Lai He, with the courtesy name Hongshun, was a native of Chang'an. Since childhood, he enjoyed fortune-telling and was very accurate in his predictions. The Grand Chancellor Yuwen Hu took him under his wing, allowing him to enter the residences of high-ranking officials and nobles. He started as a minor official in the Xia government office and eventually rose through the ranks, acquiring the title of a village noble in Anding County. He later became a Lower Minister of the Capital and was granted the title of a county noble of Huanshui. When Emperor Gaozu was just an ordinary man, he once consulted Lai He for fortune-telling. After Emperor Gaozu left, Lai He told others, "This person will become a king who will rule the world in the future." Later, when Emperor Gaozu became the Grand Chancellor, he appointed Lai He as a Companion of the Grand Chancellor. After Emperor Gaozu became emperor, he further elevated Lai He's title to a Viscount.
During the Kaihuang period, Lai He submitted a memorial in which he stated, "I have long served Your Majesty, starting from the third year of Zhoutian. I have been questioned by Your Majesty many times, and at that time, I told Your Majesty that you would receive a mandate from heaven to govern the world. This is destined by heaven, not something that can be achieved by human efforts. I have no merits, yet I have held the rank of a fifth-grade official for over twenty years. What kind of person am I? How can I not feel ashamed and fearful! I am dull-witted and incompetent, truly unworthy. I have taken the liberty to record some of the fulfilled predictions that I told Your Majesty when you were still a commoner, and present them to you. I have no regrets, even in death."
When Your Majesty was still in the Zhou Dynasty, you once said to me together with Duke Yongfu, Dou Rongding: "I have heard that your fortune-telling is very accurate; I want to see if you can read people's character." At that time, I said, "Your Majesty, your eyes are as bright as the morning star, insightful of everything. You will definitely become the ruler of the world in the future, but I hope you can practice restraint and avoid unnecessary bloodshed." In the fourth year of Jiande, in May, Emperor Wu of Zhou asked me in Yunyang Palace: "You know all the ministers in the court; what do you think of Sui Gong (referring to the founding emperor Yang Jian)?" I replied to Emperor Wu, "Sui Gong is merely a caretaker, capable of defending a region. If he leads troops to fight, there is no place he cannot conquer." I spoke these words in the southeast corner of the palace. Your Majesty, do you still remember these words? The next year, the Wuhuan tribe slandered Emperor Wu, saying, "Sui Gong does not have the demeanor of a subject." Emperor Wu asked me again; I knew he had doubts about Sui Gong, so I deliberately replied, "He is a loyal subject, nothing unusual." At that time, Wang Yi, Liang Yanguang, and others were present, knowing that I was lying. In the second year of Daxiang, in May, Your Majesty entered the palace from the east gate of Yongxiang. I stood facing north on the east side of Yongxiang gate, and Your Majesty asked me, "Do I have any disasters?" I replied to Your Majesty, "Your bone structure and complexion match; heaven has destined you to unify the world." Shortly thereafter, Your Majesty took command of the court. After reading the memorial, His Majesty was very happy, promoted my official position, and rewarded me with five hundred rolls of cloth, three hundred sheng of rice, and ten hectares of land. I visited the fortune teller He Shikai with my fellow villager Han Ze. He Shikai told me, "In another four or five months, you will be able to hold a high position." At the time, no one understood what he was getting at. As a result, Han Ze passed away in May of the fifteenth year of Kaihuang. Later, someone asked He Shikai what he meant by this, and He Shikai said, "Fifteen years is three sets of five years, plus May is four sets of five years. 'High position' refers to the coffin." He Shikai had a knack for wordplay. He wrote a book called "The Book of Fortune Telling," consisting of forty volumes.
Taoist Zhang Bin, Jiao Zishun, and Dong Zihua from Yanmen, the three of them, when Gaozu was still a commoner, privately told Gaozu, "You will become emperor in the future, you should take good care of yourself." After Gaozu became emperor, he appointed Zhang Bin as the Huazhou governor, Jiao Zishun as the commander of the imperial guard, and Dong Zihua as a senior official. Xiao Ji, courtesy name Wenxiu, was the grandson of Xuanwu King Xiao Yi, the brother of Liang Wudi. He was knowledgeable, particularly skilled in yin-yang calendar calculations. After the fall of Jiangling City, he fled to Northern Zhou, where he became an official. During the reign of Emperor Xuan of Northern Zhou, Xiao Ji noticed the increasing chaos in the court, so he submitted a memorial to advise the emperor, but unfortunately, the emperor ignored it. After the establishment of the Sui Dynasty, his position rose to Yitong, and he was appointed as the Minister of Rites, responsible for reviewing ancient and modern yin-yang calendar books. Xiao Ji was proud and principled, refusing to associate with corrupt officials, had a strained relationship with Yang Su, which led to his marginalization, leaving him feeling frustrated.
