官」；「然三君久皆得譴，吾且見之」。淹以侍御史入天策為學士，珪太子中允，挺善隱太子，薦為左衛率。武德中，俱以事流雋州，見天綱，曰：「公等終且貴。杜位三品，難與言壽，王、韋亦三品，後於杜而壽過之，但晚節皆困。」見竇軌曰：「君伏犀貫玉枕，輔角完起，十年且顯，立功其在梁、益間邪！」軌後為益州行臺仆射，天綱復曰：「赤脈幹瞳，方語而浮赤入大宅，公為將必多殺，願自戒。」軌果坐事見召。天綱曰：「公毋憂，右輔澤而動，不久必還。」果還為都督。

Yuan Tiangang came from Chengdu in Yizhou. Under the Sui he served as magistrate of Yanguan. He likewise served the Sui as magistrate of Yanguan. In Luoyang he befriended Du Yan, Wang Gui, and Wei Ting. Tiangang told Yan, "Your Orchid Terrace and Study Hall marks are full and broad—you will win fame through writing. To Gui he said, "Your decree lines are set; heaven and earth press upon you—in less than ten years you will reach fifth rank"; to Ting, "Your face is tiger-like—you will rise through military office"; "yet all three of you will eventually suffer dismissal—and I shall live to see it." Yan entered the Heavenly Stratagem Academy as academician from his post as attending censor; Gui became principal of the crown prince's household; Ting, close to the hidden crown prince, was recommended as Left Guard General. During Wude all three were exiled to Jun prefecture over political troubles. Meeting Tiangang again, they heard him say, "You will still rise to wealth and rank. Du will reach third rank, though I cannot speak confidently of his lifespan. Wang and Wei will also reach third rank, later than Du but outliving him—yet all three will suffer hardship in their final years. Meeting Dou Gui he said, "Your hidden-rhinoceros mark runs through the jade-pillow zone and your cheek angles stand full—in ten years you will shine; your achievements will lie between Liang and Yi, will they not! Later, when Gui became regional commander of Yizhou, Tiangang warned again: "Red vessels streak your pupils; even as you speak, red qi floods the great mansion—as a commander you will slaughter many. Guard yourself." Gui was indeed summoned to court over a legal matter. Tiangang told him, "Do not worry—your right assistant zone is moist and active; you will return soon. He was indeed restored as regional commander.

貞觀初，太宗召見曰：「古有君平，朕今得爾，何如？」對曰：「彼不逢時，臣固勝之。」武後之幼，天綱見其母曰：「夫人法生貴子。」乃見二子元慶、元爽，曰：「官三品，保家主也。」見韓國夫人，曰：「此女貴而不利夫。」後最幼，姆抱以見，紿以男，天綱視其步與目，驚曰：「龍瞳鳳頸，極貴驗也；若為女，當作天子。」帝在九成宮，令視岑文本，曰：「學堂瑩夷，眉過目，故文章振天下。首生骨未成，自前而視，法三品。肉不稱骨，非壽兆也。」張行成、馬周見，曰：「馬君伏犀貫腦，背若有負，貴驗也。近古君臣相遇未有及公者。然面澤赤而耳無根，後骨不隆，壽不長也。張晚得官，終位宰相。」其術精類如此。高士廉曰：「君終作何官？」謝曰：「仆及夏四月，數既盡。」如期以火山令卒。

Early in Zhenguan, Taizong received him and said, "Ancient times had Yan Junping; now I have you—how do we compare?" He answered, "He missed his age; your servant is certainly the better fortune." When the future Empress Wu was still a girl, Tiangang met her mother and said, "Madam, your features promise noble sons." He then examined her sons Yuangqing and Yuanshuang: "Third rank—men who will uphold the household." Of the Lady of Han he said, "This daughter will be exalted but bring her husband no good." The youngest girl was carried in by her nurse, passed off as a boy. Tiangang studied her gait and eyes and exclaimed, "Dragon pupils and a phoenix neck—the highest marks of eminence; if this child were a girl, she would become Son of Heaven. At Jiucheng Palace the emperor had him examine Cen Wende. Tiangang said, "His Study Hall is luminous and even, his brows overshoot his eyes—hence his prose shook the empire. The crown bone is not yet fully formed; viewed from the front, his marks fit third rank. His flesh does not match his bone structure—not a sign of long life." Examining Zhang Xingcheng and Ma Zhou, he said of Ma, "The hidden-rhinoceros mark runs through his brain, his back as though carrying a burden—marks of high rank. In recent times no bond between ruler and minister has matched what awaits you. Yet his face is flushed and ruddy, his ears lack deep roots, and the back of his skull does not rise—he will not live long. Zhang rose to office late but ended as chief minister." His craft was uncannily precise in just this way. Gao Shilian asked him, "What post will you hold in the end?" He demurred: "I will last only until the fourth month of summer—my allotted span is finished." He died on schedule while serving as magistrate of Huoshan.

子客師，亦傳其術，為廩犧令。高宗置一鼠於奩，令術家射，皆曰鼠。客師獨曰：「強實鼠，然入則一，出則四。」發之，鼠生三子。嘗度江，叩舟而還，左右請故，曰：「舟中人鼻下氣皆墨，不可以濟。」俄有一男子，跛而負，直就舟，客師曰：「貴人在，吾可以濟。」江中風忽起，幾覆而免。跛男子乃婁師德也。

His son Keshi inherited his methods and served as magistrate of the grain and sacrificial-animal office. Emperor Gaozong hid a mouse in a casket and asked diviners to identify it; all declared it a mouse. Keshi alone said, "It is indeed a mouse—but one went in and four will come out. When they opened the casket, the mouse had just given birth to three pups. Once, about to cross a river, he struck the boat and turned back. When attendants asked why, he said, "Everyone aboard has black qi beneath the nose—we cannot sail with them. Soon a lame man carrying a load boarded directly. Keshi said, "A man of rank is here—we may cross now." A sudden gale nearly swamped them, yet they escaped. The lame man was Lou Shide.

