Zhang Lu’s Daughter 張魯女

The daughter of Zhang Lu* was once washing clothes at the foot of a mountain when she was enveloped by a fine white mist, and due to this became pregnant. Due to the shame of this she took her own life. Close to death, she told her maid: “Once I am dead you should cut open my belly and look [inside] [3402] it.” When the maid followed her instructions she found a pair of dragon children, which were taken to the Han River. They then buried the daughter on the mountain, after which dragons appeared several times and left footprints before her tomb.

From Daojiazaji.

Li Fang 李昉, et al., Taiping guangji 太平廣記 (Extensive Gleanings from the Era of Great Harmony), 10 vols (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1961), ix, 418.3401-2:

張魯女

張魯之女。曾浣衣於山下。有白霧濛身。因而孕焉。恥之自裁。將死。謂其婢曰。我死後。可破腹視 ［3402］之。婢如其言。得龍子一雙。遂送於漢水。既而女殯於山。後數有龍至。其墓前成蹊。

出道家雜記

*Zhang Lu 張魯 (d. 216 CE), a Daoist Master of the Eastern Han era. See http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Han/personszhanglu.html. 

Blood and Flesh in the Earth 土中血肉

He Shinxu was from Xuzhou and was a Jinshi scholar of the Cheng’an era (1196-1201 CE). On his father’s death at the beginning of the Chongqing era (1212-13 CE), he returned to his home village. In his courtyard one night was seen a bright glow, and Shinxu said: “This is a treasure.” He had his servant dig there, and a little over a zhang deep (c. 3.3m) they found a lump of flesh, as big as a large vessel. His family were very alarmed and ordered its urgent reburial. Shinxu quickly fell ill and died. His wife and more than ten other relatives passed away in succession. Those with knowledge say that such chunks of flesh are the Year God, and the emission of misfortune had caused the strange lights they had seen.

Yuan Haowen 元好問, Xu Yijian zhi 續夷堅志 (Continued Records of the Listener), 1.7 (Tale 16)

土中血肉

何信叔，許州人，承安中進士。崇慶初，以父憂居鄉里。庭中嘗夜見光，信叔曰：「此寶器也。」率僮僕掘之，深丈餘，得肉塊一，如盆盎大，家人大駭，亟命埋之。信叔尋以疾亡，妻及家屬十餘人相繼歿。識者謂肉塊太歲也，禍將發，故光怪先見。

Yuan Haowen 元好問, Chang Zhenguo 常振國 (ed), Xu Yijian zhi 續夷堅志 (Continued Records of the Listener), and Anon., Jin Xin 金心 (ed.) Huhai xinwen yijian xuzhi 湖海新聞夷堅續志 (Continuation of Records of the Listener with New Items from the Lakes and Seas) (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1986)

Forbidden Land (two) 土禁二

In the spring of a yisi year (possibly 1245 CE?), a scholar from Huamen in Huaizhou had his servant dig in the earth and found a chunk of meat, more than three or four sheng in size (3-4 litres). When cut with a knife the meat was like mutton, with skin and membrane. The servant said: “People say that pieces of meat in the earth are linked to the God of the Year. Those who see them suffer misfortune, and they should not be dug out.” He replied: “How should I know about the God of the Year?” He again ordered them to dig, and they uncovered two more lumps of meat. Within half a year, death and doom came, each close on the heels of the other, his oxen and horses were all lost. The ancients said that such ill-luck and disaster following violations are deities’ retaliations.

The neighbour Shen Hulu saw this himself and told it to me.

Yuan Haowen 元好問, Xu Yijian zhi 續夷堅志 (Continued Records of the Listener), 1.5 (Tale 11)

土禁二

乙巳春，懷州一花門生，率僕掘地，得肉塊一枚，其大三四升許，以刀割之，肉如羊有膚膜。僕言：「土中肉塊，人言為太歲，見者當凶，不可掘。」生云：「我寧知有太歲耶？」復令掘之，又得二肉塊。不半年，死亡相踵，牛馬皆盡。古人謂之有凶禍而故犯之，是與神敵也。申胡魯鄰居親見之，為予言。

Yuan Haowen 元好問, Chang Zhenguo 常振國 (ed), Xu Yijian zhi 續夷堅志 (Continued Records of the Listener), and Anon., Jin Xin 金心 (ed.) Huhai xinwen yijian xuzhi 湖海新聞夷堅續志 (Continuation of Records of the Listener with New Items from the Lakes and Seas) (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1986)

