Life and death are preordained, and the heavens determine wealth and honor. The blessings, fortunes, and longevity of a person, as well as the onset of various illnesses, are all destined. When the time comes, changes in the complexion and the condition of the meridians on one’s face can reveal significant abnormalities. Throughout history, only those proficient in medicine or spiritual practices could decipher the secrets of the body’s code. This article delves into the lives of a few Ming Dynasty street doctors who could diagnose life and death with just a glance and a touch.
Song Zijing: Diagnosing at a glance
In Huanggang County, Hubei, there was a doctor named Song Zijing. After failing to achieve his desired results in the imperial examinations and realizing a career in government service was unlikely, he turned to medicine. He extensively studied renowned works such as The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine and other significant texts, eventually understanding their essence and achieving remarkable results in treating illnesses. Walking along the roads, he could diagnose someone’s condition and predict their life or death with just a glance.
One intriguing case involved an inspector who was physically well but could not eat. The governor of Huangzhou, a friend of the inspector, sought Song Zijing’s help. However, Song proposed an unconventional approach, saying: “I don’t need to go to his house; we’ll just meet on the road when he comes out.”
One day, the inspector traveled by carriage, and Song planned to meet him there. When he entered the carriage, Song deliberately dressed in rags and appeared disheveled. This sight angered the inspector, who was offended by Song’s lack of decorum. After stepping off the carriage, Song quietly told a bystander: “He is cured.”
Indeed, the inspector was able to eat again the next day. He invited Song Zijing to his home as a guest, where Song appeared impeccably dressed. Surprised, the inspector asked why Song had dressed so poorly the previous day. Song explained: “That was a strategic decision to cure your illness. You were unable to eat because certain emotional conditions were affecting your health. My appearance and behavior were designed to incite anger, which was necessary to dispel those conditions.”
Xie Biao: Foreseeing life and death
A doctor named Xie BiaoIn lived in Shangyu County, Zhejiang. He had studied Confucianism from a young age and later turned to medicine. After years of diligent study and practice, he became highly proficient in pulse diagnosis and predicting lifespans. He could sometimes even tell a person’s condition and the date of their death without even needing to use pulse diagnosis.
Once, when a local man was critically ill and unresponsive to treatments, his family purchased a coffin for him. However, upon visiting, Xie Biao declared that the patient would survive. He then had someone bring a bowl of water, which he poured over the man’s face. Shortly after, the man began to babble, prompting Xie Biao to administer more water orally. Within moments, pox rashes emerged in clusters across his body. After several days of care, the patient completely recovered.
Another time, while at the home of a local householder, Xie Biao saw the householder’s daughter-in-law pass by. After observing her, he called over the householder’s son and gravely informed him: “Your wife’s soul has departed; she will not survive to see this time next year.” Tragically, his prediction came to pass the following year.
Later, Xie Biao moved to Guangde County, Anhui, where he was revered for his medical skills. Despite his fame, he remained indifferent to wealth, often lending out the fees he earned from his practice. One day, he hosted a banquet in a pub for some friends. During the banquet, he unexpectedly announced to his friends: “The time of my death is near, so I must say farewell today.” His friends thought he was merely intoxicated, but Xie affirmed his knowledge of his own mortality by burning all the IOUs he had accumulated.
Knowing his days were numbered, Xie returned to his hometown. There, he encountered his uncle, who suggested a pulse check. Xie declined, proposing that they walk together instead. Shortly into their walk, he told his uncle: “Your days are numbered too, and I fear you will depart ten days before me.” His uncle was skeptical, but both men indeed passed away within days of each other, as foretold.
Wang Min: The insightful diagnostician
Wang Min, from Wu County, Suzhou, orphaned at a young age and living in poverty, took up the study of medicine under a renowned doctor. Once, a woman misdiagnosed with a severe condition was correctly identified by Wang as being pregnant with a male child, after which she successfully gave birth.
He also saved a young official who was misdiagnosed with typhoid, correctly identifying and treating his condition as smallpox, leading to a quick recovery. In another case, despite other doctors’ insistence, Wang warned that forcibly treating a toxic sore would be fatal. His prediction held true when the patient died shortly after the incorrect treatment.
Conclusion
These stories from the Ming Dynasty showcase these physicians’ profound understanding and skill and remind us of the mystical insights into health and fate that traditional medicine once held. The legacies of these doctors continue to fascinate and inspire awe, echoing through the ages as reminders of the ancient wisdom of Chinese medicine.
Translated by Eva
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