Wang Shao, courtesy name Junmao, was born in Taiyuan, Jin Prefecture. His father, Wang Songnian, served as an official in the Northern Qi dynasty. Wang Shao was a quiet and reserved child who loved reading. When he was around twenty years old, Wei Shou, the Minister of Works of Beiqi, recruited him as a military advisor in his court. He gradually rose through the ranks, becoming an Attendant to the Crown Prince and serving at the Wenlin Academy. At that time, notable figures like Zu Xiaozheng, Wei Shou, and Yang Xiuzhi often discussed historical matters, sometimes forgetting details that even extensive research could not provide answers to, often turning to Wang Shao for insights. Wang Shao was able to explain the details thoroughly, often citing books for reference, which earned him great respect for his extensive knowledge. He later advanced to be an Attendant in the Palace Library.
After the fall of Beiqi, Wang Shao aligned himself with the Northern Zhou dynasty but struggled to find a suitable official position. After Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, proclaimed himself emperor, he appointed Wang Shao as an Assistant to the Imperial Secretary. After the death of his mother, Wang Shao resigned from his post and returned home to write the "Book of Qi". At that time, the court had banned the unauthorized writing of historical texts, and the Minister of the Interior, Li Yuancao, informed the emperor about him. The emperor, incensed at first, dispatched officials to seize Wang Shao's writings, but upon reviewing them, he was delighted. As a result, the emperor appointed him as an Attendant Cavalryman and tasked him with editing the imperial annals.
Wang Shao believed that in ancient times there was a practice of drilling wood to create fire, but now no one does that anymore. He suggested in a memorial to restore the custom of using new fire. He said, "I carefully consulted the book 'Zhou Guan,' which records the need to use different types of wood for fire according to the seasons to prevent diseases. If the wood used for fire is not changed for a long time, it can easily lead to the onset of diseases. The sages established these rules, which surely makes sense! During the Jin Dynasty, someone used the fire from Luoyang to cross the Yangtze River, and it has been passed down from generation to generation. The fire has never been extinguished, and the fire has taken on a blue hue. In the past, Shi Kuang claimed to have cooked with fire made from labor, and Jin Pingong sent someone to check, and it turned out to be the spokes of a wheel. Now, when warming wine and roasting meat, various types of fuel, including charcoal, firewood, bamboo, grass, and hemp, are used, each with a different taste. By analogy, new fire and old fire should yield different results. I hope Your Majesty can follow the teachings of the sages and use five types of wood for fire during the five solar terms. While this might take a bit of effort, the benefits are great. Even if the people are accustomed to the old methods and find it difficult to change for a while, at least the royal kitchen and the prince's kitchen should follow the ancient methods." The emperor agreed to his suggestion.
Wang Shao also said that the emperor showed auspicious signs, with a dragon-like visage and a dry demeanor, using this to warn the courtiers. The emperor was very pleased and rewarded him with hundreds of bolts of fabric. Afterwards, he was appointed as a court writer. Wang Shao then submitted another memorial in which he stated:
In the second year of Zhou Baoding, which is the fifth day of the fifth month in the year of Renwu, the Yellow River in Qingzhou was clear and could reflect shadows for ten miles. King Qi believed this to be an auspicious sign and changed the era name to "Heqing." In the same month, Your Majesty began serving as the governor of Suizhou, and twenty years later, the Sui Dynasty was indeed destined to prosper. I carefully consulted the "Yi Kun Ling Tu," which stated: "When the sage receives the mandate, auspicious signs first appear in the Yellow River. The Yellow River water has always been turbid, but now it is clear." I believe these auspicious signs are not groundless, and the clear water of the Yellow River indicates that the great Sui Dynasty is destined to prosper. The character "wu" is associated with the fire element, symbolizing the virtue of fire. Midsummer is when fire is at its strongest, and the fifth day of the fifth month corresponds with celestial and earthly numbers, marking the day of receiving the mandate and the time for omens to appear.
In the early years of Kaihuang, a man named Yang Linghe in Shaozhou found a green stone tablet and a purple stone tablet by the river, both vaguely inscribed with characters, including Your Majesty's name, and the words "Eight Directions Heaven's Heart." A stone tablet was also found in Yongzhou, which, when split open, resembled a poplar tree with yellow roots and purple leaves. A divine tortoise was found in the Ru River, inscribed with "Heaven Divines Yang Xing" on its belly. An ancient iron plaque was discovered during excavation in Anyi, inscribed with "In the beginning of the heavenly year, bestowed with the Yang Iron Token, Wang Xing." A stone tortoise was found in Tongzhou with the inscription: "Emperor's reign extended for a thousand years, great auspiciousness." I believe that the three stones mentioned earlier are just as significant as the dragon map. Why use stones? Because stones are durable and symbolize Your Majesty's title. Why are the seven characters carved on the tortoise's belly? Because tortoises are also durable and divine beings. Confucius lamented that the Yellow River yielded no maps and the Luo River yielded no books, yet in the prosperous era of the great Sui Dynasty, these auspicious signs frequently appear.
