法苑珠林 70.65

70.65

漢建興四年。西都傾覆。元皇帝始為晉王。四海宅心。其年十月二十二日。新蔡縣吏任僑妻胡氏。年二十五產二女。相向腹心合。自胸以上臍以下分。此蓋天下未壹之妖也。時內史呂會上言。案瑞應圖云。異根同體謂之連理。異畝同穗謂之嘉禾。草木之屬猶以為瑞。今二人同心。天垂靈象。故易云。二人同心其利斷金。休顯見生於陳東之國。斯蓋四海同心之瑞。不勝喜躍。謹畫圖上。時有識者哂之。君子曰。智之難也。以臧文仲之才。猶祀爰居焉布在方冊。千載不忘。故士不可以不學。古人有言。木無枝。謂之瘣。人不學。謂之瞽。當其所蔽。蓋闕如也。可不勉乎。

In the fourth year of the Jianxing era of the Han dynasty, the Western Capital collapsed, and Emperor Yuan first became the King of Jin, with the hearts of the four seas turning to him. On the twenty-second day of the tenth month of that year, Lady Hu, the twenty-five-year-old wife of Ren Qiao, an official of Xincai County, gave birth to two daughters. They faced each other with their bellies and hearts joined, but separated from the chest upward and from the navel downward. This was indeed an anomaly presaging that the realm was not yet unified. At the time, Lü Hui, the Internal Scribe, submitted a memorial stating: 'According to the Ruiying tu, "Different roots sharing the same trunk are called entwined branches; different furrows sharing the same ear of grain are called auspicious grain." Even species of grass and trees are regarded as auspicious. Now, two people share the same heart, and Heaven displays a miraculous image. Thus the Book of Changes states: "When two people are of the same mind, their sharpness can cut metal." This glorious manifestation has appeared in the land east of Chen; it is an auspicious sign that the four seas share a single mind. Overjoyed beyond measure, I respectfully present a painted illustration.' Discerning individuals at the time laughed at this. A gentleman would say: 'How difficult wisdom is! Even with the talent of Zang Wenzhong, he still offered sacrifices to the sea bird Yuanchu, an event recorded in the official annals and not forgotten for a thousand years. Therefore, an educated gentleman must not neglect learning. An ancient saying goes: "A tree without branches is called a gnarl; a person who does not study is called blind." When one's understanding is obscured, deficiencies surely arise. How could one not strive?'