Water Margin

Author: Shi Nai'an (Ming) / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-07-01
Features: The introductory verse reads: "In the secluded corners of the book forest, how many elegant scholars there are. Famed reputation and trivial gains do not concern them. Carving ice and cutting snow, they smile and wield the Wu hook. Discussing the former kings and later emperors, they divide truth from falsehood and occupy the Central Plains. The seven heroes disturb the Spring and Autumn period in chaos. The rise and fall are as fragile as willows, and life is like a. Seeing countless people achieve fame, countless people seek fame, and even more people escape fame. Suddenly, under the new moon by the long river, the Jianghu changes into ancient roads. Surprised by seeking fish on trees, like a destitute monkey choosing trees, afraid of hurting the bowman's curved tree. It is better to raise the cup in the palm and listen to the new songs and tunes. The poem goes: 'In the midst of the Five Dynasties, chaos and separation, suddenly the clouds part and the sky is seen. Plants and trees have been nourished by new rain and dew for a hundred years. Under the old mountains and rivers, the world is peaceful. In ordinary alleys, fine silks and brocades are displayed, and in several pavilions, musical instruments are played. People enjoy the days of peace and tranquility, and orioles and peonies sleep endlessly in the sun.'
This poem was written by a famous scholar named Shao Yaofu, styled Kangjie, in the court of Emperor Shenzong of the former Song Dynasty. It expresses sorrow over the endless warfare in the late Five Dynasties and early Tang Dynasty, when the court belonged to Liang in the morning and Jin in the evening. It is said, 'Zhu, Li, Shi, Liu, and Guo, fifteen emperors in total, brought chaos for fifty years.' Later, influenced by the cycle of heaven, the Taizu Emperor of Song was born in the Jiamǎ Camp. This sage emperor's birth was marked by red light filling the sky and a lingering fragrance that lasted for days, believed to be the descent of the Thunderbolt Immortal from the upper realm. He was brave and wise, unmatched by any emperor in history. With a staff as tall as himself, he conquered four hundred military prefectures, making them all part of the Zhao family. The emperor pacified the world and calmed the Central Plains, establishing the Great Song Dynasty with Bianliang as its capital. As the leader of nine dynasties and eight emperors, he laid the foundation for four hundred years of imperial rule. Therefore, Shao Yaofu praised: 'Suddenly the clouds part and the sky is seen,' just as the people saw the light of day again. Not only did this scholar compose the verse, but also Chen Tuan, a virtuous hermit from Mount Hua in the west, who could discern the colors of the wind and clouds. One day, riding a donkey down the mountain, he heard travelers say, 'Now Emperor Chai of the capital has abdicated in favor of General Zhao.' Upon hearing this, Chen Tuan rejoiced, placing his hands on his forehead and laughing on his donkey. When asked why, he replied, 'The world will now be peaceful. It is a match between heaven, earth, and humanity.'
From the Gengshen year, the abdication took place, and the foundation was laid. He ruled for seventeen years, bringing peace to the world. The throne was then passed to his younger brother, Emperor Taizong. Taizong reigned for twenty-two years before passing the throne to Emperor Zhenzong. Zhenzong, in turn, passed it to Emperor Renzong. Emperor Renzong was the Red-Footed Immortal from the upper realm. At birth, he cried day and night. The court issued a royal edict, seeking a cure for the prince. Moved by the heavens, the White Dragon Jinxian descended to the mortal world, disguised as an old man, to the edict and cure the prince's crying. The officials led him to the palace, where he met Emperor Zhenzong. The emperor ordered him to examine the prince in the inner courtyard. The old man held the prince and whispered eight words in his ear, and the prince stopped crying. The old man did not reveal his name but vanished in a gust of wind. What were the eight words? 'There are Wen Qu and Wu Qu.' Indeed, the Jade Emperor sent two stars from the Ziwei Palace to assist this emperor: Wen Qu was Bao Zheng, the chief of Kaifeng Prefecture and the Grand Secretary of Longtu Pavilion; Wu Qu was Di Qing, the great marshal of the Western Xia campaign. These two virtuous ministers came to assist the emperor. The emperor, known as Emperor Renzong, ruled for forty-two years, changing nine reign names. From the first year of Tiansheng to the ninth year, the world was peaceful, with abundant harvests, prosperous people, and no stolen goods or locked doors at night. These nine years were called the 'First Ascendancy.' From the Mingdao year to the Huanglu year, the next nine years were also prosperous, called the 'Second Ascendancy.' From the fourth year of Huanglu to the second year of Jiaguo, the next nine years saw a bountiful harvest, called the 'Third Ascendancy.' For a total of twenty-seven years, this era was known as the 'Triple Ascendancy.' The people enjoyed some happiness. But joy turned to sorrow: in the spring of the third year of Jiaguo, a plague spread across the land, from Jiangnan to the two capitals, affecting everyone. Reports came in like snowflakes from all over the country. In the capital, the majority of the people were affected. Bao Zheng, the chief of Kaifeng Prefecture, personally contributed funds to the Huimin Heji Bureau to mix medicine and treat the people. But the plague only worsened. The officials gathered in the Dailu Hall to discuss how to pray to the heavens to avert the disaster.