In the sixth year of the Jiande era, there was a dragon battle in Da Zhou Village in Bozhou, where the white dragon triumphed over the black dragon. In the summer of the first year of Daxiang, another dragon battle occurred north of the Bian River in Xingyang. At first, a white mist shot up into the sky, coming from the east, passing through Liyangwu. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a white dragon, measuring over ten zhang in length. At that moment, a black dragon appeared, riding on the clouds; the two dragons intertwined, separating and reuniting from noon until the afternoon. The white dragon ascended to the heavens while the black dragon plummeted to the earth. I meticulously examined the classics: dragons are symbols of kingship. The dragon battle in Zhou Village, Bozhou, symbolizes Your Majesty's ascension as the governor of Bozhou in the year of the dragon battle, replacing the Zhou Dynasty's rule over the world. The dragon battle in Xingyang, the character "荧" is composed of three fire elements, symbolizing the prosperity of the fire virtue. The white dragon's arrival from the east, passing through Liyangwu, signifies Your Majesty's impending ascension to the throne, entering the Chongyang Gate from the East Palace. The white dragon's ascent to the northwest aligns with the Qian position of the Heavenly Gate. According to the "Kun Ling Tu": "The sage slays the dragon." Dragons are indomitable, and this all signifies prosperity. The text further states: "The Tai surname is Gong, yellow in color, eight feet long, spanning sixty generations. The river dragon is said to appear in the month of Chen; the white dragon engages in battle with five black dragons, ultimately emerging victorious, thus allowing the Tai people to receive the mandate."
I think these words are all spoken for the Great Sui Dynasty. The sage slaying the dragon refers to the defeat of the black dragon in the two dragon battles. The surname Shang indicates that the royal family belongs to the Shang clan among the Five Clans. The name Gong refers to Emperor Wuyuan's name, which corresponds to the Gong tone among the Five Tones. Yellow denotes the Sui Dynasty's reverence for the color yellow. Eight feet tall denotes Emperor Wuyuan's height. The river dragon's appearance during the first month of Chen refers to the hexagram for that month, where the dragon appears in the capital, known as Chen. The battle between the white dragon and the black dragon alludes to the dragon fights in Bozhou and Xingyang. The white dragon prevails because the Yang clan's nayin is associated with Shang, and Your Majesty, born in the year of Xinyou, also belongs to the west, where the color is white. The black dragon's defeat is due to the Zhou Dynasty's color being black. Thus, the "five" signifies the five emperors of the Zhou Dynasty: Min, Ming, Wu, Xuan, and Jing. The five princes—Zhao, Chen, Dai, Yue, and Teng—were executed simultaneously, aligning with the number five. The white dragon's victory is akin to elimination. Zheng Xuan noted, "Ling signifies removal." Anything that can eliminate an enemy in battle is termed removal. I believe that in "Tai people receive orders," Tai signifies being broad and vast, indicating that this person's virtues are extensive, and they are ordained by heaven. The "Qian Zao Du" states, "Tai symbolizes Daigan." I observe the shield symbol on Your Majesty, further confirming that the Tai person's emblem is unmistakable. The "Kun Ling Tu" states that every word has come to pass. The "Wei Shu" similarly states "Four Hundred Years of the Han Dynasty," which ultimately came to fruition, thus, the sixty generations will inevitably come to pass as well. In the past, the Zhou Dynasty's ancestors calculated the national fortune for thirty years; now, it has doubled.
In "Jilan Tu", it is said: "In the time of peace and prosperity, with harmony between yin and yang, favorable winds and rains, stability throughout the country; however, due to geographical differences, customs and habits may vary across regions. Even in a period of peace and prosperity, complete uniformity is unattainable; only balanced governance can ensure peace throughout the land. Therefore, one must strive to bring about a peaceful atmosphere in Bozhou." After careful study, the meaning of this passage is that Your Majesty, as the heir of Chenliu Gong and the governor of Bozhou, has been appointed by heaven to unify the nation impartially, thus creating an atmosphere of peace and prosperity.