時有長社人張憬藏，持與天綱埒。太子詹事蔣儼有所問，答曰：「公厄在三尺土下，盡六年而貴，六十位蒲州刺史，無有祿矣。」儼使高麗，為莫離支所囚，居土室六年還。及為蒲州，歲如期，則召掾史、妻子，告當死，俄詔聽致仕。劉仁軌與鄉人靖賢請占，憬藏答曰：「劉公當五品而譴，終位冠人臣。」謂賢曰：「君法客死。」仁軌為尚書仆射。賢猥曰：「我三子皆富田宅，吾何客死？」俄喪三子，盡鬻田宅，寄死友家。魏元忠尚少，往見憬藏，問之，久不答，元忠怒曰：「窮通有命，何預君邪？」拂衣去。憬藏遽起曰：「君之相在怒時，位必卿相。」姚崇、李迥秀、杜景佺往從之遊，憬藏曰：「三人者皆宰相，然姚最貴。」郎中裴珪妻趙見之，憬藏曰：「夫人目修緩，法曰『豕視淫』，又曰『目有四白，五夫守宅』，夫人且得罪。」俄坐奸，沒入掖廷。裴光廷當國，憬藏以紙大署「臺」字投之，光廷曰：「吾既臺司矣，尚何事？」後三日，貶臺州刺史。

At the time Zhang Jingzang of Changshe was considered Tiangang's equal. When Jiang Yan, steward of the heir apparent's household, consulted him, he answered, "Your ordeal lies under three feet of earth. In six full years you will rise; at sixty you will be prefect of Puzhou—and receive no salary. Yan was sent to Goguryeo, imprisoned by the Molichi, and spent six years in an earthen cell before returning. As prefect of Puzhou, when the predicted year came he gathered clerks and family, announced his death was near—and soon received permission to retire. Liu Ren'gui and his neighbor Jing Xian sought a reading. Jingzang said, "Liu will reach fifth rank and face dismissal, yet in the end he will stand above all ministers. To Xian he said, "Your features mark you for death far from home." Ren'gui became Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. Xian scoffed, "My three sons all own rich estates—why should I die abroad? Soon all three sons died; he sold every field and house and died as a guest in a friend's home. Wei Yuanzhong, still young, visited Jingzang for a reading, but Jingzang was silent so long that Yuanzhong snapped, "Fortune and ruin are fated—what business is it of yours? He brushed off his sleeves and walked out. Jingzang sprang up and cried, "Your physiognomy shows best in anger—you are fated for the highest ministerial rank. When Yao Chong, Li Huijiu, and Du Jingqian came to study with him, Jingzang said, "All three will become chancellors—but Yao will rank highest." Pei Gui's wife Zhao consulted him. Jingzang said, "Your eyes are long and languid—the texts call this 'swinish, lustful gaze,' and also 'four whites in the eye—five husbands guarding the house.' Madam, you will soon fall into disgrace." Soon she was convicted of adultery and sent to the palace women's quarters. When Pei Guangting dominated the government, Jingzang tossed him a slip bearing the character "Tai." Guangting said, "I already head the secretariat—what more could you mean? Three days later he was demoted to prefect of Taizhou.

隋末又有高唐人乙弗弘禮，當煬帝居藩，召見，弘禮賀曰：「大王為萬乘主，所戒在德而已。」及即位，悉詔諸術家坊處之，使弘禮總攝。海內浸亂，帝曰：「而昔言朕既驗，然終當奈何？」弘禮逡巡，帝知之，乃曰：「不言，且死！」弘禮曰：「臣觀人臣相與陛下類者不長，然聖人不相，故臣不能知。」由是敕有司監視，毋得與外語。

Near the end of Sui there was also Yifu Hongli of Gaotang. When Yang Di was still prince, Hongli was summoned and congratulated him: "Your Highness will rule the realm—the only warning is to keep your virtue. On his accession he gathered all occult specialists into one ward and put Hongli in overall charge. As the empire slid into chaos the emperor said, "Your prophecy about me has come true—so what becomes of me in the end? Hongli hesitated. The emperor understood and snapped, "Speak—or die!" Hongli said, "I see that ministers who resemble your majesty in physiognomy do not live long—but the sage cannot be read by such arts, so I cannot tell your fate." The emperor then ordered officials to guard him and forbid contact with outsiders.

薛大鼎坐事沒為奴，及貞觀時，有請於弘禮，答曰：「君，奴也，欲何事？」請解衣視之，弘禮指腰而下曰：「位方嶽。」

Xue Dading had been enslaved for a crime. In the Zhenguan era he consulted Hongli, who replied, "You are a slave—what do you want from me? He asked Hongli to examine him bare-bodied. Hongli pointed from the waist down and said, "You are marked for a regional lord's rank."

玄宗時有金梁鳳者，頗言人貴賤夭壽。裴冕為河西留後，梁鳳輒言：「不半歲兵起，君當以御史中丞除宰相。」又言：「一日向雒，一日向蜀，一日向朔方，此時公當國。」冕妖其言，絕之。俄而祿山反，冕以御史中丞召，因問三日，答曰：「雒日即滅，蜀日不能久，朔方日愈明。」肅宗即位，而冕遂相，薦於帝，拜都水使者。梁鳳謂呂諲曰：「君且輔政，須大怖乃得。」諲責驛史，之，史突入射諲，兩矢風中，走而免，明年知政事。李揆、盧允毀服紿謁，梁鳳不許，二人語以情，梁鳳曰：「李自舍人閱歲而相，盧不過郎官。」揆已相，擢允吏部郎中。

Under Emperor Xuanzong there was Jin Liangfeng, famed for predicting men's rank and lifespan. When Pei Mian was military commissioner of Hexi, Liangfeng kept saying, "War will break out within half a year. You will leave office as vice censor-in-chief and become chancellor. He also said, "One day you will face Luoyang, one day Shu, one day Shuofang—and then you will hold the realm." Mian found his words uncanny and broke off contact. When An Lushan rebelled, Mian was summoned as vice censor-in-chief and asked about the three days. Liangfeng answered, "The Luoyang day dies quickly, the Shu day cannot endure, the Shuofang day grows brighter. When Suzong took the throne Mian became chancellor, recommended Liangfeng, and the emperor appointed him Commissioner of the Waterways. Liangfeng told Lv Jin, "You will soon join the government—but only after a great fright. Jin rebuked a courier, who ambushed him and shot twice—both arrows were blown off course—and Jin fled unharmed. The next year he entered the chief council. Li Kui and Lu Yun came in mourning garb on a pretext, but Liangfeng refused them. When they pleaded, he said, "Li will be chancellor within a year from his reviewer post; Lu will rise no higher than bureau director. When Kui became chancellor he promoted Yun to bureau director in the Ministry of Personnel.

王遠知，系本瑯邪，後為揚州人。父曇選，為陳揚州刺史。母晝寢，夢鳳集其身，因有娠。浮屠寶誌謂曇選曰：「生子當為世方士。」

Wang Yuanzhi's lineage traced to Langya, though he later lived as a native of Yangzhou. His father Tanxuan had been prefect of Yangzhou under Chen. His mother dreamed during a daytime nap that a phoenix alighted on her, and she conceived. The monk Baozhi told Tanxuan, "Your son will become a master of occult arts for his generation."