Fang Yingshu 房穎叔

The Zhou-era Secretary-General of the Finance Ministry Fang Yingshu was appointed Vice-President of the Board of Civil Office. The following day he intended to ascend formally. That night, there was a cook named Wang Lao who, rising at midnight, suddenly heard a voice from outside, as someone said: “Wang Lao need not get up. Secretary-General Fang will not ascend. In three days’ time, Vice-President Li will be promoted.” Wang Lao refused to sleep through to dawn. Fang did indeed fall ill, dying two days later. His ministry then received an order appointing Li Jiongxiu Vice-President. That same day he expressed his thanks and then ascended. Wang Lao asked everyone about what he had heard, but all said they knew nothing. He then realised that he had been informed by a deity.

From Chaoyeqianzai.

Li Fang 李昉, et al., Taiping guangji 太平廣記 (Extensive Gleanings from the Era of Great Harmony), 10 vols (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1961), vii, 329.2611:

房穎叔

周地官郎中房穎叔。除天官侍郎。明日欲上。其夜。有廚子王老。夜半起。忽聞外有人喚云。王老不須起。房侍郎不上。後三日。李侍郎上。王老却臥至曉。房果病。兩日而卒。所司奏狀〈狀原作仗。據陳校本改。〉下。即除李迥秀為侍郎。其日謝。即上。王老以其言問諸人。皆云不知。方悟是神明所告也。出朝野僉載

Li Wenfu 李文府

At the start of the Emperor Wen of Sui’s Kaihuang era (581-601 CE), Li Wenfu of Anding resided in Stonebridge Lane, in Yedu. One night he placed a bottle of wine beneath his bed and, waking at midnight, suddenly heard a sound as if the bottle had tipped and the wine were flowing out. When he sent a maid to look at it, the wine bottle had not fallen over, and the stopper was in place as before. After a short while, he again heard something make a clatter and the sound of liquid. Demanding a torch he shone it around and looked, but the room was silent and there was nothing to see. He extinguished the light and locked the door, but before he could sleep he felt something like a hand chopping at his knee. This happened several times, so Wenfu arose and groped around but found nothing. He then took up a blade and lashed out on all four sides, and heard a sound as if of a ‘flying cicada’ hat ornament swaying in a breeze, and rushed out.

Wenfu was later appointed assistant county magistrate in Xuchang, within Yanzhou. On reaching the eighth year of the Kaihuang era (588 CE), he saw the former prefectural office clerk, Kong Zan, who was from Xuchang, but who had already died. Suddenly, in broad daylight, he arrived before Wenfu in the hall and bowed to him repeatedly. Wenfu was shocked and questioned him, to which he replied: “The Taishan magistrate chooses good people, and Zan, due to the gentleman’s wisdom and character, recommended him for office.” Wenfu kowtowed to him, worried and apprehensive. After a long time Zan told him: “Take care not to divulge this.” When ten years had passed, he did speak of this, but on finishing speaking, he began to feel unwell, and died soon after.

From Wuxingji.

Li Fang 李昉, et al., Taiping guangji 太平廣記 (Extensive Gleanings from the Era of Great Harmony), 10 vols (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1961), vii, 327.2597:

李文府

隋文帝開皇初。安定李文府。住鄴都石橋坊。曾夜置酒瓶於牀下。半夜覺。忽聞瓶倒漏酒聲。使婢看之。酒瓶不倒。蓋塞如舊。須臾。復聞有物嗒水聲。索火照看。屋內靜無所見。滅燭下關。未睡。似有以手指斲其膝。至三。文府起捫之。又無所得。乃拔刀四面揮之。即聞有聲如飛蟬曳響。衝而出。文府後仕兗州須昌縣丞。至開皇八年。見州故錄事孔瓚。即須昌人。先亡。忽白日至文府廳前再拜。文府驚問何為。云。太山府君選好人。瓚以公明幹。輒相薦舉。文府憂惶叩頭。瓚良久云。今更為方便。慎勿漏言。至十年。自說之。說訖。便覺不快。須臾而死。出五行記

Liu Shulun 柳叔倫

At the beginning of the Song Emperor Xiaowu’s Daming era (457-65 CE), Commander-in-Chief Liu Shulun was lodging in the former residence of the Hengyang Wang. In the fifth year Daming (461 CE), he suddenly saw a footprint, two cun in length (c.6.6cm). Lun had a maid called Xixin, and when he sent her to fetch water to launder clothes, a thing appeared in the empty air, overturning the vessel and spilling the water. Lun drew his knife and called out to the maid, then heard something rush closely past him, so chopped at it with the blade, feeling it strike home. When he shone firelight upon it, blood covered the ground. Twenty days later, the maid fell ill and died. Lun then moved her corpse outside. The following day he went to find the corpse but was unable to find it.