In the sixteenth year of the Dazong era, Emperor Wuyuan appointed you as Chenliu Gong. At that time, there was a prophecy in the "Secret Records" of the Qi Kingdom: "The Heavenly King will enter Bingzhou from Chenliu." Qi King Gaoyang killed Chenliu King Pengle because of this prophecy. Later, Emperor Wuyuan did lead his troops into Bingzhou. During Emperor Wu of Zhou's reign, those who understood qi observed that Bozhou possessed imperial aura, so they killed the governor of Bozhou, He Douling, and Your Majesty took over his position. Furthermore, in the temple of Laozi in Chenliu, there was a dead cypress tree. It is said that when Laozi was about to attain immortality, he said that when the southeast branch of this dead cypress tree regrows and points downwards, a sage will appear, and my lineage will prosper again. During the Qi Dynasty, this dead cypress tree actually grew branches from its roots, pointing to the southeast. One night, three children sang together in front of the temple of Laozi: "The ancient cypress tree in front of Laozi's temple, the southeast branch is like an umbrella, the holy ruler will emerge from this place." When Your Majesty was an official in Bozhou, you personally visited that cypress tree. Since then, the branches of the cypress tree intertwined, with the dead branches gradually pointing northwest, and Taoism did indeed prosper. Upon careful examination of these events, it is clear that the rulers during times of peace and prosperity all hail from the Chenliu region of Bozhou, just as foretold in the prophecy.
The "Jilan Map" also states: "If governed properly, yin elements will transform into yang elements." Zheng Xuan explained: "For instance, the transformation of onions into leeks illustrates this principle." I carefully studied it, and in the past six years, many stones from near and far have transformed into jade, with stones being yin and jade being yang. Even the onions in the Left Guard's Garden have also transformed into leeks. When Your Majesty reviewed these reports, you were greatly pleased and rewarded me with five hundred bolts of cloth. Not long after, I submitted another memorial...
In the "Yi Qian Zao Du," it says: "The top line is restricted, then bound, and then restricted again; the emperor conducts a sacrificial rite in the Western Mountains." This means that the February hexagram signifies the application of yang virtue. Barriers are difficult to breach, and all things flourish with yang energy. Thus, the top line seeks the fifth line (the emperor) to govern it, uphold it, and allow yin energy to yield to yang energy.
In the "Yi Jilan Map," it records: "In the sixth month of the Kun hexagram, an emperor is born; the princess rules for a year before passing the throne to the Yang clan. In May, a true person comes from the northeast, establishes Daxing City, earthquakes strike the northwest, and falling stars signify the Yang clan's ascendancy. In the eleventh month of the Tun hexagram, a divine figure emerges from Zhongshan, and an earthquake strikes Zhaodi. For thirty days in the north, the thousand-mile horse appears repeatedly."
These are all mentioned in the Book of Changes, all foretelling the fate of the Sui Dynasty. The February hexagram indicates the Sui Dynasty's rise to power in February; the practice of Yang's virtues suggests the spread of the Yang family's teachings throughout the world; the resolution of the feudal lords' rebellion indicates that the regional feudal lords had submitted and all dangers were eliminated; everything in the world emerged alongside the Yang family. The sixth line seeks restraint from the fifth line; the fifth line represents the emperor, while the sixth line represents the ancestral temple, implying that the ancestral spirits desire the Yang family to take the throne. The emperor uses rituals to guide the people and morality to unite them. The phrases "restrain the people with rituals, bind the people with righteousness" are also from "Qian Zao Du." Suggesting that the Yang family can uphold order in the realm through rules and regulations; the yin energy is swayed by the yang energy, suggesting that the subjects are all swayed by the Yang family's influence and willingly obey him. The emperor performs sacrifices at Xishan, implying that the emperor visits the Renshou Palace in Xishan every February. The term "follow" appears four times in the text, while "yang" appears three times, all intended to praise the Sui Dynasty and the Yang family, conveying profound admiration.