Later, he found that Emperor Wen of Sui liked to listen to prophecies, so he wanted to take this opportunity to advance his career, and he fabricated some auspicious omens to please the emperor. In the fourteenth year of Kaihuang, he wrote a memorial saying, "This year is the year of Jia Yin, and the first day of the eleventh month is Xin You day, which falls on the winter solstice. Next year is the year of Yi Mao, and the first day of the first month is Geng Shen day, which also falls on New Year's Day. The winter solstice coincides with the first day, marking the first auspicious sign. Xin You day is your birthday; the virtue of Xin is associated with Bing, and November is the Bing Zi month; the virtue of You is in Yin, and January is the month of Yin, your birth month, aligning with its virtue, and it is also the beginning of New Year's Day, which is the second auspicious sign. Geng Shen day corresponds to your age (in terms of traditional counting); the virtue of Yi is associated with Geng, and the virtue of Mao is in Shen. Next year is the year of Yi Mao, and your age aligns with the year's virtue, also falling on New Year's Day, which is the third auspicious sign. The 'Book of Yin and Yang' says, 'Those whose year's fate matches the virtue of the year and month will have blessings and good fortune.' The 'Hong Fan Zhuan' says, 'The morning of the year, the morning of the month, the morning of the day, is the master king.' The scriptures state that if these three align, one can enjoy longevity and prosperity."
Moreover, in the year of Jia Yin, the eleventh month is the month that yang energy begins, with the new moon marking the start of the lunar year, coinciding with the beginning of the holy king's era. The first month is the month of positive yang energy, the beginning of the year, the first of the months; the new moon marks the start of the lunar year, the morning of the month, the first of the day, a moment of auspiciousness. Your birthday falls on the first day of the ninth month, the beginning of the third month, in alignment with the year and month. Therefore, as the Lingbao Sutra states: "The dragon's sound brings great fortune." Next year, your birth element is the dragon, as corroborated by both the calendar and scriptures. Furthermore, Jia Yin and Yi Mao are harmonious elements; in the year of Jia Yin, the winter solstice occurs on Xin You; in the following year of Yi Mao, the summer solstice occurs on Jia Zi. The winter solstice marks the beginning of yang energy and the day of heavenly offerings, which coincides with your birthday, a fourth auspicious sign; the summer solstice marks the beginning of yin energy and the day of earthly offerings, which coincides with the empress's birthday, a fifth auspicious sign. Your virtue envelops all like the Qian hexagram, while the empress's benevolence nurtures all like the Kun hexagram, thus the primordial energies of heaven and earth converge on your birthday." Emperor Wen of Sui was greatly pleased upon reading this and rewarded him with five hundred rolls of silk.
When Prince Fangling was the crown prince, he often remarked that the East Palace felt eerie and haunted, often seeing malevolent spirits and rat demons. The emperor then asked Mr. Ji to perform rituals in the East Palace to drive away the evil spirits. A shrine was set up in the Xuan Ci Hall, and a strange wind blew from the direction of the Ghost Gate in the Gen position (northeast), heading straight for the crown prince's seat. Mr. Ji quickly used a potion brewed from peach branches and reed fire to drive away the wind, which then halted outside the palace gates. Afterwards, Mr. Ji conducted a thanksgiving ritual, setting up an altar in the Wei position (south), featuring four gates and shrines dedicated to the Five Emperors. During the cold winter month of December, a large toad suddenly leaped in from the southwest, entered through the main door, ascended to the shrine of the Red Emperor, and then exited through the main door. After taking a few steps, it abruptly vanished.
The emperor was very puzzled by this situation and bestowed many gifts upon Mr. Ji. Mr. Ji also told the emperor that the crown prince's position might be precarious. At that time, the emperor was contemplating the deposition of the crown prince in favor of a new ruler. When he heard this, he realized Mr. Ji had a point. Since then, the emperor often consulted Mr. Ji on various matters.
After the emperor and empress dowager passed away, a decree was issued to use divination to choose the tomb's location. Diviners traveled far and wide to conduct their readings, and finally selected a location, reporting: "The divination results indicated that the nation would thrive for two thousand years, with the lineage enduring for two hundred years." They also presented a drawing to the emperor.