From Guanggujinwuxingji

Li Fang 李昉, et al., Taiping guangji 太平廣記 (Extensive Gleanings from the Era of Great Harmony), 10 vols (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1961), vii, 325.2582-83:

柳叔倫

宋孝武大明初。太尉柳叔倫。住故衡陽王故第。大明五年。忽見一腳跡。長二寸。倫有婢細辛。使取水澣衣。空中有物。傾器倒水。倫拔刀呼婢。在側聞有物行聲。以刀斫之。覺有所中。以火照之。流血覆地。後二十日。婢病死。倫即移尸出外。明日覓尸。不知所在。出廣古今五行記

Guo Xiuzhi 郭秀之

Guo Xiuzhi settled in Hailing. In the twenty-ninth year of the [Liu] Song Yuanjia era (452 CE), aged seventy-three, he fell ill and remained in the main room. To the north was a large date tree, more than four zhang tall (c. 13.2m). When a young maid rose early, opening the door and sweeping the floors, she caught sight of a person up in the tree, tall, strong and black in colour, wearing a black wrapper and cap, black leather shirt and trousers. In its hands it held bow and arrows, and it faced directly south. The entire household came to look, and all seeing it understood. Xiuzhi came leaning on a cane to see it. The figure told Xiuzhi: “Your servant has come to summon the gentleman. The gentleman should prepare himself quickly.” At sunrise it was suddenly no longer visible. The same happened over fifty-three days in total. After Xiuzhi had died it ceased.

From Shuyiji.

Li Fang 李昉, et al., Taiping guangji 太平廣記 (Extensive Gleanings from the Era of Great Harmony), 10 vols (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1961), vii, 325.2581:

郭秀之

郭秀之。寓居海陵。宋元嘉二十九年。年七十三。病止堂屋。北有大棗樹。高四丈許。小婢晨起。開戶掃地。見棗樹上有一人。修壯黑色。著皁襆帽。烏韋袴褶。手操弧矢。正立南面。舉家出看。見了了。〈了字原闕。據明鈔本補。〉秀之扶杖視之。此人謂秀之曰。僕來召君。君宜速裝。日出便不復見。積五十三日如此。秀之亡後便絕。出述異記

Li Yuanming 李元明

Li Yuanming of Qiantang was once lying on his bed at midnight when he suddenly heard a person call out: “Yuanming! Yuanming! You should have gone a long time ago.” Two people then led him away, taking him to an underground room and leaving him there. He didn’t know where he was, but once a little time had passed he could finally begin to see something. Stroking the couch on which he was seated, it turned out to be a coffin, and there were graves to all sides. Terrified, he couldn’t settle, and wanted to get out, but this would be as difficult as ascending into the heavens, and he was unable to escape. His family were searching the surroundings, unable to tell where he had gone. They instructed the servants to call out his name in unison. Yuanming heard this from inside the tomb and answered faintly. They then chiseled away the door and rescued him.

Li Fang 李昉, et al., Taiping guangji 太平廣記 (Extensive Gleanings from the Era of Great Harmony), 10 vols (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1961), vii, 321.2546:

李元明

前唐〈前唐二字原空闕。據黃本補。〉李元明。嘗在牀上臥。時夜半。忽聞人呼云。元明元明。久〈久字原空闕。據黃本補。〉乃出應。有二人便牽將去。入屋下。捨去。不知所在。至逾時。竟〈逾時竟三字原空闕。據黃本補。〉鮮所見。徐捫所坐牀。是棺木。四壁皆是冢。恐怖不安。欲去。難〈恐怖不安欲去難七字原空闕。據黃本補。〉如升天。不復能出。家人左右索。不知所往。因率領僕從〈知所往因率領僕從八字原空闕。據黃本補。〉乃共大呼其名。元明于冢中聞。遙應之。乃鑿門出之。

