Ancient Novels: Hidden Gems

Author: / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1997-11-01
Features: Dong Zhao was a key minister of the Wei Emperor, but later fell from power. During the Wen and Ming dynasties, he became the Guardian of the Palace. The "Collected Works of the Imperial Library" (volume 392) mentions that Dong Zhao had been in decline for a long time and was appointed as the Guardian of the Palace. He then showed great attention to dwarfs. During a grand court assembly, the dwarf performed as Dong the Guardian of the Palace, crying and recounting past events under the former Emperor Taizu, causing everyone to laugh. Emperor Ming was displeased and later appointed him as the Minister of Works. The "Collected Works of the Imperial Library" (volume 488) records this. He Yan, styled Pingshu, was appointed as the Marquis of the Imperial Consort by marrying the Emperor's daughter. The above is based on the "Collected Works of the Imperial Library" (volume 154). He Yan had a fine appearance and extremely pale face, so Emperor Wen of Wei suspected he was wearing powder. Later, in the height of summer, the Emperor summoned him and gave him hot pancakes. After eating them, as recorded in the "Book" (volume 128), the "Collected Works of the Imperial Library" (volume 365), and other sources, he broke into a heavy sweat and wiped himself with red clothing, his face becoming even paler, and the Emperor finally believed him. The "Classified Miscellaneous Records" (volume 9) also records this.
Xin Gongjing met Sima the Grand Tutor and asked, "Where are you from?" He replied, "From the West." The Grand Tutor jokingly asked, "Have you often seen the Queen Mother of the West in the West?" Xin Gongjing answered, "In the West, I haven't seen the Queen Mother of the West, but when I passed the East, I met the Lord of the East." The Grand Tutor was deeply ashamed. The "Classified Anthology" (volume 25) records this.
Hou Taichu accompanied the Wei Emperor to pay respects at the imperial tomb and stood among the pine and cypress trees. A sudden storm of thunder and lightning struck, and the tree directly in front of him was struck, its branches and leaves burned to ashes. Everyone around fell to their knees in awe, but Hou Taichu remained composed. The "Notes on the Elegant and Measured" (volume 16) records this.
Emperor Jing Wang wanted to execute Xiahou Xuan but was undecided. He asked An Wang Fu, "Do you think you are capable of controlling him?" Fu replied, "Once Zhao Yan buried his child, you came out to greet him halfway; when Tai Chu arrived later, everyone stood up. Compared to that, I fear you are not as capable." So he was executed. The "Continued Discussions of Assistance" (volume 4) records this.
Wang Jing grew up in poverty but rose to the rank of 2,000 stones. His mother told him, "You came from a humble family, and reaching the rank of 2,000 stones is enough." Jing could not stop. Later, as a counselor to Wei, he was unloyal to Jin and was arrested. He tearfully bid farewell to his mother, saying, "I regret not following your advice earlier, leading to this situation." His mother showed no sorrow and said, "As a son, you were filial; as a minister, you were loyal. What have you done wrong?" The "Collected Works of the Imperial Library" (volume 441) records this.
Liu Ling, styled Bolun, drank a stone of wine and, after becoming drunk, drank another five. His wife scolded him, and he said to her, "You can bring five of wine, and I will curse and drink it." His wife believed him and brought wine and meat in front of him. Liu Ling cursed, "Born by heaven, named after wine, one stone to cure the drunkenness, but the words of a woman, do not listen." The "Classified Miscellaneous Records" (volume 7) records this.
Ji Zhongsan played the lute under the dim light of the night. Suddenly, a tiny face appeared, which grew larger in a moment to over a foot tall. He wore black robes and a leather belt. Ji became familiar with him and blew out the fire, saying, "I am ashamed to compete with demons for light." The "Classified Anthology" (volume 44) and the "Collected Works of the Imperial Library" (volume 577) record this.