The emperor said: "Fortune, whether good or bad, is determined by people, not by feng shui. Wasn't my father's tomb also chosen for its feng shui back then? Didn't the country still perish? Take my family's ancestral tomb for example, if it had poor feng shui, I wouldn't be emperor today; conversely, if it were good, my brother wouldn't have perished in battle." Even though he thought this, the emperor ultimately accepted the auspicious divination results.
The memorial reported: "On the sixteenth day of November last year, to the northwest of the empress dowager's tomb, before dawn, a mass of black clouds appeared, rising five to six hundred paces into the sky. In the southeast direction, banners, chariots, horses, and tents appeared, stretching seven to eight li, with numerous individuals marching in an orderly fashion. They disappeared only after sunrise. There were more than ten eyewitnesses. According to the 'Book of Burials': 'The earth's energy aligns with the emperor's surname, which signifies great fortune.' Now this black energy is occurring in winter, related to the imperial surname, which signifies great fortune, foretelling that the lineage will endure indefinitely!" The emperor was greatly pleased by this news.
Later, the emperor planned to attend the empress's funeral in person. The fortune teller Ji once again advised, "Your Majesty, you were born in the Year of the Rooster. This year, the Doukui Star and Tiangang Star are positioned in Mao and You. According to the records of the Yin-Yang Book, it is not suitable to attend a funeral." The emperor ignored him. After Ji returned, he told his relative Xiao Pingzhong, "The Crown Prince sent Yuwen Huaji to express his gratitude, saying, 'You previously predicted that I would become the Crown Prince, and it has come true. I will never forget your kindness. Now, when selecting the empress's tomb, make sure I ascend to the throne soon. After I become emperor, I will make sure to repay you handsomely.' At that time, I wrote down: 'In four years, the Crown Prince will take control of the country.' Now, the Feng Shui of the tomb has also proven accurate, with the emperor personally attending the funeral; the signs are even clearer. Moreover, once the Crown Prince takes power, how could the Sui Dynasty possibly survive? There will definitely be a true ruler who emerges to govern the country. When I mentioned 'the country's fortune lasting two thousand years,' it plays on the sound of thirty characters; 'passing on for two hundred years' is a homonym of thirty-two generations. Everything I've said is true—keep that in mind!"
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended to the throne, he appointed Yuan Tiangang as the Junior Minister of the Imperial Treasury and granted him additional titles, allowing him to establish his own residence and office. One day, when Yuan Tiangang passed by Huayin, he saw white mist rising straight from Yang Su's tomb into the sky, so he secretly reported this to the emperor. The emperor asked him what it meant, and Yuan Tiangang said, "This indicates that there will be a disaster in Yang Su's family, indicating a potential massacre. If the burial site is moved, perhaps it can be avoided." Later, the emperor nonchalantly remarked to Yang Xuangan, "Your family should change the ancestral tomb sooner." Yang Xuangan faintly grasped Yuan Tiangang's implication, thinking it was a good omen, but he excused himself, saying that Liaodong had not yet been pacified and he had no time to deal with family matters. Not long after, Yang Xuangan rebelled, and his entire family was wiped out, which made the emperor become even more convinced of Yuan Tiangang's prophecy. Over a year later, Yuan Tiangang passed away, leaving behind a thirty-volume work titled "Golden Sea," "Essential Records of Astrology" in one volume, "Household Feng Shui" in eight volumes, "Burial Feng Shui" in six volumes, "Music Scores" in twenty volumes, as well as "Imperial Health Prescriptions" in two volumes, "Essential Techniques of Palmistry" in one volume, and "Taiyi Establishing Principles" in one volume, all of which were passed down among the people.
At that time, there was also a man named Yang Bochou, who was renowned for his expertise in Yin-Yang divination and numerology during the reign of Emperor Xiaogong and Liu You.
Yang Bochou was from Fengyi in Wuxiang and had a particular passion for studying the Book of Changes (Yijing), living in seclusion on Mount Hua. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui, the court summoned him to the capital city. When he met the high-ranking officials, he was not polite at all, addressing them informally regardless of their status. No one could quite figure out what kind of person he was.
When Emperor Wen summoned him and chatted with him for half a day, Yang Bochou did not say a word. The emperor rewarded him with a set of clothes, but upon arriving at the court, he simply tossed the clothes aside and walked out. After that, he wandered the streets with unkempt hair, looking wild and filthy, never bothering to groom or dress.
There was a man named Zhang Yongle in the capital city who practiced divination and fortune-telling. Yang Bochou often hung out with him. If Zhang Yongle encountered a reading that didn’t make sense, Yang Bochou would help him analyze the divination symbols in great detail. Zhang Yongle admired him immensely and felt he could never measure up. Later, Yang Bochou also started fortune-telling.