遠知少警敏，多通書傳，事陶弘景，傳其術，為道士。又從臧兢遊。陳後主聞其名，召入重陽殿，辯論超詣，甚見咨挹。隋煬帝為晉王，鎮揚州，使人介以邀見，少選發白，俄復鬢，帝懼，遣之。後幸涿郡，詔遠知見臨朔宮，帝執弟子禮，咨質仙事，詔京師作玉清玄壇以處之。及幸揚州，遠知謂帝不宜遠京國，不省。

Yuanzhi was clever and quick as a youth, read widely, studied under Tao Hongjing, inherited his methods, and became a Daoist priest. He also studied with Zang Jing. Emperor Houzhu of Chen summoned him to the Chongyang Hall after hearing his fame; his discourse was extraordinary and won deep respect. When Yang Di was Prince of Jin at Yangzhou he sent for him; Yuanzhi's hair briefly turned white, then black again at the temples. The prince was alarmed and sent him away. On a later visit to Zhuo he received Yuanzhi at Linshuo Palace, treated him as a disciple, questioned him on immortality, and ordered a Jade Pure altar built in the capital for his residence. When the emperor toured Yangzhou, Yuanzhi warned that he should not stray far from the capital—but was ignored.

高祖尚微，遠知密語天命。武德中，平王世充，秦王與房玄齡微服過之，遠知未識，迎語曰：「中有聖人，非王乎？」乃念以寶。遠知曰：「方為太平天子，願自愛。」太宗立，欲官之，苦辭。貞觀九年，詔潤州即茆山為觀，俾居之。璽詔曰：「省所奏，願還舊山，已別詔不違雅素，並敕立祠觀，以伸曩懷。未知先生早晚至江外，祠舍何當就功？令太史令薛頤等往宣朕意。」

While Gaozu was still unknown, Yuanzhi confided to him about the Mandate of Heaven. During Wude, after the defeat of Wang Shichong, the Prince of Qin and Fang Xuanling visited in disguise. Yuanzhi did not recognize them but said, "There is a sage among you—is it not the prince? They then spoke his name and showed a precious tally to prove their identity. Yuanzhi said, "You are about to become Son of Heaven in an age of peace—guard yourself well. When Taizong took the throne he wished to appoint him, but Yuanzhi firmly refused office. In Zhenguan year nine he was ordered to dwell at an abbey established on Maoshan in Runzhou. An imperial edict read: "We have read your request to return to your old mountain. A separate order will respect your plain ways, and we command a shrine-abbey built to fulfill your long-held wish. We do not know when you will come south of the Yangzi, or when the shrine will be finished. We send Director of the Astronomical Bureau Xue Yi and others to convey our wishes."

遠知多怪言，詫其弟子潘師正曰：「吾少也有累，不得上天，今署少室伯，吾將行。」即沐浴，加冠衣，若寢者，遂卒。或言壽蓋百二十六歲雲。遺命子紹業曰：「爾年六十五見天子，七十見女君。」調露中，紹業表其言，高宗召見，嗟賞，追贈遠知太中大夫，謚升真先生。武後時復召見，皆如其年。又贈金紫光祿大夫。天授中改謚升玄。

Yuanzhi spoke many uncanny things. He told his disciple Pan Shizheng, "In youth I carried burdens and could not ascend heaven. Now I am appointed Baron of Lesser Chamber—I am leaving. He bathed, donned cap and robes as if for sleep, and died. Some said he lived about one hundred twenty-six years. He told his son Shaoye, "At sixty-five you will see the Son of Heaven; at seventy you will see the female sovereign. During Tiaolu, Shaoye reported these words to the throne. Gaozong summoned him, admired the prophecy, and posthumously honored Yuanzhi as Grand Master for Palace Grandee with the posthumous title Master of Ascended Truth. Under Empress Wu he was summoned again—exactly at the ages foretold. He was again granted the rank of Golden Purple Glory Grand Master for the Palace. In the Tianshou era his posthumous title was changed to Master of Ascended Mystery.

薛頤者，滑州人。當隋大業時為道士，善天步律歷。武德初，追直秦王府，密語曰：「德星舍秦分，王當帝天下。」王表為太史丞，稍遷令。貞觀時，太宗將封泰山，彗星見，賾因言：「臣商天意，陛下未可東。」亦會大臣上議，帝遂罷。固丐為道士，帝為築觀九嵏山，號曰：「紫府」，拜賾太中大夫，往居之。即祠建清臺，候辰次災祥以聞，所上與太史李淳風合。數歲卒。

Xue Yi came from Huazhou. During the Sui Daye era he was a Daoist priest, skilled in astronomy, pitch pipes, and calendrical science. Early in Wude he was assigned to the Prince of Qin's household and whispered, "The Virtue Star lodges in Qin's asterism—the prince will rule the realm. The prince recommended him as vice director of the Astronomical Bureau, and he rose step by step to director. During Zhenguan, as Taizong prepared to perform the feng rite on Mount Tai, a comet appeared. Yi said, "I have read heaven's intent—Your Majesty should not travel east. Ministers also memorialized against the journey, and the emperor abandoned the plan. He begged to return to the Daoist life. The emperor built him an abbey on Jiuxiu Mountain called Purple Mansion, named him Grand Master for Palace Grandee, and sent him to live there. At the shrine he built the Clear Platform to watch celestial omens and report them; his findings matched those of Li Chunfeng at the Astronomical Bureau. He died a few years later.

高宗時，又有葉法善者，括州括蒼人。世為道士，傳陰陽、占繇、符架之術，能厭劾怪鬼。帝聞之，召詣京師，欲寵以官，不拜。留內齋場，禮賜殊縟。時帝悉召方士，化黃金治丹，法善上言：「丹不可遽就，徒費財與日，請核真偽。」帝許之，凡百餘人皆罷。嘗在東都淩空祠為壇以祭，都人悉往觀，有數十人自奔火中，眾大驚，救而免。法善笑曰：「此為魅所馮，吾以法攝之耳。」問而信，病亦皆已。其譎幻類若此。

Under Gaozong there was also Ye Fashan, from Kuocang in Kuozhou. His family had been Daoists for generations. He mastered yin-yang lore, yarrow divination, and talisman craft, and could exorcise demonic spirits. The emperor summoned him to the capital and offered him office, but he refused. He remained in the inner fasting precinct and received lavish imperial gifts. The emperor had gathered occult masters to transmute gold and brew elixirs. Fashan memorialized, "Elixirs cannot be rushed—they only waste treasure and time. Let me test who is genuine. The emperor agreed, and more than a hundred practitioners were dismissed. Once at the Lingkong Shrine in the eastern capital he set up a sacrificial altar. The whole city came to watch when dozens of people suddenly rushed into the flames. The crowd panicked, but they were pulled out unharmed. Fashan laughed and said, "Demons had possessed them—I have bound them by ritual, that is all. When questioned they believed him, and their ailments vanished. His tricks and illusions were of this kind.