Ruan Yuzhi 阮瑜之

In the tenth year of the Jin Taiyuan era (386 CE), Ruan Yuzhi resided before the Shixing Pagoda. Orphaned very young, he was unable to support himself and frequently wept and sobbed. He suddenly saw a spirit appear before his father’s inscribed brick, which told him: “A father has died and returned to the Rain Deity. Why weep for so long? After three years have passed, the gentleman’s family will be able to support itself, but for the time being your servant will aid the gentleman’s family. I will not cause harm, and should not be feared as inauspicious, but will rather bring fortune to the gentleman’s household.” After this the spirit remained in their home, and whenever the household needed something, the spirit would provide it. After two or three years, the gentleman’s circumstances had changed. Fed by the spirit, he would chat and laugh together with it. When Ruan asked its surname, it replied: “My surname is Li, and first name Liuzhi; I am the gentleman’s brother-in-law.” Ruan asked: “How did the gentleman come to me?” The spirit told him: “Your servant has endured hardships, and has now been sent for a time to live the way of ghosts, and assigned to the gentleman’s home. After four or five years I should depart.” Ruan asked him: “Where would you go then?” He replied: “To be reborn into the mortal world.” When that time came, he did indeed say farewell and leave.

From Youminglu.

Li Fang 李昉, et al., Taiping guangji 太平廣記 (Extensive Gleanings from the Era of Great Harmony), 10 vols (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1961), vii, 320.2539:

阮瑜之

晉太元十年。阮瑜之居在始興佛圖前。少孤貧不立。哭泣無時。忽見一鬼。書塼〈塼原作搏。據明鈔本改。〉著前云。父死歸玄冥。何為久哭泣。即後三年中。君家可得立。僕當寄君家。不使有損失。勿畏我為凶。要為君作吉。後鬼恒在家。家須用者。鬼與之。二三年。君〈明鈔本君作用〉小差。為鬼作食，共談笑語議。阮問姓。答云。姓李名留之。是君姊夫耳。阮問君那得來。鬼云。僕受罪已畢。今蹔生鬼道。權寄君家。後四五年當去。曰。復何處去。答云。當生世間。至期。果別而去。出幽明錄

Chen Su 陳素

In the first year of the Jin Shengping era (357 CE), the family of Chen Su, of Shan County, were wealthy. After a decade of marriage to his wife, he still lacked a son, so wished to take a concubine. His wife prayed to the ancestral hall’s deities and suddenly became pregnant. The same happened to the wife of their neighbour, a commoner. She therefore bribed the neighbour’s wife, saying: “If I give birth to a boy, that would be the will of heaven. If it is a girl, and yours is a boy, we should swap.” This was quickly agreed between them. The neighbour’s wife had a boy, and three days later Su’s wife bore a daughter. The exchange was quickly made. Su was absolutely delighted with his son. They had raised the child for thirteen years when, during prayers, an elderly housemaid who often saw spirits spoke up and said: “I see the gentleman’s ancestors; they’re coming to the gate and then stopping. But I also see a crowd of commoners who have come and seated themselves to eat our offerings.” The father was extremely alarmed and amazed, and then welcomed the spirits as they arrived. He prayed that they might become temporarily visible, and they told him they were all relatives. Su then went inside and questioned his wife. Terrified, she told him about the swap. The boy was returned to his original family, and their daughter taken back.

From Youminglu.

Li Fang 李昉, et al., Taiping guangji 太平廣記 (Extensive Gleanings from the Era of Great Harmony), 10 vols (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1961), vii, 319.2527:

陳素

晉昇平元年。剡縣陳素家富。娶婦十年無兒。夫欲娶妾。婦禱祠神明。突然有身。鄰家小人婦亦同有。因貨鄰婦云。我生若男。天願也。若是女。汝是男者。當交易之。便共將許。鄰人生男。此婦後三日生女。便交取之。素忻喜。養至十三。當祠祀。家有老婢。素見鬼。云。見府君家先人。來到門首便住。但見一羣小人。來座所食噉此祭。父甚疑怪。便迎見鬼人至。祠時轉令看。言語皆同。素便入問婦。婦懼。且說言此事。還男本家。喚女歸。出幽明錄