Once, a man lost his child and went to Yang Bochou for divination. After the divination, Yang Bochou said, "Your child is on the wall at the northeast corner of the south gate of Huaiyuan Alley, being held by a woman in a blue skirt. You will find him there." The man followed his advice and actually found the child!
Another time, a couple hid some gold, but later the gold went missing. The husband suspected his wife of having some kind of agenda and wanted to drive her away. The wife sought help from Yang Bochou for divination. Yang Bochou said, "The gold is still around!" He made the whole family come out and pointed to a person, saying, "The gold is with him!" The person blushed and quickly produced the gold.
The Taoist Wei Zhichang went to ask Yang Bochou about his fortune, and Yang Bochou said, "Don't go to the northeast direction. If there's no other way, come back quickly. Otherwise, Yang Su will cut off your head!" Not long after, the emperor sent Wei Zhichang to assist Prince Liang. Soon after the emperor's death, Liang raised an army in rebellion, and Wei Zhichang fled back to the capital. Wei Zhichang had a grudge with Yang Su, and after Yang Su pacified Bingzhou, he went to find Wei Zhichang first, wanting to kill him. Thanks to Yang Bochou's prediction, he managed to escape unscathed.
Another time, someone lost a horse and went to Yang Bochou for divination. At that time, Yang Bochou was summoned by the crown prince's court. On the way, he met this person and immediately gave him a divination. After the divination, Yang Bochou said, "I don't have time to analyze it for you. Go to the third shop on the south side of the east wall gate in the west market and buy a fish for sashimi for me. Your horse will be found." The person did as instructed, and before long, someone showed up with the lost horse and caught the horse thief on the spot.
Yazhou presented a pearl about an inch in size as a tribute. The messenger secretly tampered with it, raising the emperor's suspicions. The emperor then summoned Yang Bochou to consult a diviner. Yang Bochou said, "There is something that comes from water, with a smooth texture and shiny color, that is the large pearl. It has now been hidden by someone." He even provided the name and description of the person who hid the pearl. The emperor followed his lead and indeed found the pearl. The emperor was astonished and rewarded him with twenty bolts of cloth.
He Tuo, the Grand Academician, once visited Yang Bochou to discuss the Book of Changes. After listening to He Tuo, Yang Bochou suddenly laughed and said, "Why stick to the explanations of Zheng Xuan and Wang Bi!" After a while, he briefly explained that his interpretations differed from those of earlier Confucian scholars, but his ideas were quite profound, so people thought he was gifted and beyond the reach of ordinary people. Finally, Yang Bochou passed away quietly.
Lin Xiaogong hailed from Jingzhao. He understood astronomy and arithmetic, and Emperor Gaozu held him in high regard. He was remarkably accurate in predicting disasters and fortunes, so the emperor assigned him to study the Yin-Yang calendar. He later rose to the position of Upper Yi Tong official. He authored numerous works, including "Yi Qi Tu" in three volumes, "Di Dong Tong Yi Jing" in one volume, "Nine Palaces and Five Tombs" in one volume, "Dun Jia Yue Ling" in ten volumes, "Yuan Chen Jing" in ten volumes, "Yuan Chen E" in one hundred and nine volumes, "One Hundred Strange Books" in eighteen volumes, "Lu Ming Book" in twenty volumes, "Nine Palace Tortoise Jing" in one hundred and ten volumes, "Tai Yi Shi Jing" in thirty volumes, and "Confucius Ma Tou Yi Bu Book" in one volume. These works have been preserved through the centuries.
Liu You is from Xingyang County. During the Kaihuang period of the Sui Dynasty, he became the Grand General and was granted the title of Duke of Lu County. Everything he predicted turned out to be exactly as he foresaw, and the Emperor held him in high regard. Initially, he worked with Zhang Bin, Liu Hui, and Ma Xian to formulate the calendar. Later, he was ordered to write a military book, ten volumes, titled "Jin Tao," which the Emperor greatly liked. He also wrote "Yin Ce" in twenty volumes, "Guan Tai Fei Hou" in six volumes, "Xuan Xiang Yao Ji" in five volumes, "Lu Li Shu Wen" in one volume, "Hun Yin Zhi" in three volumes, "Chan Ru Zhi" in two volumes, "Shi Jing" in four volumes, "Si Shi Li Cheng Fa" in one volume, "An Li Zhi" in twelve volumes, and "Gui Zheng Yi" in ten volumes, all of which have been passed down.