歷高、中二宗朝五十年，往來山中，時時召入禁內。雅不喜浮屠法，常力詆毀，議者淺其好習，然發衛高，卒叵之測。睿宗立，或言陰有助力。無天中，拜鴻廬卿，員外置，封越國公，舍景龍觀，追贈其父歙州刺史，寵映當世。開元八年卒。或言生隋大業丙子，死庚子，蓋百七歲雲。玄宗下詔褒悼，贈越州都督。

For fifty years under Gaozong and Zhongzong he moved between mountain retreats and the inner palace, summoned whenever the court wished. He detested Buddhism and often attacked it openly. Critics thought his tastes shallow, yet his wit was keen and in the end no one could fathom him. When Ruizong took the throne, some said Fashan had secretly aided him. Later, under Zhongzong, he was appointed Grand Master of Ceremonies on an extra-staff basis, enfeoffed as Duke of Yue, and given quarters at Jinglong Abbey; his father was posthumously honored as prefect of Shezhou, and his favor outshone all his contemporaries. He died in the eighth year of Kaiyuan. Some said he was born in the bingzi year of Daye under the Sui and died in a gengzi year—about one hundred and seven years old, it was said. Xuanzong issued an edict praising and mourning him and posthumously made him area commander of Yuezhou.

明崇儼，洛州偃師人，梁國子祭酒山賓五世孫。少隨父恪令安喜，吏有能召鬼神者，盡傳其術。乾封初，應嶽牧舉，調黃安丞，以奇技自名。高宗召見，甚悅，擢冀王府文學。試為窟室，使宮人奏樂其中，召崇儼問：「何祥邪？為我止之。」崇儼書桃木為二符，剚室上，樂即止，曰：「向見怪龍，怖而止。」盛夏，帝思雪，崇儼坐頃取以進，自雲往陰山取之。四月，帝憶瓜，崇儼索百錢，須臾以瓜獻，曰：「得之緱氏老人圃中。」帝召老人問故，曰：「埋一瓜失之，土中得百錢。」

Ming Chongyan was from Yanshi in Luozhou, a fifth-generation descendant of Shanbin, chancellor of the National University under Liang. As a youth he accompanied his father Ke to Anxi, where his father served as magistrate; an official there who could summon ghosts and spirits taught him all his techniques. At the start of the Qianfeng era he entered service through a recommendation from a mountain governor and was posted as assistant magistrate of Huang'an, where he made a name for himself with his uncanny arts. Gaozong summoned him, was greatly pleased, and appointed him literary attendant in the Princely Establishment of Ji. To test him, he had a chamber hollowed out and palace women play music inside, then summoned Chongyan and asked, "What omen is this? Stop it for me." Chongyan wrote two talismans on peachwood, affixed them to the chamber, and the music stopped at once. He said, "I just saw a strange dragon and, frightened, made it stop." In midsummer the emperor craved snow; after sitting briefly Chongyan brought some and presented it, claiming he had fetched it from the Yin Mountains. In the fourth month the emperor wanted melons; Chongyan asked for a hundred cash and, in a moment, presented one, saying, "I got this from an old man's garden at Gou." The emperor summoned the old man and asked what had happened; he said, "I buried a melon and lost it, but found a hundred cash in the soil."

累遷正諫大夫。帝令入閣供奉，每謁見，陳時政，多托鬼神為言。至為武後作厭勝事，又言章懷太子不德。儀鳳四年，為盜所刺於東都，好事者為言：「崇儼役鬼勞苦，為鬼所殺。」而太后疑太子使客殺之，故贈侍中，謚曰莊，擢子珪為秘書郎。命御史中丞崔謐等雜治，誣服者甚眾。及太子廢，死狀乃明。

He rose through the ranks to Regular Grand Master of Remonstrance. The emperor had him attend within the inner hall, and whenever he was received in audience he spoke on current affairs, often framing his remarks through ghosts and spirits. He even performed counter-magic rites for Empress Wu and declared that Crown Prince Zhanghuai lacked virtue. In the fourth year of Yifeng he was stabbed by robbers in the eastern capital; lovers of marvels said, "Chongyan overworked the ghosts he commanded, and the ghosts killed him." But the Empress Dowager suspected the crown prince had sent agents to kill him; he was therefore posthumously made Palace Attendant with the posthumous name Zhuang, and his son Gui was promoted to secretary in the Palace Library. She ordered the censor-in-chief Cui Mi and others to conduct a joint investigation, and a great many people were coerced into false confessions. Only after the crown prince was deposed did the true circumstances of the killing become clear.

尚獻甫，衛州汲人，善占候。武後召見，由道士擢太史令，辭曰：「臣梗野，不可以事官長。」後改太史局為渾儀監，以獻甫為令，不隸秘書省。數問災異，又於上陽宮集術家撰《方域》等篇。長安二年，熒惑犯五諸侯，獻甫自陳：「五諸侯，太史位；臣命納音，金也；火，金之仇，臣且死。」後曰：「朕為卿厭之。」迂水衡都尉，謂曰：「水生金，卿無憂。」至秋卒，後嗟異，復以渾儀監為太史局云。

Shang Xianfu was from Ji in Weizhou and skilled in reading celestial omens. Empress Wu summoned him and, though he was only a Daoist priest, appointed him Director of the Astronomy Bureau; he declined, saying, "I am blunt and uncouth and cannot serve under official superiors." She then renamed the Astronomy Bureau the Directorate of the Armillary Sphere, made Xianfu its director, and removed it from the jurisdiction of the Secretariat. She repeatedly questioned him about disasters and portents and also gathered experts at Shangyang Palace to compile works such as "Regional Domains." In the second year of Chang'an, Mars encroached on the Five Feudal Lords; Xianfu declared, "The Five Feudal Lords mark the station of the Director of Astronomy; my fate-element in the received tones is metal; fire is the enemy of metal—I am about to die." The Empress said, "I will perform counter-magic for you." She transferred him to the post of Commandant of the Directorate of Waterways and said, "Water generates metal—you need not worry." He died that autumn; the Empress marveled and restored the Directorate of the Armillary Sphere to the Astronomy Bureau.