The Kun hexagram appears in June, which corresponds to the Wei month, indicating that the emperor was born in this month; the princess governs, referring to Princess Le Ping, the emperor's daughter, who became empress and took charge of internal affairs; the throne was transferred to the Yang family within a year. The Fu hexagram follows the Kun hexagram, and the yang energy is just beginning to emerge, meaning that a year after Emperor Zhou Xuan died, the throne was passed to the Yang family. In May, the immortal appeared from the northeast; the term "poor" here is a typographical error for "immortal." It means that Emperor Zhou Xuan died in May, and the immortal (referring to Yang Jian) rose. It was at this time that the emperor, in a display of humility, abdicated, which went against the will of heaven, so he only ascended the throne after a few years. Before this, Yang Jian served as the governor of Dingzhou, located in the northeast of the capital, so it is said that the immortal came from the northeast. The grand city of Daxing refers to the construction of Daxing City; earthquakes in the northwest and falling stars signify the will of heaven for the Zhou dynasty to fall and the Sui dynasty to rise, a sign that the Yang family would ascend to power. The Tun hexagram is in November, and the divine figure emerges from Zhongshan. This hexagram foretells prosperity, leading to the emperor's appointment as the governor of Bozhou in November, as he prepares to emerge from Zhongshan; he remained in Zhao for thirty days. The thousand-mile horse refers to the spirited steed the emperor had previously ridden; the Tun hexagram features the Zhen hexagram below and the Kan hexagram above. The Zhen hexagram represents the horse's limbs, while the Kan hexagram represents the horse's back, thus, this spirited horse bears a flesh saddle on its back, running with its limbs moving first. Counting down signifies that the time has arrived.
The "He Tu Emperor's Chronicle" says: "When auspicious signs appear, celestial phenomena also change." The "He Tu Emperor's Attendance" also states: "A great monarch has emerged, inheriting the rule of the previous era. He follows the principle of ruling through non-action, bringing peace to the realm and earning the people's loyalty. He inherits the principles and governance methods of the ancient sage kings, ushering in a new era, akin to how Fuxi established the Eight Trigrams. During the Kaihuang era of his reign, he changed the color of court attire. His rule is bright and just, illuminating the land like the sun. He delegates political affairs to his ministers, maintaining continuity in governance. He establishes an empress and a crown prince, but the advisors do not meet all expectations. The former crown prince had poor conduct, while the current crown prince has excellent conduct. The emperor personally oversees state affairs and finds stones with engravings by the river in Shaozhou. The ministers collaborate to support the emperor, and this prosperous political climate deserves to be recorded."
This passage suggests that the establishment of the Great Sui Dynasty was destined by the heavens. The "He Tu" mentions "auspicious signs appear, changes in celestial phenomena," indicating that when the Great Sui Dynasty was founded, auspicious signs appeared and celestial phenomena changed. "Jv" refers to laws, and "Heng" refers to the Big Dipper, also known as the "Xuanji Yuheng" mentioned in the Book of Changes, symbolizing heavenly laws. The establishment of the Great Sui Dynasty was a prelude to changes in celestial phenomena.
"Chi Emperor's Divine Response" refers to the descent of the divine spirit by the Chi Emperor, giving rise to the great Sui Dynasty. Therefore, the Sui Dynasty is symbolized by the virtue associated with fire. "The Divine Virtue of the Sui Dynasty" means that the virtue of the Sui Dynasty is in harmony with the heavens. "Huang Bi Chu, Cheng Yuan Qi" refers to the emergence of a great monarch who inherits the rule of the previous era. "Dao Wu Wei, Zhi Lu" refers to following the principle of governing through non-action, leading to peace and compliance among the people. "Bei Sui Ju, Xi Zuo Shu" means inheriting the laws and methods of ancient sage kings, ushering in a new era, akin to how Fu Xi created the Eight Trigrams. "Kai Huang Se, Wo Shen Ri" refers to changing the color of the court robes during the Kai Huang era, ruling with brightness and integrity, shining like the sun. "Tou Fu Ti, Xiang Bu Jue" means entrusting political matters to assisting ministers, ensuring continuity in governance. "Li Huang Hou, Yi Bu Ge" refers to the establishment of an empress and crown prince, although the assisting ministers fell short of perfection. "Dao Zhong Shi, De You Lie" indicates the former crown prince lacked virtue, whereas the current crown prince possesses excellent virtue. "Di Ren Zheng, He Qu Chu" refers to the emperor personally overseeing government affairs and discovering stones engraved with images along the river in Shaozhou. "Ye Fu Xi, Lan Ke Shu" means the officials united in their support of the emperor, creating a flourishing political climate that is worthy of documentation.
In conclusion, both "He Tu Huang Can Chi" and "Di Tong Ji" documents show that the prosperity of the Sui Dynasty is ordained by heaven, and the virtue of the Sui emperors attained an exceptional level.