Ji Zhongsan played the lute at night when a ghost in shackles came and praised his skill, saying, "Your one string is not tuned." Ji adjusted the lute, and the sound became even more melodious. When asked for his name, he refused to answer, and Ji suspected he was Cai Yong, the famous musician Cai Biao, who was also shackled before his death. The "Collected Works of the Imperial Library" (volume 644) records this.
Ji Kang had been friends with Lü An and missed him so much that he traveled thousands of miles to visit him. When Lü An came, Ji Kang was not home. His brother happily went out to welcome him, but Lü An did not come forward, instead writing the character "Phoenix" on the door and leaving. His brother did not understand, but when Ji Kang returned, he explained, "The phoenix is an ordinary bird." The "Record of the Wondrous" (volume 235) records this.
Chen Xie often drank for days, as recorded in the "Collected Works of the Imperial Library" (volume 128). Later, Emperor Wen Wang wanted to repair the Nine Dragon Weir, and Ruan recommended Chen Xie, who was used. When digging the ground, six ancient bronze dragons were found, and the weir was completed. The "Notes on the Waterways" (volume 16) and the "Collected Works of the Imperial Library" (volume 73) record this.
Emperor Wu of Han visited the Shanglin Gardens and saw a beautiful tree. He asked Dong Shu, who replied, "Its name is 'Good as it is.'" The Emperor secretly ordered someone to cut down the tree. Several years later, when he asked Dong Shu again, he said, "Its name is 'Qisu.' The Emperor said, 'Dong Shu has been lying to me for a long time. Why is the name different now?' Dong Shu replied, 'A large horse is called a horse, a small one is called a foal; a long one is called a chicken, a small one is called a chick; a large one is called a cow, a small one is called a calf; a human is called a child, and a long one is called an old person. Formerly, it was called 'Good as it is,' now it is called 'Qisu.' Longevity, youth, death, and the decline of all things—how can there be a fixed name?' The Emperor laughed. The "Record of the Wondrous" (volume 173) records this.
Emperor Wu visited the Ganquan Palace and, while riding along the highway, saw a red insect with a head, eyes, teeth, ears, and nose. No one recognized it. The Emperor sent Dong Shu to identify it, who replied, "This is the 'Strange Creature.'" The "Record of Fragments of the Sea" (volume 22) records this as Dong Shu saying, "This insect is named the 'Strange Creature.'" In the Qin Dynasty, many were unjustly imprisoned, and the people sighed, saying, 'Strange, strange!' This moved the heavens, and the name 'Strange Creature' was given to it. The place must have been a Qin prison." The Emperor checked the map and found it was indeed a Qin prison. The "Record of the Wondrous" (volume 173) records this.
Yang Xiong said, "Changqing's poetry is not like anything from this world." He was in awe. His friend Sheng Lan asked, "How is it so excellent?" Yang Xiong replied, "It is like weaving silk into text and arranging brocade into substance." Yang Xiong then wrote the song "Weaving Silk" and the essay "Arranging Brocade." The "Blue Pearl Collection" (volume 2) records this.
Yang Xiong dreamed of spitting a white phoenix and gathering it on black. The "Blue Pearl Collection" (volume 2) records this. Yu Yiqi, a native of Jizhou, told Han Kangbo, "When I went to Jiaozhou, I heard the story of Ma Yuan: Jiaozhou is south of Hepu County in Xuming County, bordering the southernmost part of Shouling County. Legend says, 'The General of the Waves cleared the path, and the oarsmen chiseled the stone, leaving traces behind.' It is also said, 'This path has been abandoned for a long time, blocked, and only when Dai Huan dug it, could the boats of the General of the Waves be found. In the past, two bronze pillars were erected on the shore of Linyi. On the northern side of the shore, there were over ten families of soldiers who lived south of Shouling, all surnamed Ma, intermarrying among themselves. There are now 200 households, as they are wanderers, they are called 'Ma Liu.' Their language is still the same as that of the Central Plains.'" The "Continued Discussions of Assistance" (volume 4) records this.
