Ancient "Divination" Techniques: Mysterious and Unfailing
Mystical Predictions
During the Qing Dynasty, there was a fortune teller named Tong Xiyang who shared an incredible story. He had observed two individuals playing chess, and another person had previously documented the moves—such as Black at 9-3 and White at 6-5—onto a diagram, sealing it inside a bamboo tube. Once the game ended, this person opened the tube, and to everyone's astonishment, the diagram perfectly mirrored the players' actual moves.
Both the chess players and the spectators were amazed, unable to fathom how this individual had predicted the moves so accurately. Even Tong Xiyang, a fortune teller himself, was bewildered by the accuracy of the chess diagram, which seemed just as mysterious and baffling to him. This story highlights the existence and profound enigma of mystical predictions.
In "Predestined Records," a work by Tang Dynasty scholar Zhong Lu, during Emperor Xuanzong's Kaiyuan era, there was a man named Wang Sheng living in the capital's Xuanpingfang, known for his divination skills. When Li Kui asked for a prediction about his official career, Wang Sheng gave him several sealed papers, around a dozen, instructing, "Open them after you become the Left Shiyi official."
Later on, recommended by Li Ying, the emperor called upon Li Kui and ordered his ministers to evaluate his talents and literary skills. He faced three questions: "The Ode to the Purple and Green Dew Bag," "Reply to the Tibetan Letter," and "The Memorial to Present a White Peacock to Nanyue." Li Kui worked on these from 11 AM until 6 or 7 PM, making eight corrections. After the emperor reviewed his paper, he added two annotations on the side.
The following day, Li Kui was appointed as the Left Shiyi official.
About ten days after his appointment, Li Kui opened the sealed papers Wang Sheng had given him and found they contained three copies of the exam questions and the content he had written. Remarkably, they matched his answers perfectly, including the eight corrections and the two annotations.
This demonstrates that such divination techniques have existed since ancient times. The fortune teller mentioned by Tong Xiyang, who crafted the chess diagram, merely learned this skill from others. Meanwhile, the skilled fortune teller was able to foresee every move and its outcome beforehand.
Even the Smallest Matters Have Their Destiny
Du Chong and Li Deyu both served in the Central Secretariat during the Tang Dynasty. One day, Li Deyu said to Du Chong, "I heard from someone knowledgeable that you have an extraordinary relative. Why not introduce him to me?" Du Chong replied, "I don't have any extraordinary relatives." Li Deyu insisted, "Think carefully!"
After thinking for a moment, Du Chong mentioned, "Recently, my nephew has come to visit, claiming to seek an official position from afar." Li Deyu exclaimed, "That's the one!" Upon returning home, Du Chong asked his nephew to visit Li Deyu, hoping to ease his curiosity.
Li Deyu went straight to the point and inquired about his official prospects. Du Chong's nephew replied, "The Grand Minister is among the highest positions in the government; is there really any need to ask? Even trivial matters in life have their predetermined outcomes, more so honors and ranks. Tomorrow at noon, a white animal will enter from the south room; then, a seven-year-old child dressed in purple with horned braids will enter, holding a bamboo stick five feet and nine inches long, and chase the white beast away; the beast will then exit through the south room once more. The child is not from your household. If you don't believe me, observe secretly tomorrow at noon."
The next day at noon, Li Deyu observed secretly, and indeed a white cat entered from the south room, followed by a child in purple clothing who chased the cat away, causing it to exit through the south room. Li Deyu called the child over and asked his age. The child said, "I am seven years old." Upon measuring the bamboo stick the child was holding, it was exactly five feet and nine inches long. The child was Yuan Cong's son, Li Deyu's neighbor. Du Chong's nephew had predicted it all precisely!
This story suggests that even the smallest matters in life are intricately arranged by destiny; how then can significant matters like life and death or the rise and fall of dynasties lack divine intention? The ancients often stressed the importance of following the will of heaven, a concept that transcends mere superstition.