The emperor was particularly delighted and felt that Shao's gift was very sincere, so the rewards became more and more generous. At this time, someone found two unique stones while bathing in the Huangfeng Spring, with naturally formed patterns on them. Shao presented these two stones to the emperor, along with a detailed written explanation, saying: "The larger stone is carved with the sun, moon, stars, Bagua, the Five Sacred Mountains, as well as pairs of qilin, phoenixes, azure dragon, vermilion bird, white tiger, and xuanwu, arranged according to their positions. In addition, there are the names of the Five Elements, Ten Days, and Twelve Earthly Branches, which total twenty-seven characters; and 'Heaven Gate, Earth Gate, Human Gate, Ghost Gate Closed' nine characters; and two pairs of 'Not' symbols and two human-faced birds, which corresponds precisely to 'Thousands of Autumns, Ten Thousand Years' from 'Baopuzi'. The smaller stone also has the patterns of the Five Sacred Mountains, 'Not', and qilin. Both stones depict immortals and celestial maidens riding on clouds and cranes. There are many other strange divine images, some of which I cannot identify, likely including deities of wind, rain, mountains, and sea. There are also the thrones of the Heavenly Emperor, the Emperor, and the Four Emperors, Gouchen, Beidou, the Three Officials, the General of Heaven, the Minister of Earth, the Old Man, the Heavenly Granary, the Southern River, the Northern River, the Five Stars, and the Twenty-Eight Mansions, which total forty-five palace positions. These characters did not originally have a specific order, but often reveal clever correspondences. On the large stone, the emperor's name is located in the south, right next to the character 'Sun'. There is also the Old Man Star, symbolizing the emperor's reign in the south and his long life. The empress's name is in the west, with a moon shape above, symbolizing the moon. On the small stone, the emperor's name is adjacent to the characters 'Nine Thousand', 'Two Yang' is next to 'Ten Thousand Years', 'Sui' is next to 'Ji', symbolizing longevity and good fortune."
Shao carefully examined the inscriptions on the stones, composing two hundred and eighty poems in their honor, which he then presented to the emperor. The emperor found his sincerity genuine and rewarded him with a thousand bolts of silk. Afterward, Shao gathered folk songs and consulted various texts, including prophecies and Buddhist scriptures. Based on auspicious signs, he compiled a thirty-volume work titled "The Divine Inspiration of Emperor Sui," which he subsequently presented to the emperor. The emperor commanded that this book be distributed far and wide. Shao called upon envoys from different provinces, instructing them to wash their hands, light incense, close their eyes, and recite the book, with his recitation rich in intonation, almost like singing. It took over ten days to complete the reading. The emperor was even more pleased and rewarded him even more lavishly.
In the Ren Shou period, Empress Wenxian died. Minister Wei Xiaokuan (Shao) presented a memorial to the emperor, saying, "According to Buddhist scriptures, when a person dies, they should ascend to heaven. When reaching the highest realm of the Pure Land, the Buddhas in heaven will emit light and welcome with incense, flowers, and music. Even the Buddha Sakyamuni entered Nirvana only when stars appeared. I believe that Empress Wenxian possessed saintly virtues and profound blessings, with various signs recorded that suggest she is the reincarnation of a Bodhisattva. Upon carefully reviewing palace records, on the 22nd day of the 8th month, gold and silver rain fell in the Ren Shou Palace; on the 23rd day, there was a divine light behind the Dabao Hall at night; at the hour of Mao on the 24th day, various sounds of music spontaneously filled the air in the north of Yong'an Palace, echoing through the emptiness. By the fifth night watch, Empress Wenxian peacefully passed away, as if she had simply fallen asleep. All these events perfectly align with what is described in Buddhist texts! I suspect that the Empress chose not to pass away in either the Ren Shou Palace or the Daxing Palace to avoid the emperor's usual presence there. Choosing Yong'an Palace was likely because it was similar to Yong'an Gate in the capital, a place the Empress often visited during her lifetime. Two days after the Empress's passing, over three hundred bells tolled in the palace gardens that night, a clear sign of her ascension!" After reading the memorial, the emperor experienced a mix of sorrow and joy.
At that time, King Li Xiu of Shu was deposed for making a mistake. The Emperor looked at Wei Xiaokuan and sighed, saying, "Alas! I have five sons, but three of them are good-for-nothings!" Wei Xiaokuan then advised, "Since ancient times, even wise emperors cannot manage their incompetent sons. The Yellow Emperor had twenty-five sons, only two shared his surname, each with their own virtues; the Yao had ten sons, the Shun had nine sons, most of whom were not up to much; the Xia Dynasty had five unworthy siblings, and the Zhou Dynasty had three unworthy siblings." The Emperor agreed with his words. Later, the Emperor dreamed he was trying to climb a high mountain but couldn't, until Cui Peng supported his feet and Li Sheng supported his arms, allowing him to climb up. When the Emperor awoke, he said to Cui Peng, "I want to stick with you through thick and thin." Wei Xiaokuan said, "That dream is a good omen! Climbing a high mountain signifies the Emperor will be elevated and secure, like a mountain; 'Peng' is like Pengzu, 'Li' is like Laozi, the support of these two is a sign of long life!" The Emperor was overjoyed, and his demeanor brightened after hearing this. That year, the Emperor passed on. Not long after, Cui Peng also passed on.