Zhang Zhuoxuan is from Bohai Piao, knowledgeable, particularly skilled in mathematics. The Governor of Jizhou, Zhao Ji, recommended him, and the Emperor summoned him, appointing him as the official of the Cloud Cavalry and assigning him to the Bureau of Astrology to participate in the formulation of the calendar. At that time, many people were inferior to him, so the Director of the Bureau of Astrology, Liu Hui, and others were very jealous of him. Liu Hui's predictions were often inaccurate, while Zhang Zhuoxuan's astronomical calendar calculations were very precise, which the Emperor greatly appreciated. The Emperor asked Yang Su and some mathematics experts to discuss 61 questions, all of which were old methods that were difficult to explain clearly. The Emperor asked Liu Hui and Zhang Zhuoxuan to engage in a debate, but Liu Hui could not utter a single word, while Zhang Zhuoxuan explained 54 of the questions clearly. As a result, Zhang Zhuoxuan was promoted to the rank of Yiwai Sanqi Shilang, concurrently serving as the Director of the Bureau of Astrology, and was rewarded with 1,000 bolts of cloth. Liu Hui and his eight associates were all dismissed. Zhang Zhuoxuan then formulated a new calendar, saying that the previous calendar was consistently off by nearly a day. The Internal Historian Yan Minchu submitted a memorial saying, "During the Han Dynasty, Luo Hong revised the 'Zhuan Xu Calendar' and established the 'Tai Chu Calendar,' saying that there would be a difference of one day in the future. Eight hundred years later, a sage would come to correct it. Now it has been seven hundred and ten years, and the mathematicians have all accurately calculated this number, referring to the sage. Is this the moment?" The Emperor was very pleased and increasingly trusted and relied on Zhang Zhuoxuan.
The calendar system developed by Zhang Zhouxuan has three differences from ancient calendar systems:
Toward the end of the year during the Song Dynasty, Zu Chongzhi invented a calculation method called the difference method. He discovered that the winter solstice point was slowly moving each year, instead of being fixed as it had been. Every forty-six years, the winter solstice point would move one degree. Subsequently, during the Liang Dynasty, Yu Xi found that Zu Chongzhi's calculations had too much error, so he changed it to one degree of movement of the winter solstice point every one hundred and eighty-six years. Zhouxuan studied these two methods and discovered that the significant time span led to substantial errors in tracing ancient records. Thus, he integrated both methods to arrive at a compromise. He calculated that the winter solstice point moved one degree every eighty-three years, which not only matched the records of day length and celestial positions from the time of Emperor Yao, but also aligned with the records of the position of constellations from the Han Dynasty. This method proved to be highly accurate overall.
During the Zhou Dynasty, Ma Xian created the "Bingyin Yuanli," which included methods to convert between lunar and solar calendars, as well as calculations for eclipses. This was a groundbreaking calculation method with which many people at the time struggled to grasp. Zhang Bin later used this method as well, but could not fully understand it either. Zhouxuan believed that Ma Xian's method was illogical with respect to timing and sequence, as it was based on monthly judgments. He analyzed the changes in the phases of the sun and moon based on the twenty-four solar terms and found that this was due to the different speeds of the sun's movement. If the sun moves quickly, the moon's speed in catching up with the sun is also fast, and the time of the new moon, which marks the first day of the lunar month, is earlier; conversely, if the sun moves slowly, the moon's speed in catching up with the sun is slow, and the time of the new moon is delayed. He examined the occurrences of early and late new moons in previous calendar systems to establish a ratio of gains and losses. He found that from the autumnal equinox to the vernal equinox, the sun moves quickly, covering 180 degrees in one hundred and eighty-two days; from the vernal equinox to the autumnal equinox, the sun moves slowly, covering one hundred and seventy-six degrees in one hundred and eighty-two days. The calculations for each solar term adhere to this ratio.
In ancient calendars, when calculating solar eclipses, regardless of internal and external boundaries, as long as the eclipse limit is reached, a solar eclipse is considered to occur. The calendar formulated by Zhang Bin introduced the concept of external limits, and in some cases, although the eclipse limit is reached, a solar eclipse did not actually occur, which remains unclear. Zhuo Xuan believed that the sun travels along the ecliptic, completing one orbit around the sky in a year; the moon orbits along its own path, taking more than twenty-seven days to complete one orbit around the sky. The lunar path and the ecliptic intersect, and the moon crosses the ecliptic approximately every thirteen days, then moves back outside the ecliptic for another approximately thirteen days, repeating this cycle. The point where the moon crosses the ecliptic is called the node. If the new moon (first and fifteenth of the lunar calendar) occurs within fifteen degrees before or after the node, a solar eclipse will occur. If the moon is traveling north of the ecliptic (inner path), a solar eclipse is easier to observe; if the moon is traveling south of the ecliptic (outer path), even if it is at the node, since the moon is south of the ecliptic, a solar eclipse will not occur, and the phenomenon of a solar eclipse cannot be observed. Therefore, based on the methods of his predecessors, he established a new limit, calculated the error of each solar term based on the proximity of the node, and adjusted the degree of the solar eclipse, making solar eclipse calculations clearer.
