Complete Notes on the Song Dynasty (Volume 2, Part 2)

Author: Zhu Yian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features:
Lǐ Shēngbái, a native of Liàngzhōu, was poor and ran a small school teaching young children, with only ten students at a time. His daily provisions were often insufficient. One day, he suddenly fell ill and died. Two days later, he revived and said to his wife, "I saw Yáo, the (top-ranking scholar), in the underworld. He is the master of the ledger for human livelihood and food, and he has the same kind of friendship with me as we had in the past. He said to me, 'You are very poor. You should return early. My duty is to manage livelihood and food, and I dare not take private action. However, I will secretly add ten students for you and give you a silver rod. This is my private envy.'" Afterward, people suddenly sent children to his school, and indeed, there were ten more students than before. Lǐ repaired his house and indeed received a silver rod. Alas! The number of students is also predetermined by the underworld. How much more so for official positions, longevity, and the richness of one's stipend? Who would say that these are not predetermined?
From New Compendium of Ancient and Modern Stories, Divided by Categories ():
Kòu Xiangzhǔn, at nineteen, was the successor to the Sū Yìjiǎn as the magistrate of Bādōng County. The county had an old temple, but its name was unknown. The former magistrate once dreamed that the temple's spirit wept and said, "A prime minister will come, and I dare not stay here. Even if you force me to stay, I will not accept it." The magistrate asked, "Who is the prime minister?" The spirit replied, "You will know in the future. I dare not reveal it now." Upon waking, he told his colleagues about the dream. A few days later, a messenger arrived with a document, announcing that Kòu was appointed as the prime minister. Indeed, because the temple had no name and was not recorded in official documents, it was destroyed. Alas! The temple's destruction was known to the spirit, but Kòu's appointment as prime minister was already a sign of it! The spirit said that if he stayed, he would not be accepted, which was also an indication of Kòu's integrity.
From New Compendium of Ancient and Modern Stories, Divided by Categories ():
Zhang Yì, an official candidate from Ezhou, came to take the imperial examination in the southern capital. After the exam, before the results were announced, he went out with his companions to drink in the market. Suddenly, a man bowed to him and said, "You will pass the exam, but you should protect the two red lights on your head. As long as they are there, you will be safe. If they are gone, you may not be so lucky. Be careful." Then the man disappeared. Later, Zhang indeed passed the exam. After receiving his appointment and taking office, his superior was Hélún Lì, who was the two red lights. Soon after, Hélún Lì died, and Zhang was also dismissed from office. Thus, he realized that everything was predetermined and could not be avoided by his own efforts.
From the same source ():
During the Qianxing era of the Jingnan region, Zhang Junfang served as the magistrate of Jiangling. The prefect of the prefecture, Li Tǎnzhī, fell ill with wind disease, and the prefectural affairs were neglected. He was sent away by the transport envoy Wang Zhān, but the news of the new prefect had not yet reached them. At that time, Chen Congyi, the minister of rites, was in charge of transport in the southern part of Jingnan. On his way from Héng to Shào, he investigated suspicious cases. Between two stations near Shào, he stayed overnight at a Buddhist temple by the river. There was a female envoy with him. In the middle of the night, she suddenly choked and woke up, shouting. When she recovered, she said, "I just saw a white-clad man wearing a hat, with a very solemn demeanor, pressing his chest with his hand and saying, 'The scholar will take over Jingnan. I am the fifth son of Jingnan, and I come to inform you. When you arrive, please take care of me.'" Chen found it very strange. After arriving in the prefecture, he indeed received an imperial decree, just as the man had predicted.
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