嚴善思名譔，同州朝邑人，以字行。父延，與河東裴玄證、隴西李貞蔡靜皆通儒術，該曉圖識。善思傳延業，褚遂良、上官儀等奇其能。高宗封泰山，舉銷聲幽藪科及第，調襄陽尉。居親喪，廬墓，因隱居十年。武後時擢監察御史，兼右拾遺內供奉，數言天下事。方酷吏構大獄，以善思為詳審使，平活八百餘人，原千餘姓。長壽中，按囚司刑寺，罷疑不實者百人。來俊臣等疾之，誣以罪，適交趾，五歲得還。是時李淳風死，候家皆不效，乃詔善思以著作佐郎兼太史令。聖歷二年，熒惑入輿鬼，後問其占，對曰：「大臣當之。」是年王及善卒。長安中，熒惑入月，鎮犯天關，善思曰：「法當亂臣伏罪，而有下謀上之象。」歲餘，張柬之等起兵誅二張。遷給事中。

Yan Shansi, personal name Zan, was from Chaoyi in Tongzhou and was known by his courtesy name. His father Yan, together with Pei Xuanzheng of Hedong and Li Zhen and Cai Jing of Longxi, were all versed in Confucian learning and thoroughly understood charts and prognostications. Shansi inherited his father's profession, and Chu Suiliang, Shangguan Yi, and others marveled at his ability. When Gaozong performed the feng sacrifice at Mount Tai, Shansi passed the examination for reclusive talent and was posted as magistrate of Xiangyang. While mourning a parent he built a hut at the tomb and then lived in seclusion for ten years. Under Empress Wu he was promoted to investigating censor and also served as right remonstrance official in inner attendance, repeatedly speaking on affairs of the realm. While harsh officials were fabricating major prosecutions, Shansi was appointed commissioner for detailed review; he saved more than eight hundred lives and pardoned more than a thousand families. During the Changshou era he reviewed prisoners at the Court of Judicial Review and released a hundred whose cases were doubtful or unfounded. Lai Junchen and others hated him, falsely charged him with crimes, and exiled him to Jiaozhi; after five years he was allowed to return. At that time Li Chunfeng had died and none of the diviners proved effective, so the court appointed Shansi Associate Editorial Director and concurrent Director of the Astronomy Bureau. In the second year of Shenglie, Mars entered the Celestial Coach and Ghosts; when the Empress asked what the omen meant, he replied, "A great minister will bear it." That year Wang Jishan died. During the Chang'an era, Mars entered the moon and its garrison encroached on Heavenly Pass; Shansi said, "By rule rebellious ministers should be punished, yet this shows subordinates plotting against their superiors." More than a year later Zhang Jianzhi and others raised troops and executed the Two Zhangs. He was promoted to Supervising Secretary.

後崩，將合葬乾陵，善思建言：「尊者先葬，卑者不得入。今啟乾陵，是以卑動尊，術家所忌。且玄關石門，冶金錮隙，非攻鑿不能開，神道幽靜，多所驚黷。若別攻隧以入其中，即往昔葬時神位前定，更且有害。曩營乾陵，國有大難，易姓建國二十餘年，今又營之，難且復生。合葬非古也，況事有不安，豈足循據？漢世皇后別起陵墓，魏、晉始合葬。漢積祀四百，魏、晉祚率不長，亦其驗也。今若更擇吉地，附近乾陵，取從葬之義。使神有知，無所不通；若其無知，合亦何益？山川精氣，上為列星。葬得其所，則神安而後嗣昌；失其宜，則神危而後嗣損。願割私愛，使社稷長久。」中宗不納。

After the Empress died, when the court planned to bury her together with Gaozong at Qianling, Shansi submitted a memorial saying, "The honored one was buried first; the lesser may not enter. To open Qianling now would move the lesser against the honored—something masters of the arts dread. Moreover, the stone gates of the hidden portal are sealed with molten metal in the joints; they cannot be opened without force and chiseling—the spirit path is secluded and quiet and would be greatly disturbed and profaned. If a separate tunnel were dug to enter the tomb, the spirit's place fixed at the earlier burial would be further harmed. When Qianling was first built the state suffered great calamity and the dynasty changed surnames for more than twenty years; to work on it again would bring calamity once more. Joint burial is not the ancient way, and when the matter itself is unsettled, how can it serve as a precedent? In Han times empresses had separate tombs built; joint burial began only under Wei and Jin. Han endured for four hundred years, while Wei and Jin generally did not last long—this too is proof. If another auspicious site were chosen near Qianling, following the principle of attendant burial— if the spirit has awareness, nothing would be blocked; if it has no awareness, what good would joint burial do? The vital essence of mountains and rivers rises to become the arrayed stars. When burial finds its proper place, the spirit is at peace and later generations flourish; when it misses what is fitting, the spirit is endangered and later generations suffer. I beg that private affection be set aside so that the altars of state may long endure." Zhongzong did not accept it.

神龍中，武後喪公除，太常請大習樂，供郊廟，詔未許。善思奏曰：「樂者氣化，所以感天地、調五行。漢、魏喪禮，以日易月，蓋三年不為禮，禮必壞，三年不為樂，樂必崩。禮，陰也；樂，陽也。樂崩陽伏，禮廢陰愆，故變以適時，孝道之大。安人神，公也；茹哀戚，私也。王者不以私害公，請如太常奏。」帝從之。遷禮部侍郎。表皇后擅政，為社稷憂，求汝州刺史。嘗語姚崇曰：「韋氏禍且塗地，相王所居有華蓋紫氣，必位九五，公善護之。」及睿宗立，崇以語聞，召拜右散騎常侍。

During the Shenlong era, when the mourning for Empress Wu had reached public termination, the Minister of Ceremonies requested extensive rehearsal of music for the suburban and ancestral temples, but the edict did not grant it. Shansi submitted a memorial saying, "Music is the transformation of qi, by which one moves Heaven and Earth and harmonizes the Five Phases. In Han and Wei mourning rites, days were substituted for months, for if rites are not performed for three years, rites must collapse; if music is not performed for three years, music must crumble. Rites are yin; music is yang. When music crumbles, yang is hidden; when rites are abandoned, yin is in fault—therefore to adapt to the times is the highest form of filial piety. To settle the spirits of the people is a public duty; to nourish grief and sorrow is a private feeling. A ruler must not let private feeling harm public duty—I request that the Minister of Ceremonies' proposal be approved." The emperor approved. He was promoted to Vice Minister of Rites. He memorialized that the empress was monopolizing government, expressed concern for the altars of state, and requested appointment as prefect of Ruzhou. He once told Yao Chong, "The Wei clan's calamity will soon cover the land; purple vapor of the Canopy hangs over the Prince of Xiang's residence—he will surely attain the throne. Protect him well." When Ruizong took the throne, Chong reported these words, and Shansi was summoned and appointed Right Regular Attendant.