He surpassed ancient calendars and created seven unique aspects:...
In the first paragraph, it is said that in the past, those ancient calendars recorded the same speed of movement for the five stars, regardless of whether they moved fast or slow; there were no precise measurements. Zhuo Xuan (Note: referring to Zhang Heng) carefully observed and calculated their true speeds of movement, which turned out to be different from those calculated by ancient calendars, some differing by more than thirty days! For example, if Mars appears during the Rain Water solar term, the date calculated by ancient calendars would need to be increased by twenty-nine days; if it appears during the Minor Snow solar term, it would need to be reduced by twenty-five days. Although the ancient calendars subtracted the average appearance time in an effort to determine the precise appearance time, in reality, each celestial body moves at a different speed and must be calculated individually, with only the number of days differing. Modern readers often struggle to grasp the thinking behind these ancient records.
In the second paragraph, historically, regarding Mercury, ancient calendars all believed that it would only reappear after completing a full cycle. Everyone thought this way, and if Mercury was expected to appear but didn't, no one could explain it. Through long-term observation, Zhou Xuan discovered that within one cycle, Mercury would sometimes appear multiple times and would also be influenced by other planets, appearing together. For example, if Mercury was expected to appear in the morning of the Rain Water solar term, theoretically it should be visible, but in reality, it was not visible; however, if it appeared in the morning of the Awakening of Insects solar term, between eighteen and thirty-six degrees from the sun, and at the same time one of the planets Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, or Venus also appeared, then Mercury could be seen.
In the third paragraph, in the past, calculations of planetary movements in ancient calendars had a fixed range, and after a planet appeared, its next appearance time would be calculated based on a fixed speed. But whether it was ahead or behind, and how much time was calculated, no one knew. Through long-term observation, Zhou Xuan discovered that the speed, stops, and retrogrades of the five planets differed from those calculated in ancient calendars, with some variations exceeding eighty days, and the positions of stops and retrogrades differing by more than eighty degrees! For example, Mars, when it first appeared, occurred in the early phase of the Start of Winter, then ran 177 degrees in 250 days; but when it actually appeared, it was in the early period of Summer Solstice, and over 170 days, it only covered 92 degrees. Based on actual observations, he calculated that the results now and in ancient times were very accurate.
In the fourth paragraph, in the past, the size of solar eclipses was calculated using average values directly, and the results rarely corresponded with the actual circumstances. Through long-term observation, Zhou Xuan discovered that when the moon was near Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, or Venus, it would be influenced by them, sometimes moving more quickly when near these four planets and slower when far away, only returning to its original speed when the distance surpassed fifteen degrees. Therefore, he used the relative positions of the moon and these planets to determine the size of solar eclipses.
The fifth paragraph discusses how ancient calendars calculated the time of the new moon and full moon using the same method. Zhou Xuan discovered through long-term observations that the location of solar eclipses varies depending on the observer's location; the characteristics of solar eclipses—such as size and timing—also differ. The depth and speed of solar eclipses are distinct as well. Based on these real-world observations, he calculated the timing of solar eclipses, making it more accurate.
The sixth paragraph discusses the calculation method of solar eclipses. Ancient calendars used the term "fen" to denote the extent of solar eclipses. The smaller the angle between the moon and the sun during a solar eclipse, the larger the "fen." For example, if the angle difference is fourteen degrees, the "fen" value is one; if the difference is thirteen degrees, the "fen" value is two; if the difference is ten degrees, the "fen" value is three, and so on. The smaller the angle, the more "fen"; complete coverage is a total eclipse. However, real-world observations and theoretical calculations sometimes differ, and ancient calendars could not completely explain the reasons. Zhou Xuan summarized through long-term observations that when the moon first begins to obscure the sun, because the moon cannot completely cover the sun, the "fen" is relatively small; when the moon is inside the sun, the coverage is most complete, and the "fen" reaches the maximum; afterwards, as the moon continues to move, the "fen" gradually decreases. This is the case before and after the winter solstice, but the situation near the summer solstice is different. In short, Zhou Xuan's calculation method for "fen" is very detailed and accurate.
