神僧傳 4.5

4.5

Śramaṇa Fayuan, originally surnamed Zhong and named Wuli, was originally a man of Changshe in Yingchuan. In his grandfather's generation, they fled political troubles and moved to Changcheng in Wuxing. His family originally served the spirits, and he himself was trained in drumming and dancing. He had fully mastered the subtleties of worldly sundry arts and divination by yarrow stalks and trigrams as well as physiognomy. He once looked into a mirror at his own face and said, "Before long, I shall see the Son of Heaven." Thereupon he went out to the capital and lived by Shen Bridge, making a living by practicing physiognomy for hire. When Zong Que and Shen Qingzhi were still obscure, they asked Fayuan for a physiognomic reading. Fayuan said, "You, Lord Zong, should become regional inspector of three provinces; Lord Shen will surely reach the highest office of the Three Excellencies." In this way he examined many people, and there was more than one instance where his predictions regarding their immediate affairs came true. Consequently, word reached Emperor Taizu of the Song. When Taizu met him, he took a prisoner from the Dongzhi penal workshop and a handsome slave, dressed them in official robes and caps, and ordered Fayuan to physiognomise them. Fayuan pointed at the prisoner and said, "You have many perils and tribulations; once you step down from the steps, you should immediately be put into irons." He addressed the slave, saying, "You are a person of base standing; how is it that you have escaped it only temporarily?" The Emperor was astonished and decreed that he reside in the rear hall to manage the occult arts of yin and yang. A short time later, Fayuan submitted a memorial asking to renounce household life; only after petitioning three times was his request granted. He became a disciple of the venerable Yuan of Upper Dinglin. When Emperor Xiaowu ascended the imperial throne, Zong Que went out to garrison Guangzhou and took Fayuan along with him, venerating him as his master of the five precepts. It happened that Prince Qiao plotted rebellion, and Que consulted Fayuan. Fayuan said, "Following you here was a mistaken act of homicide. Now Venus offends the Southern Dipper, and by rule a high minister must be killed. You should swiftly change your plans; you will surely achieve great merit." It indeed turned out as Fayuan had said. When Que was transferred to be regional inspector of Yuzhou, he again took him along. When Prince Dan of Jingling launched his uprising, Fayuan's counsel and admonitions were also just so. When Emperor Gao of the Qi personally served the young sovereign, he constantly suffered anxiety about unforeseeable disasters and repeatedly consulted Fayuan. Fayuan said, "In the coming seventh month, matters will be settled." It indeed turned out as he had said. When Emperor Gao ascended the throne, he treated him with the etiquette due to a master. When Emperor Wu succeeded to the throne, he also showed the utmost respect due to a master. Fayuan died in the first year of the Yongyuan era at the age of eighty-two.