If not for this matter, how could the Thirty-Six Heavenly Stars descend to the mortal world, and the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends appear in the human realm, shaking the heavens and earth of the Song Dynasty and stirring the Zhao family's realm? There is a poem to prove this:
The poem goes: 'Under the nurturing of the people, the world is prosperous in the Triple Ascendancy. How could the land of music and harmony turn into a battlefield of swords and spears? Heroes gather in the Shuihu camp, and the heroes gather in Liangshan. Examining the rise and fall of chaos, it is all the work of yin and yang.'
The poem goes: 'Red hats and chicken men report the morning watch, while officials in green robes present jade robes. The palace gates open to welcome the attire of all nations. The sun rises over the immortal's palm, and the fragrance of incense nearly touches the dragon robe. After the court session, five-colored edicts are issued, and the sound of jade pendants returns to the Phoenix Pool.'
Now, Emperor Renzong of the Great Song Dynasty was reigning. On the third day of the third month, at five o'clock in the morning, the emperor sat in the Zicheng Hall to receive the court's greetings. It was a scene of auspicious clouds and auspicious mist covering the dragon tower. The imperial willows fanned the banners, and the palace flowers greeted the swords. In the fragrance of immortals, jade hairpins and pearl shoes gathered on the vermilion steps; in the sound of immortal music, embroidered robes and brocade clothes assisted the emperor. The pearl curtain was rolled up, and the golden hall revealed the golden chariot; the phoenix tail fan was opened, and the white jade steps stopped the precious carriage. The clear whip sounded three times, and the officials in the front and back rows stood in order. The head of the hall shouted, 'Those with business should come forward early, and those without should roll up the curtains and leave.' Among the ranks, the prime minister Zhao Zhe and the vice premier Wen Yanbo stepped forward and said, 'Now the plague is rampant in the capital, causing suffering and loss among the people. We beg the emperor to show mercy, reduce punishments, and lighten taxes to avert the disaster and relieve the people.'
Hearing this, the emperor immediately ordered the Hanlin Academy to draft an edict: one to pardon all convicts and exempt all taxes; another to have the imperial temples and monasteries in the capital perform rituals to avert the disaster. But to his dismay, the plague worsened that year. The emperor, troubled, called for another meeting with the officials. Among them, a minister stepped forward and addressed the emperor. He was Fan Zhongyan, the vice premier. After bowing, he said, 'Now the disasters are severe, and the people are suffering. Day and night, they cannot find peace, and they are trapped in hardship. In my humble opinion, to avert this disaster, we should summon the heir to the Han Dynasty, the Celestial Master, to the court by night. In the capital's temples, perform the Three Thousand Six Hundred Fen Lantian Great Ritual to report to the heavens, which may avert the plague.'
The emperor approved and immediately ordered the Hanlin scholar to draft an edict. With the emperor's own handwriting and a fragrant incense stick, he sent Hong Xin, the Grand Tutor of the Palace, as an envoy to Xinzhou, Longhu Mountain in Jiangxi, to summon the Celestial Master Zhang to the court by night to avert the plague. On the golden hall, the imperial incense was lit, and the emperor personally handed the edict to Hong Xin, who set off at once.
Hong Xin received the imperial decree and bid farewell to the emperor, not daring to delay. Carrying the edict and placing the imperial incense in a golden box, he led dozens of men and mounted horses, departing from the capital for Xinzhou, Guixi County. Along the way, they saw:
Distant mountains layered with green, clear rivers flowing far. Rare flowers bloomed like brocade, willows swayed like golden threads on the ground. The wind was gentle, the sun warm, passing through villages and towns; the road was straight, the sand flat, staying in post stations at night. Silk robes fluttered in the red dust, while fine horses galloped on the purple roads.
Hong Xin, carrying the imperial decree, traveled day and night, arriving in Jiangxi, Xinzhou. Officials of all ranks came out to greet him and sent messengers to prepare for the arrival of the decree at the Qingling Palace on Longhu Mountain. The next day, officials escorted the Grand Tutor to the foot of Longhu Mountain. The Qingling Palace's monks rang bells, beat drums, and carried fragrant flowers, lanterns, and candles, with banners and precious canopies, all descending to welcome the decree. They arrived at the Qingling Palace and dismounted.
Looking at the palace, Hong Xin thought it was magnificent. He saw:
Green pines twisted, dark cypresses dense. The doors hung imperial inscriptions in gold, and the windows displayed spiritual talismans in jade. Near the Void Emperor platform, willows and flowers were faintly visible; by the medicine furnace, ancient pines and cypresses were hidden. On the left, heavenly soldiers and demons accompanied the True Lord of Jiazi; on the right, jade girls and golden boys surrounded the Purple Star Emperor. With disheveled hair and swords, the Northern True Martial God treads turtles and snakes; with whips and crowns, the Southern Elder of the Polar Star subdues dragons and tigers. In the front, the Twenty-Eight Stars of the Heavenly Constellations stood, and behind, the Thirty-Two Emperors of the Earthly Realm. Streams flowed under the steps, and mountains surrounded the walls. Cranes had red crowns, and tortoises grew green hair. Monkeys offered fruits at the tips of trees, and white deer in the grass spat ginseng. On the Three Pure Ones' hall, the golden bell rang as the walked in a trance; in front of the Four Saints' hall, the jade gong sounded as the performed rituals. The incense platform shone with the light of brocade clouds, and the summoning platform of the generals was shaken by the sun's rays. Early in the morning, auspicious clouds appeared outside the gate, as if the Celestial Master had sent Laozi.
(Continued on page 8)