法苑珠林 56.20

56.20

晉博陵劉伯祖為河東太守。所止承塵上有神能語。京師詔書告下消息輒豫告伯祖。伯祖問其所食噉。欲得羊肝。買羊肝。於前切之。臠臠隨刀不見。兩羊肝盡。有一老貍眇眇在案前。侍者舉刀欲斫之。伯祖訶止。自舉著承塵上。須臾大笑曰。向者噉肝醉。忽然失形與府君相見大慚愧。後伯祖當為司隷。神復先語。伯祖某月某日書當到。到期如言。及入司隷府神隨逐承塵上輒言省內事。伯祖大恐懼。謂神曰。今職在刺史。左右貴人聞神在此因以相害。神答曰。如府君所慮當相捨去。遂絕無聲。

Liu Bozu of Boling during the Jin was Governor of Hedong. Above the ceiling where he lodged, there was a spirit capable of speech. Whenever edicts and proclamations were sent down from the capital, it would always inform Bozu in advance of the news. Bozu asked what it ate, and it wanted sheep's liver. He bought sheep's liver and sliced it before him; morsel by morsel, it vanished with the knife until two sheep's livers were finished. An old raccoon-dog, squinting and tiny, appeared before the table. An attendant raised a knife wanting to strike it, but Bozu scolded and stopped him, lifting it himself and placing it onto the ceiling. In a short while, it laughed loudly and said, "Just now I became drunk from eating the liver, and suddenly lost my form and met with the Prefect, for which I am deeply ashamed." Later, when Bozu was to become Director of Retainers, the spirit again spoke beforehand: "Bozu, on such-and-such a month and day the letter will arrive." When the date arrived, it was as it had said. When he entered the office of the Director of Retainers, the spirit followed along above the ceiling, always speaking of affairs within the ministry. Bozu was greatly terrified and said to the spirit, "My present post is that of Inspector; if the dignitaries around me hear that a spirit is here, they will use it to harm me." The spirit answered, saying, "As the Prefect fears, I should leave you." Thereupon it ceased and made no further sound.