初，譙王重福徙均州，過汝，善思為刺史。及謀反，偽除禮部尚書。重福敗，坐關通論死，吏部尚書宋璟、戶部郎中李邕薄其罪，給事中韓思復固請，乃流靜州。始，善思為御史，中書舍人劉允濟為酷吏所陷，且死，善思力訟其冤，得免。戶部尚書王本立見之，曰：「祁奚之救叔向，嚴公有之。」後見允濟，語未嘗及之。思復之解善思也，亦不自德，時稱長者之報。後遇赦還。開元十六年卒。子向，乾元中為鳳翔尹，三世皆年八十五雲。

Earlier, when Prince of Qiao Chongfu was transferred to Junzhou he passed through Ruzhou, where Shansi was prefect. When Chongfu plotted rebellion he falsely appointed Shansi Minister of Rites. When Chongfu was defeated, Shansi was convicted of collusion and sentenced to death; Minister of Personnel Song Jing and bureau director Li Yong considered his offense slight, and Supervising Secretary Han Sifu firmly pleaded for him, whereupon he was banished to Jingzhou. Earlier, when Shansi was a censor, Secretariat Drafter Liu Yunji was framed by a harsh official and faced death; Shansi vigorously argued his innocence and secured his release. Minister of Revenue Wang Benli witnessed this and said, "Yan has its own Qi Xi rescuing Shu Xiang." Later when he met Yunji, he never mentioned it in conversation. When Sifu secured Shansi's release, he too did not claim credit; contemporaries praised it as the reward due a man of virtue. He later returned under an amnesty. He died in the sixteenth year of Kaiyuan. His son Xiang served as prefect of Fengxiang in the Qianyuan era; it was said that three generations of the family all lived to eighty-five.

杜生者，許州人。善《易》占。有亡奴者問所從追，戒曰：「自此行，逢使者，懇丐其鞭。若不可，則以情告。」其人果值使者於道，如生語，使者異之，曰：「去鞭，吾無以進馬，可折道傍葼代之。」乃往折葼，見亡奴伏其下，獲之。它日又有亡奴者，生戒持錢五百伺於道，見進鷂使者，可市其一，必得奴。俄而使至，其人以情告，使者以一與之，忽飛集灌莽上，往取之而得亡奴。眾以為神。

Master Du was from Xuzhou. He was skilled in divination with the Book of Changes. A man whose slave had run away asked which direction to pursue; Du warned him, saying, "Go on from here; when you meet a messenger, earnestly beg his whip. If that fails, tell him your situation." The man did meet a messenger on the road; following Du's instructions, he spoke, and the messenger, surprised, said, "Keep the whip—I have no way to drive my horse; break roadside rushes to replace it." He went to break rushes and found the runaway slave hiding beneath them and captured him. Another day a man whose slave had run away came; Du told him to take five hundred cash and wait on the road; when he saw a messenger bringing hawks, he should buy one and would surely recover the slave. Before long the messenger arrived; the man explained his situation, and the messenger gave him one hawk; it suddenly flew and alighted on a thicket, and when he went to retrieve it he found the runaway slave. People considered him miraculous.

時有浮屠泓者，黃州人。與天官侍郎張敬之善。敬之以武後在位，常指所服示子冠宗曰：「莽朝服耳。」俄冠宗以父應入三品，詣有司言狀。泓忽曰：「君無煩求三品也。」敬之大驚，已而知出冠宗意。敬之弟訥之疾殆，泓曰：「公弟當位三品，不足憂也。」已而愈。嘗為燕國公張說市宅，戒曰：「無穿東北，王隅也！」它日見說曰：「宅氣索然，云何？」與說共視，土隅有三坎丈餘，泓驚曰：「公富貴一世而已，諸子將不終。」說懼，將平之，泓曰：「客土無氣，與地脈不連，譬身瘡痏補它肉，無益也。」說子皆汙賊死斥云。

At the time there was a Buddhist monk named Hong, from Huangzhou. He was on good terms with Vice Minister of the Bureau of Astronomy Zhang Jingzhi. With Empress Wu on the throne, Jingzhi often pointed to his own robes and showed his son Guanzong, saying, "This is merely the court dress of Wang Mang's dynasty." Before long Guanzong, claiming entitlement through his father's rank, sought entry into the third rank and went to the relevant office to state his case. Hong suddenly said, "Sir, do not trouble yourself to seek the third rank." Jingzhi was greatly startled; afterward he learned that Hong had spoken from Guanzong's purpose. When Jingzhi's younger brother Nezhi lay near death, Hong said, "Your brother will reach the third rank—there is no cause for alarm." Before long he recovered. He once selected a residence for Duke of Yan Zhang Yue and warned, "Do not break ground in the northeast—that corner belongs to the king!" Another day he visited Yue and asked, "The house's vital energy has drained away entirely—what happened?" Together they inspected the site and found three pits more than a zhang deep in the northeast corner. Hong cried out in alarm, "My lord's wealth and honor will endure for one lifetime only; your sons will not die well." Yue, frightened, was about to level the pits. Hong said, "Imported fill carries no vital energy and does not join the earth's pulse—it is like grafting foreign flesh onto a body's sore; it will do no good." Yue's sons all died as disgraced rebels and were cast out, so it is recorded.

張果者，晦鄉里世系以自神，隱中條山，往來汾、晉間，世傳數百歲人。武後時，遣使召之，即死，後人復見居恒州山中。

Zhang Guo concealed his hometown and lineage to cultivate an air of mystery. He lived in seclusion on Mount Zhongtiao, passing between Fen and Jin, and the world transmitted tales of him as a man of several hundred years. During Empress Wu's reign, envoys were dispatched to summon him; he died on the spot, yet afterward people saw him again living in the mountains of Hengzhou.

開元二十一年，刺史韋濟以聞。玄宗令通事舍人裴晤往迎，見晤輒氣絕仆，久乃蘇。晤不敢逼，馳白狀。帝更遣中書舍人徐嶠賫璽書邀禮，乃至東都，舍集賢院，肩輿入宮。帝親問治道神仙事，語秘不傳。果善息氣，能累日不食，數禦美酒。嘗云：「我生堯丙子歲，位侍中。」其貌實年六七十。時有邢和璞者，善知人夭壽。師夜光者，善視鬼。帝令和璞推果生死，懵然莫知其端。帝召果密坐，使夜光視之，不見果所住。

In the twenty-first year of Kaiyuan, Prefect Wei Ji reported the matter to the throne. Emperor Xuanzong sent Diplomatic Reception Attendant Pei Wo to welcome him. At the sight of Wo, Guo would instantly stop breathing and collapse; only after a long while would he revive. Wo did not dare press him further and galloped back to report what had happened. The Emperor then sent Secretariat Drafter Xu Qiao with sealed imperial invitations. Only then did Guo come to the Eastern Capital, lodge at the Hall of Worthies, and enter the palace in a sedan chair. The Emperor questioned him personally on governance and the way of immortals; what was said remained secret and was never recorded. Guo could hold his breath and abstain from food for days on end, yet he often drank fine wine at court. He once said, "I was born in the bingzi year of Yao's reign and served as Palace Attendant." In appearance he looked to be sixty or seventy. At the time there was Xing Hebao, skilled at discerning whether a man would die young or live long. Shi Yeguang could see ghosts. The Emperor had Hebao calculate Guo's span of life, but he was utterly baffled and could find no answer. The Emperor had Guo sit close beside him in secret and ordered Yeguang to look—but Yeguang could not see where Guo sat.