After Emperor Yang of Sui ascended to the throne, Prince Liang of Han rebelled, and the emperor was reluctant to kill him. Lu Sidao wrote a memorial to the emperor, saying, "I have heard that the Yellow Emperor defeated the Yan Emperor, who was the Yellow Emperor's own younger brother; the Duke of Zhou killed Guan Shu, which was also a family matter. Uncle Xiang killed Uncle Yu, and Confucius even regarded it as an act of justice; Shi Que killed Shi Hou, and Sima Qian also considered this a righteous act. These are all recorded in historical books, and emperors of past dynasties have all done the same. Now Your Majesty is lenient towards this traitor, which pales in comparison to the wise emperors of the past. Your generosity—how will you explain this to the people? I found in the historical records that this Prince Liang of Han has brought harm to the people! In ancient times, those united in heart and purpose share the same surname, and those with different hearts have different surnames, so the Yellow Emperor had twenty-five sons, but only fourteen inherited his surname. Since Liang has already rebelled, he ought to change his surname!" Lu Sidao sought to curry favor with the emperor, but the emperor hesitated and did not agree. Later, Lu Sidao was promoted to the position of Secretary of the Secretariat, and he passed away a few years later.
Lu Sidao served as a historian for nearly twenty years, specializing in compiling national history, writing 80 volumes of the "Book of Sui." He recorded many oral decrees, collected some strange and irrelevant words, including idle gossip from the streets, categorized them, gave them titles, and made the language convoluted and of little value, resulting in the achievements and failures of civil and military officials, as well as renowned generals of the Sui Dynasty, being obscured, leaving no reputation. He had previously written twenty volumes of "Records of Qi" in chronological order; then he wrote one hundred volumes of "Book of Qi" and three volumes of "Records of Suppressing Rebels." Some of these books had crude writing styles, and some contained unorthodox content, causing disbelief among many knowledgeable individuals who looked down on him. However, he corrected errors in the classics and wrote thirty volumes of "Records of Reading," and he earned the admiration of his contemporaries for his profound knowledge.
From the time he started learning until he grew older, he was always obsessed with the classics and history, completely ignorant of the world. He had a rather quirky personality and was particularly focused when thinking about issues. Every time he ate, he would often close his eyes to ponder questions, and the meat on his plate would often be eaten by the servants. Lu Sidao never noticed; he only felt that there was less meat, so he punished the chef. The chef explained the situation to him, but Lu Sidao still kept them closed. Only after the chef finished speaking did he open his eyes, and the chef was spared from punishment. This illustrates just how focused he was.
Yuan Chong, styled Defu, was originally from Yangxia in Chen County, but later moved to Danyang. His grandfather Yuan Ang and his father Yuan Junzheng both served as attendants in the Liang Dynasty, equivalent to high-ranking officials. Yuan Chong was smart and quick-witted from a young age. When he was in his teens, his father's friend came to visit just as winter was setting in, and Yuan Chong was still wearing thin clothes. The guest playfully joked, "Young Master Yuan, are you cold wearing such thin clothes?" Yuan Chong replied without missing a beat, "There are plenty of thin clothes to wear!" The guest was very impressed.
At the age of seventeen, Yuan Chong became the secretary for the Chen Dynasty. Later, he served as a companion to the Crown Prince, a literary official of Prince Jin'an, a minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and an imperial attendant, advancing through the ranks. After the fall of the Chen Dynasty, he returned to the north and served as a military officer in Mengzhou and Fuzhou. Yuan Chong enjoyed studying Daoism and divination, and was skilled in observing celestial events. He was appointed as the Chief Astrologer, tasked with observing celestial events. At that time, the emperor wanted to depose his Crown Prince and was investigating officials in the Eastern Palace. Yuan Chong realized that the emperor had a strong belief in divination, so he played along with the emperor and said, "From observing celestial phenomena, it's definitely best to depose the Crown Prince." The emperor was quite pleased.