The seventh paragraph discusses the ancient calendar's belief that day and night are of equal length during the spring and autumn equinoxes. Zhou Xuan discovered through observation that, in reality, during the spring and autumn equinoxes, daytime is about half a quarter longer than nighttime. This discrepancy is caused by the varying speed of the sun's apparent movement.
These insightful views of Zhou Xuan all stem from his personal efforts and long-term accumulated experience; he is widely admired for his rigor and precision. He passed away during the Sui Dynasty.
Xu Zhicang is from Gaoyang. His father, Xu Daoyou, started studying medicine because his mother was sick, eventually becoming a famous doctor. Xu Daoyou warned his sons, "If a son cannot take care of his parents' meals and medicine, and does not understand medicine, how can he be considered filial?" So, this set of medical skills has been passed down in the family. Xu Zhicang served as an official in the Liang Dynasty, eventually becoming a Gentleman of the Imperial Guard. His father, Xu Jing, was a military advisor to the Prince of Wuling. Xu Zhicang became famous at a young age for his superb medical skills and also served as a Gentleman of the Imperial Guard in the Chen Dynasty. After the fall of the Chen Dynasty, Emperor Yang of Sui appointed him as a Gentleman of the Imperial Guard and sent him to Yangzhou.
Coincidentally, Prince Jun of Qin fell ill, and the Emperor sent for Xu Zhicang. Prince Jun dreamed one night that his deceased wife, Lady Cui, was crying and saying, "I was coming to meet you, but I heard that Xu Zhicang is coming. When he arrives, he will make you suffer. What should we do?" The next night, Prince Jun dreamed again of Lady Cui saying, "I have figured out a way. I will enter the spirit realm to avoid him." Upon Xu Zhicang's arrival, he examined Prince Jun's pulse and said, "Your illness has already penetrated your bones, and it will soon flare up. There's nothing we can do." As expected, Prince Jun passed away a few days later. The Emperor was amazed by his medical skills and lavished him with rewards. After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended the throne, Xu Zhicang had retired, but whenever the Emperor was unwell, eunuchs were sent to consult him, sometimes even bringing him to the palace to treat him while he lay on the dragon bed. Xu Zhicang's prescriptions were always effective. He passed away at the age of eighty at home.
Speaking of the Xu family, their ancestors were also remarkable figures. His father, Xu Shi, served as the Minister of Ceremonies and Chief Military Historian in the Liang Dynasty, holding prestigious positions. Later, he followed Liu Zhongli to Chang'an, gaining a reputation comparable to Yao Sengyuan, and eventually rose to the position of Chief of the Bureau of State Ceremonials, a very high position.
Xu Cheng himself was very capable, inheriting his father's skills and achieving mastery in medicine. He served as the Chief Imperial Physician, an Imperial Advisor, and was eventually appointed as the Earl of Hechuan County. The father and son were both exceptionally skilled, gaining renown for their exceptional medical skills throughout the Zhou and Sui dynasties. Unfortunately, their deeds were not well documented in official history.
Wan Baochang, whose origins are unclear, was the son of Datong. Datong surrendered to the Qi dynasty with the Liang dynasty general Wang Lin. Later, he conspired to return to Jiangnan, but his plan was exposed and he was killed. Consequently, Wan Baochang became a musician and became very skilled in music, proficient in playing various instruments. He presented a jade chime to the Emperor of the Qi dynasty. On one occasion, during a meal with others, they discussed musical tones. Since there were no instruments available, Wan Baochang picked up utensils and miscellaneous items, using chopsticks to identify their high and low tones, producing the full set of musical pitches: Gong, Shang, Jue, Zhi, and Yu. The sound was harmonious like silk and bamboo instruments, and was greatly appreciated by those present.
However, from the Zhou dynasty to the Sui dynasty, he was not given much recognition. During the reign of Emperor Yang of the Sui dynasty, Duke Pei Zheng Yi and others established musical standards, initially using the Huangzhong mode. Although Wan Baochang was a musician, Zheng Yi and others often consulted with him, but most of his suggestions were not accepted. Later, when Zheng Yi's musical standards were completed and performed for the Emperor, the Emperor summoned Wan Baochang and asked for his opinion. Wan Baochang said, "This is the music of a doomed nation; how can Your Majesty listen to it!" The Emperor was not pleased. Wan Baochang then explained in detail that the music was sorrowful and overly indulgent, not the refined musical standards expected, and requested to use a water gauge to establish the musical standards and adjust the instruments accordingly. The Emperor agreed.