Yuan An's father passed away, and his mother sent him to visit a diviner to ask about the burial site. On the way, he met three scholars. Yuan An treated them with chicken wine and, after finishing, they told him, "Your family will be noble for four generations." After walking a few steps, they looked back and saw they were gone. He buried his father there, and later, he indeed became the Minister of Works, and his descendants flourished, with three of his descendants becoming high officials. The "Record of the Wondrous" (volume 4) records this.
Yuan An was the magistrate of Yinping and was known for his benevolence. The county had a hail pond that never melted in winter or summer, and hail would fall for tens of miles each year, causing great harm. Yuan An fasted and purified himself, appealing to the gods for forgiveness. His sincerity moved the heavens, and the hail stopped, never falling again. The "Record of the Wondrous" (volume 161) records this.
Cui Zhen had literary talent, and his county magistrate visited him. Cui Zhen's son Yuan was nine years old and wrote on the door, "People may be like dry wood, but you are not like Wen Hou. Why do you shine so brightly, entering my village?" The magistrate saw it and asked Cui Zhen, who replied, "It must be Yuan who wrote it." When Yuan was summoned, he said, "You sent me with courtesy, and I serve you with loyalty." The "Notes on the Elegant and Measured" (volume 4) records this.
Hu Guang was born on an inauspicious day, and his parents disliked him, hiding him in a gourd and abandoning him by the river. A neighbor found and raised him. When he grew up, he gained fame, but his parents wanted to take him back. Guang believed that betraying his birth parents would be unjust and betraying his adoptive parents would be ungrateful. Unable to choose, he took the surname Hu because he was born in a gourd. The "Record of Fragments of the Sea" (volume 7) records this.
Ma Rong served in two counties and two prefectures, governing with minimal interference. In Wudu for seven years and in Nanjun for four years, he never sentenced a single person to death. He loved music, playing the lute and flute. When he played the flute, dragonflies would emerge and sing in harmony. The "Notes on the Elegant and Measured" (volume 4) records this.
A man from Yingchuan named Yu encountered a disease and died but remained warm for a night before being buried. Suddenly, he spoke, saying, "When I first died, two black-clad men came to bind me and force me forward. We saw a great city with high towers and strong defenses. They led me into a hall where many others were gathered. A nobleman sat facing south, with hundreds of attendants, called the 'Lord of the.' The Lord of the held a brush and scroll to question the arrivals. When it was my turn, he said, 'This person's destiny is not yet fulfilled.' They hurried me away. A man came down the steps to lead me out to the city gate. The gate guard said, 'You must report back before you can leave.' Outside the gate, a young woman, about fifteen or sixteen, with a graceful appearance, said, 'Lord Yu has been fortunate to return, but he is detained like this. The gate officials are asking for something.' Yu said, 'I was taken in, with nothing to offer.' The woman took off a jade bracelet from her left arm and threw it to Yu, saying, 'Take this with it.' Yu asked her what her surname was, and she said, 'I am Zhang, from Maozhou. I was lost in the chaos yesterday.' Yu said, 'I was about to send five thousand coins to buy materials before I died. If I am reborn, I will send this money to repay you.' The woman said, 'I cannot bear to see you suffer alone. This is my private property, do not return it to my family.' Yu did not report back and was sent away. Yu bid farewell to the woman, who sighed and cried. When Yu awoke, he searched for Maozhou and found a young woman of the Zhang family who had recently died." The "Record of the Wondrous" (volume 383) records this.
Wang Yao died in the capital in the third year of the Da Ming era. After his death, a tall, black ghost wearing a loincloth came to his house, sometimes singing or mimicking human speech, often throwing filth into his food. He also troubled the family of his neighbor Yu. Yu told the ghost, "Throw me stones or soil, I am not afraid of it. If you throw me money, that is truly distressing." The ghost then threw dozens of new coins directly at Yu's forehead. Yu said, "New coins do not hurt, I only fear old coins!" The ghost threw old coins at him, doing so six or seven times, collecting over a hundred coins. The "Record of the Wondrous" (volume 325) records this.