Later, Yuan Chong submitted another memorial, stating that since the establishment of the Sui Dynasty, the day had been getting longer. He said, "In the first year of the Kaihuang era, the winter solstice shadow measured 12.7 feet long and gradually shortened. By the seventeenth year of Kaihuang, the winter solstice shadow measured 12.63 feet long. In the fourth year, the winter solstice shadow measured in Luoyang was 12.73 feet long. In the second year, the summer solstice shadow was 1.4 feet long and gradually shortened. By the sixteenth year of Kaihuang, the summer solstice shadow was 1.42 feet long. The 'Zhouguan' used a gnomon to measure the shadow, and the summer solstice shadow was five feet long. Zheng Xuan said, 'The shadow on the winter solstice is one zhang, three chi.' Now, in the sixteenth year, the shadow on the summer solstice is five fen shorter than before, and in the seventeenth year, the winter solstice shadow is three cun and seven fen shorter than before. When the sun is close, it signifies our country is on the right path. According to the 'Yaodian,' 'When the day is short and the Pleiades appear, it is the middle of winter.' Based on the appearance of the Pleiades, we can know that during the time of Yao, it was the middle of winter, and the sun was at ten degrees in the constellation Virgo. According to the calendar calculations, since the establishment of Kaihuang, during the winter solstice, the sun has been at eleven degrees in the Big Dipper, just as it was during Emperor Yao's time, when the sun was very close. The 'Chunqiu Yuanming Bao' says, 'The sun and moon follow their paths, the stars stay constant, the Heavenly Emperor is revered, and the virtuous kings are honored.' Jing Fang's 'Bie Dui' says, 'In times of peace, the sun follows the upper path; in times of prosperity, it follows the middle path; in times of dominance, it follows the lower path.' Now, with the founding of the great Sui Dynasty and the blessings of heaven, shadows are getting shorter, and days are getting longer; this truly marks an unprecedented golden age!" The Emperor was thrilled and spread this joyous news across the nation.
To celebrate, the emperor increased the pace and demands of construction projects, leading the craftsmen to work tirelessly. During the Renshou period, Yuan Chong discovered that the emperor's birth date and the principles of yin and yang were in perfect harmony. He wrote more than sixty arguments and then presented them, saying, "On the day you were born, not only was there a divine aura and various auspicious signs, even your birth date aligns perfectly with the celestial laws of heaven and earth. This truly signifies the arrival of a sage! Now changing the reign title to Renshou, which also corresponds to the time of the emperor's birth, shows that the emperor is following the will of heaven and has obtained the reason for long-lasting peace and stability. Therefore, the foundation of the Great Sui Dynasty will definitely be secure and will prosper forever." The emperor was very happy and bestowed lavish rewards that others could not match.
In the fourth year of Emperor Yang of Sui's Renshou reign, which was known as a Jiazi year, he had just ascended to the throne. A person named Yu Shiji, along with the Chief Astrologer Gao Zhibao, presented a memorial saying, "Last year's winter solstice, the shadow of the sun was longer than usual, and this year, just as it was when Emperor Yao received his mandate. Forty-nine years ago, when Emperor Yao received the mandate, it was precisely on the winter solstice of the eleventh month in the Jiazi year of the first Shangyuan era. Your Majesty, the year you ascended the throne is also on the winter solstice of the eleventh month in the Jiazi year of the first Shangyuan era, exactly like Emperor Yao! Since Emperor Ku, there have been eight Shangyuan eras, with dynasties changing in between, and there has never been a situation where the Renshou year and the Jiazi year coincide. We carefully examined historical records: in the first year of the Shangyuan era, the Taiyi star was in the first house, the Tian Shu star was in the Wude star mansion, and the yin and yang calendar all matched. Emperor Yao was born in a Bingchen year and received the mandate in a Bingzi year, only matching three out of five, not as good as the Jichou Jiazi year, where the heavenly stems and earthly branches all match the number of harmony. This is truly a period of unity and the Nine Chapters of Harmony, reflecting both the era of Emperor Yao and the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty. This truly confirms the saying, 'Long live the Tang Emperor!'" Yu Shiji then encouraged Prince Qi Yang Jian to lead the officials in offering congratulations.
Afterwards, Mars hovered near the Taiwei star for several dozen days. At that time, Emperor Yang of Sui was busy with construction projects, leading to widespread public discontent and heavy labor demands. Yu Shiji presented a memorial stating, "Your Majesty, your virtue is noble, and that is why Mars has departed." All the officials followed suit in congratulating him; Emperor Yang of Sui was pleased and bestowed upon Yu Shiji nearly ten thousand guan. At that time, there were numerous state affairs, and Yu Shiji considered the emperor’s sentiments, wanting to curry favor with the emperor, so he reported certain astronomical signs that warranted attention. In the sixth year of Daye, Yu Shiji was promoted to the position of Neishi Sheren. Later, he followed Emperor Yang of Sui to conquer Liaodong and was appointed as a court gentleman and director of the imperial secretariat.