Wan Bao often followed the imperial decree, so he made various musical instruments, whose musical scale was two pitches lower than Zheng Yi's. He also wrote 64 volumes of "Music Scores," detailing the method by which octaves form the palace tones, as well as the changes in strings and pegs. He created 84 modes and 144 pitches, and the variations eventually reached as many as 1,800 different sounds. At that time, people believed that there was a meaning of rotating the palace in the "Zhou Li," but since the Han and Wei dynasties, those who understood music theory could not comprehend it. When they saw Wan Bao inventing this, they all ridiculed him. By this time, when people asked him to play, he could immediately play music without hesitation, astonishing everyone who saw it. So he improved and added musical instruments, the number of which was too numerous to count. His music was elegant and indifferent, but not loved by the people of that time. Those who excelled in music theory in the Tai Chang Temple all ostracized him.
The Prince's horse washer, Su Kui, boasted of being proficient in musical rhythms, especially jealous of Wan Bao. Su Kui's father, Su Wei, was in power at the time. Anyone who talked about music theory aligned themselves with Su Wei and belittled Wan Bao. Wan Bao repeatedly went to the official's mansion to complain about his grievances. Su Wei questioned Wan Bao, asking what he had learned and from whom. A monk said to Wan Bao, "The Emperor likes auspicious signs. Whenever someone talks about auspicious signs, the Emperor is very happy. You should say that you learned from a foreign monk and that it is the music theory passed down by the Buddha. The Emperor will be pleased. What you're doing can be put into practice." Wan Bao followed the monk's advice and answered Su Wei accordingly. Su Wei angrily said, "The music theory passed down by foreign monks is the music of foreign cultures, not what China should promote!" This matter ultimately came to nothing.
Wan Bao once listened to music played at the Tai Chang Temple and couldn't help but cry. When asked why, Wan Bao said, "The music is licentious and sad, and the world is soon going to turn on itself and face destruction!" At that time, the world was in a period of peace and prosperity, and those who heard him thought it was impossible. By the end of the Deyuan era in the Sui Dynasty, his predictions came true.
Bao Chang was a destitute man, and he had no children. His wife saw him fall ill and secretly took his money and belongings and ran away. Bao Chang was hungry and cold, left to fend for himself, and ultimately succumbed to starvation. Before he died, he burned all the books he had written, saying, "What good are these anymore?" Some books were rescued from the fire and were preserved and shared with the world, and people all felt sorry for him.
During the Kaihuang period, Zheng Yi, He Tuo, Lu Ben, Su Kui, and Xiao Ji studied classics together, created music books, and were recognized and utilized during that time. But when it comes to the natural perception of music, they cannot compare to Bao Chang. An Maju, Cao Miaoda, Wang Changtong, and Guo Lingle, who were good at composing, were top-tier musicians at that time. They also studied Zheng Sheng, but Bao Chang's music creations fell under the category of refined music. Although these people did not openly agree with Bao Chang's views, they all respected him in their hearts and regarded him as a near-mythical figure.
At that time, there was a musician named Wang Lingyan, who was also highly skilled in music. During the Daye period of Emperor Yang of Sui, when he traveled to Jiangdu for leisure, Wang Lingyan's son followed him. He played a rearranged version of "An Gongzi Qu" on the pipa outside the door. Wang Lingyan was indoors at the time, and when he heard it, he was taken aback and jumped to his feet, saying, "This is bad, this is bad!" He quickly asked his son, "When did this piece become popular?" His son replied, "It has only recently become popular." Wang Lingyan started crying and told his son, "You must not follow him; the emperor will definitely not come back." When his son asked why, Wang Lingyan said, "Once the palace tone departs, it does not return, and the palace represents the monarch, and that's my conclusion." Ultimately, Emperor Yang of Sui was killed in Jiangdu.
The historical records say: the sages also taught about the matters of Yin-Yang divination, though they cannot be fully trusted or entirely dismissed. If a person can uphold the right path, they can benefit society; if their actions are not in line with morality, they will reap what they sow. Therefore, the ancient gentlemen were very wary of acting recklessly. Even the likes of Luo Xia, Gaotang, Xufu, and Zhu Jian fall short of them. Bo Chou's turtle divination can get close to grasping the will of spirits and deities; Geng Xun's celestial instrument can accurately measure celestial phenomena; Bao Chang's musical scale can precisely capture the harmony of Gong and Shang. Though they may not match the great masters of antiquity, they were all top figures of their time. The Xu family's acupuncture techniques are commendable, as noted in historical records; Xiao Ji's take on Yin and Yang comes off as somewhat pretentious.