帝謂高力士曰：「吾聞飲堇無苦者，奇士也。」時天寒，因取以飲果，三進，頹然曰：「非佳酒也。」乃寢。頃視齒燋縮，顧左右取鐵如意擊墮之，藏帶中，更出藥傅其斷，良久，齒已生，粲然駢絜。帝益神之。欲以玉真公主降果，未言也。果忽謂秘書少監王迥質、太常少卿蕭華曰：「諺謂娶婦得公主，平地生公府，可畏也。」二人怪語不倫。俄有使至，傳詔曰：「玉真公主欲降先生。」果笑，固不奉詔。有詔圖形集賢院，懇辭還山，詔可。擢銀青光祿大夫，號通玄先生，賜帛三百匹，給扶侍二人。至恒山蒲吾縣，未幾卒，或言屍解。帝為立棲霞觀其所。

The Emperor said to Gao Lishi, "They say a man who can drink hellebore and taste no bitterness is no ordinary soul." The weather was bitterly cold, so the Emperor had hellebore brought for Guo to drink. After three cups Guo slumped over and said, "This is no fine wine." Then he fell asleep. A moment later his teeth appeared charred and shriveled. He turned to his attendants, took an iron ruyi scepter, knocked the teeth out and dropped them into his belt, then produced a salve and smeared it on the broken stumps. Before long fresh teeth had grown in, white and even. The Emperor regarded him as all the more miraculous. The Emperor intended to give Princess Yuzhen in marriage to Guo, though he had not yet said so. Guo suddenly said to Vice Director of the Secretariat Wang Huizhi and Vice Minister of Rites Xiao Hua, "There is a saying: 'Marry a princess, and a grand official's mansion springs up on level ground'—how dreadful that is." The two men thought his words bizarre and out of place. Before long an envoy arrived with an edict: "Princess Yuzhen wishes to marry the Master." Guo laughed and firmly refused the edict. An edict ordered his portrait painted at the Hall of Worthies. He earnestly begged leave to return to the mountains, and the Emperor granted it. He was promoted to Silver-Gleaming Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, given the style Master of Penetrating Mystery, awarded three hundred bolts of silk, and provided with two attendants. He reached Puwu County in Hengshan and soon died—or so some said, while others claimed he achieved corporeal liberation. The Emperor built the Qixia Abbey on the site of his dwelling.

夜光者，薊州人，少為浮屠。至長安，因九仙公主得召見溫泉，帝奇其辯，賜冠帶，授四門博士，賜緋衣、銀魚、金繒千數，得侍左右如幸臣。和璞喜黃老，作《潁陽書》，世傳之。

Shi Yeguang was from Jizhou and had been a Buddhist monk in his youth. When he reached Chang'an, Princess Jiuxian secured him an audience at the hot springs. The Emperor was struck by his eloquence, bestowed official cap and belt, appointed him Erudite of the Four Gates, and granted crimson robes, silver fish insignia, and silks by the thousand. He attended at the Emperor's side like a favored courtier. Hebao devoted himself to Yellow Emperor and Laozi teachings and wrote the Book of Yingyang, which circulated widely.

天寶中，有孫甑生者，以技聞，能使石自鬥，草為人騎馳走。楊貴妃喜觀之，數召入宮中。

During the Tianbao era there was Sun Zaosheng, renowned for his tricks: he could set stones to fighting by themselves and shape grass into mounted riders that galloped about. Consort Yang Guifei loved to watch his performances and repeatedly summoned him to the inner palace.

又有羅思遠，能自隱。帝學，不肯盡其術，試自隱，常餘衣帶，及思遠共試，則驗。厚錫金帛，然卒不得。帝怒，裹以襆，壓殺之。數日，有中使者自蜀還，逢思遠駕而西，笑曰：「上為戲何虐也！」

There was also Luo Siyuan, who could make himself invisible. The Emperor studied under him, but Luo would not teach the full technique. When the Emperor tried to vanish on his own, strips of clothing and belt often remained in view; only when Luo joined the attempt did the trick succeed. The Emperor heaped gold and silks upon him, yet never obtained the complete art. Enraged, the Emperor had him wrapped in a cloth bundle and crushed to death. Several days later a palace envoy returning from Shu encountered Siyuan driving westward. Siyuan laughed and said, "What a cruel jest Your Majesty plays!"

姜撫，宋州人。自言通仙人不死術，隱居不出。開元末，太常卿韋縚祭名山，因訪隱民，還白撫已數百歲。召至東都，舍集賢院。因言：「服常春藤，使白髮還鬢，則長生可致。藤生太湖最良，終南往往有之，不及也。」帝遣使者至太湖，多取以賜中朝老臣。因詔天下，使自求之。宰相裴耀卿奉觴上千萬歲壽，帝悅，禦花萼棲宴群臣，出藤百奩，遍賜之。擢撫銀青光祿大夫，號沖和先生。撫又言：「終南山有旱藕，餌之延年。」狀類葛粉，帝作湯餅賜大臣。右驍衛將軍甘守誠能銘藥石，曰：「常春者，千歲藟也。旱藕，杜蒙也。方家久不用，撫易名以神之。民間以酒漬藤，飲者多暴死。」乃止。撫內慚悸，請求藥牢山，遂逃去。