Bi Zhongbao of Dongping had a swift steed named Cangma, which he cherished. In the sixth year of the Da Ming era, Bi Zhongbao dreamed of his deceased brother Bi Zhongqing, who said, "I am on a military mission and face danger, but I have no swift horse. You can give me the Cangma." Bi Zhongbao agreed. When he woke, he told his guests about the dream and heard the sound of a horse falling. He sent someone to check, and the horse was barely breathing, as if struck by an evil force. Bi Zhongbao knew what had happened and tried to treat it. The next morning, the horse died, and Bi Zhongbao lay as if asleep, hearing Zhongqing say, "I just asked for the horse, you took such good care of it. Do you not cherish it? Now, I am returning it, and you can find another." By dawn, the horse revived, and by mealtime, it was back to normal. The "Collected Works of the Imperial Library" (volume 897) records this.
Liu Yuanjing, the Grand General of the Jin Dynasty, returned to the capital in the eighth year of the Da Ming era. While his carriage was being washed in the courtyard, a gust of wind blew a gate open, and it rushed straight toward his carriage. The next year, his entire family was executed. The "Collected Works of the Imperial Library" (volume 885) records this.
In the first year of the Tai Ning era of the Jin Dynasty, a man named Wang from Yu Hang passed a temple to pray for blessings. After leaving, he suspected he had made a mistake. He walked five or six li before feeling too tired to return. A white-clad man arrived late with a pair of shoes and said, "The officials sent you back." He then turned into a swan and flew into a field. The "Collected Works of the Imperial Library" (volume 697) records this.
In the second year of the Taixing era of the Jin Dynasty, Wu Hualong loved hunting and had a swift dog named Diwei, which he always took with him. One day, while cutting reeds by the river, the dog wandered off and was surrounded by a large snake. The dog returned and bit the snake, killing it. Hualong collapsed, unconscious, and the dog seemed to weep or howl. He returned to the boat and lay in the grass. His companions were puzzled and followed, finding Hualong unconscious on the ground. Two days later, the dog refused to eat, and Hualong revived, finally able to eat. Hualong grew to love the dog as much as his relatives. Later, the dog disappeared, and after two years of searching, it was found in Xian Mountain. The "Collected Works of the Imperial Library" (volume 905) and the "Record of the Wondrous" (volume 437) record this.
In the early years of the Xianhe era of the Jin Dynasty, Xu Jingyuan went on a journey and dreamed of sleeping with his wife, becoming pregnant. The next year, when he returned, his wife did indeed give birth, as he had dreamed. The "Record of the Wondrous" (volume 276) records this.
Qian Teng was appointed as the magistrate of Pei County in the third year of the Xianhe era. He traveled without restraint and dreamed of a black-clad man who said, "Why do you keep going out without stopping? You should cut your horse's hooves." Afterward, when he traveled, his horse's hooves broke. When he was near the city, it suddenly became dark, and a tall figure in black robes appeared, shouting at the driver to move aside. The tall figure then struck the driver with a whip, knocking him down. When it was light, his attendants found the carriage empty and searched for Teng, who was found sitting under bushes, unconscious. Fifty days later, Teng was executed. The "Record of the Wondrous" (volume 321) records this.
In the Xiankang era of the Jin Dynasty, Mao Bao, the governor of Yuzhou, guarded the city of Zhu. A soldier bought a white turtle in Wuchang and kept it in a jar, gradually feeding it. Later, when Zhu City was defeated by Shi Shi, those who jumped into the river all drowned. The soldier, wearing armor, entered the water and felt as if he had fallen onto a stone. A moment later, he saw it was the white turtle he had released. He reached the shore and left. The "Notes on the Wondrous" (volume 118) records this.