Later, the country fell into chaos. Emperor Yang of Sui faced setbacks at Yanmen Pass, and then bandits rose up again, causing Emperor Yang to feel anxious. Yu Shiji once again began to invoke astronomical phenomena, submitting memorials stating auspicious signs to please the emperor, saying, "I have heard that Heaven helps those with virtue, Heaven blesses the humble, the Seven Luminaries (sun, moon, five planets) are operating normally, and the Three Celestial Stems (sun, moon, Venus) have all shown auspicious signs. I humbly beseech Your Majesty to govern the people, promote various good deeds, educate the world, and consider the welfare of the people, rather than for personal enjoyment. Heaven will undoubtedly align with your will, and the Earth will also operate according to your decree. So when you ascended to the throne, you coincided with the beginning of the Shangyuan, the initial nine of the Qian hexagram, which also corresponds to the mandate of Heaven. This indicates that a sage is attuned to the will of Heaven, so he can follow the principles of Heaven. Since last year, there have been numerous auspicious celestial events, with no mistakes at all. I have meticulously documented seven particularly significant occurrences: Heaven sent auspicious signs, defeated the Turks, and so on..."
First, on the night of August 28th, a huge meteor, as large as the Big Dipper, appeared from the north of the Wang Liang star (constellation name), falling directly into the Turkic camp with a sound like a collapsing wall. Second, on the night of August 29th, another meteor as large as the Big Dipper appeared, rising from the Yulin star (constellation name) and flying north, landing in the northern region. According to divination, if meteors fall in the enemy's territory for two consecutive days, the enemy will surely be defeated. Third, on the night of September 4th, two stars as large as the Big Dipper appeared consecutively, flying northeast from the Big Dipper star (constellation name). According to divination, the Big Dipper governs military matters, so the enemy will surely fail. Fourth, Jupiter governs blessings, and it has repeatedly appeared in the constellations associated with the capital and the imperial city. According to divination, this signifies a blessing for the country. Fifth, in July, Mars stayed near the Yulin star, and by September 7th, it had already left. According to divination, within three days, the enemy will surely be defeated. Sixth, on the night of November 20th last year, a meteor as red as fire flew from the northeast to the southwest, falling into the camp of the Turkic leader Lu Mingyue, damaging his military vehicles. Seventh, on the night of December 15th, a red light appeared in the north of Hanzhen, extending all the way to the north, indicating the imminent downfall of the Turks. Referring to the "Chenglu" records, Henan Luoyang is in accordance with the Jiazi year, matching the Qianyuan initial nine hexagrams and the Shangyuan Jiazi. This is a blessed land, where we need not worry. Looking back on past political affairs and hearing about ancient events, those events all occurred in different periods, but now all these auspicious signs have appeared within a single reign. Is this not a sign from heaven supporting the emperor in his pursuit of the royal way, aiding in eliminating the wicked rebels and eradicating the nine tribes of the Eastern Barbarians, declaring victory at Mount Tai, and ensuring that the Fen River remains free from conflict?
After presenting the memorial, the emperor was very pleased and immediately promoted him to the position of Secretary of State, demonstrating great trust and intimacy with him. Whenever the emperor contemplated going to war, Li Chunfeng could foresee it and then use astrology to encourage the emperor to make a decision. The court officials were all wary of him. Later, Yuwen Huaji instigated a rebellion that resulted in the emperor's death, and Li Chunfeng was also killed. He was seventy-five at the time.
Historical records say that Wang Shao loved learning throughout his life, diligently studying a wide range of texts without stopping. Renowned scholars praised his extensive knowledge. He also had a fascination with bizarre theories and superstitions, and his writings were crude and disorganized. Compared to Ban Gu and Dong Zhongshu, he fell short, merely a waste of ink, lacking any merit.
In his youth in the Jiangnan region, Yuan Chong first gained notoriety for his cleverness and wit, and later joined the Sui Dynasty, claiming to be proficient in astronomy and astrology. He was determined to win the emperor's favor and rose through the ranks by flattering and ingratiating himself. Wang Shao concocted auspicious omens, interspersed with tales of monsters and demons; Yuan Chong arbitrarily altered the predictions of solar eclipses, deliberately inflating them. They perverted the natural order, disrupted social order, and deceived the people. Such actions warrant severe punishment! Moreover, Wang Shao was from a prominent family in the north, and Yuan Chong was from a respected family in Jiangnan. They actually veered off the righteous path for fame and fortune, tarnishing their own reputations. It is indeed a lamentable situation!