Jiang Fu was from Songzhou. He claimed to know the immortals' art of escaping death and lived in seclusion, never venturing out. Near the end of Kaiyuan, Minister of Ceremonies Wei Tao, while performing sacrifices at famous mountains, visited recluses and returned reporting that Fu was already several hundred years old. Fu was summoned to the Eastern Capital and housed at the Hall of Worthies. He declared, "Take the ever-spring vine and white hair will return to dark temples—long life can be attained. The vine grows finest at Lake Tai. It is sometimes found on Zhongnan Mountain, but never equals the Tai stock." The Emperor sent envoys to Lake Tai, gathered great quantities, and bestowed them on senior ministers at court. An edict then went out to the realm, commanding everyone to seek the vine for themselves. Chief Minister Pei Yaojing raised a cup to wish the Emperor ten thousand years of life. Delighted, the Emperor hosted the assembled ministers at Hua'e Pavilion, produced a hundred caskets of vine, and distributed them to all present. Fu was promoted to Silver-Gleaming Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and given the style Master of Harmonious Equilibrium. Fu added, "On Zhongnan Mountain there is drought-lotus root; eat it and you will extend your years." It resembled kudzu starch in form. The Emperor had noodle soup made from it and bestowed bowls on his ministers. Right Yaoqi Guard General Gan Shoucheng, who could identify drugs and stones, said, "'Ever-spring' is the thousand-year creeper. Drought-lotus' is dolomiaea. Physicians abandoned these long ago. Fu merely renamed them to pass them off as miraculous. Among the people, many who steeped the vine in wine and drank it died suddenly." Thereupon the distribution ceased. Ashamed and afraid, Fu asked leave to gather herbs on Mount Laoshan—and fled.

桑道茂者，寒人，失其系望。善太一遁甲術。乾元初，官軍圍安慶緒於相州，勢危甚，道茂在圍中，密語人曰：「三月壬申西師潰。」至期，九節度兵皆敗。後召待詔翰林。建中初，上言：「國家不出三年有厄會，奉天有王氣，宜高坦堞，為王者居，使可容萬乘者。」德宗素驗其數，詔京兆尹嚴郢發眾數千及神策兵城之。時盛夏趣功，人莫知其故。及朱泚反，帝蒙難奉天，賴以濟。

Sang Daomao was of humble birth; his lineage and clan standing were unknown. He was skilled in Grand Unity and Dunjia divination. At the start of Qianyuan, imperial troops besieged An Qingxu at Xiangzhou in dire straits. Daomao was trapped inside the encirclement and privately told someone, "On the third month's renshen day the western army will collapse." When the day came, the armies of all nine frontier commissioners were routed. Later he was summoned to serve as Hanlin Academician-in-Waiting. At the start of Jianzhong he memorialized the throne: "Within three years the realm will face calamity. Fengtian bears kingly vital energy—the walls should be raised high and broad, built as a seat fit for a sovereign, spacious enough for the imperial carriage." Emperor Dezong, who had long found Daomao's calculations accurate, ordered Metropolitan Governor Yan Ying to mobilize several thousand workers and Shence troops to fortify the city. Work was rushed through the height of summer, and no one knew why. When Zhu Ci rebelled, the Emperor fled in distress to Fengtian and was saved by those walls.

李晟為右金吾大將軍，道茂賫一縑見晟，再拜曰：「公貴盛無比，然我命在公手，能見赦否？」晟大驚，不領其言。道茂出懷中一書，自具姓名，署其左曰：「為賊逼脅。」固請晟判，晟笑曰：「欲我何語？」道茂曰：「弟言準狀赦之。」晟勉從。已又以縑願易晟衫，請題衿膺曰：「它日為信。」再拜去。道茂果汙朱泚偽官。晟收長安，與逆徒縛旗下，將就刑，出晟衫及書以示。晟為奏，原其死。

Li Sheng was Grand General of the Right Gold Crow Guard. Daomao came bearing a length of silk, bowed twice, and said, "Your glory is beyond compare, yet my life rests in your hands—will you spare me?" Sheng was deeply startled and could not make sense of his words. Daomao drew from his robe a document bearing his own name and wrote on the left margin, "Coerced by the rebels." He pressed Sheng to endorse it. Sheng laughed and asked, "What am I to write?" Daomao said, "Your younger brother asks that you pardon him according to this document." Sheng reluctantly agreed. Then, offering another length of silk, he asked to exchange it for Sheng's shirt and requested an inscription on the collar: "As proof on another day." He bowed twice and left. Daomao did indeed serve as an official under Zhu Ci's puppet regime. When Sheng retook Chang'an, Daomao was bound with the rebels beneath the execution banner. As he was about to die, he produced Sheng's shirt and the document. Sheng memorialized the throne on his behalf and secured a pardon.

是時藩鎮擅地無寧時，道茂曰：「年號元和，寇盜翦滅矣。」至憲宗乃驗。道茂居有二伯甚茂，曰：「人居而木蕃者去之，木盛則土衰，土衰則人病。」乃以鐵數十鈞埋其下，復曰：「後有發其地而死者。」大和中，溫造居之，發藏鐵而造死。杜佑與楊炎善。盧杞疾之，佑懼，以問道茂，答曰：「君歲中補外，則福壽叵涯矣。」俄拜饒州刺史，後終司徒。李泌病，道茂署於紙曰：「厄三月二日就饗，國與家吉而身危。」會中和日，泌雖篤，強入。德宗見泌不能步，詔歸第，卒。是日北軍謀亂，仗士禽斬之。李鵬為盛唐令，道茂曰：「君位止此，而冢息位宰相，次息亦大鎮，子孫百世。」鵬卒，後石至宰相，福歷七鎮，諸孫通顯云。

In those days the frontier garrisons seized territory without cease. Daomao said, "When the reign era is Yuanhe, bandits and rebels will be cut down and destroyed." Under Emperor Xianzong the prophecy was fulfilled. Two cypresses at Daomao's dwelling grew extravagantly lush. He said, "Where people live and trees run riot, cut them down—when wood flourishes, earth weakens; when earth weakens, people fall ill." He buried several tens of jun of iron beneath them and added, "Whoever later digs up this ground will die." In the Dahe era Wen Zao took up residence there, unearthed the buried iron, and died. Du You was close to Yang Yan. Lu Qi resented their friendship. Fearful, Du You consulted Daomao, who answered, "If you receive an outside posting within the year, fortune and long life will know no limit." Before long he was appointed Prefect of Raozhou and eventually rose to Minister of Works. Li Mi fell ill. Daomao wrote on a slip of paper, "Calamity arrives on the third month, second day, at the feast—the realm and house will prosper, but the man himself is in peril." On the Zhonghe day, though Mi was desperately ill, he forced himself to attend court. Emperor Dezong saw that Mi could no longer walk, ordered him home, and he died. That same day the Northern Army plotted rebellion; armed troops seized the conspirators and beheaded them. Li Peng was magistrate of Shengtang. Daomao said, "Your own rank will go no higher, but your eldest son will reach the chancellorship, your second will command a great frontier post, and your line will flourish for a hundred generations." Peng died. Thereafter Shi rose to chancellor, Fu held seven frontier commands, and the grandsons all attained high office, so it is recorded.

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