The karma created by humans cannot be escaped. The spirits of the past victims come to settle the debts of wrongdoing and seek revenge, like the young woman in this tale. Even the most righteous Taoists who seek mercy will find themselves helpless in the face of this inevitability. Retribution will come when the time is right; this is the way of Heaven.
An attempt to evade justice
During the Tang Dynasty, a military governor named Yan Wu lived in Sichuan. In his youth, he fancied himself a chivalrous hero, but often acted impulsively. He lived next to a military officer in the capital, whose household included a beautiful, unmarried young woman. Captivated by her beauty, Yan bribed and persuaded those around her to bring her to his home, and a month later, he secretly took the young woman away.
Yan fled east with the young woman through Dongguan, hiding between the Huai and Si rivers. A military officer discovered their location, and after consulting with his family, he reported the incident to the local authorities and submitted a petition to the emperor. Soon after, the emperor issued a decree for the local county to capture Yan. Upon receiving the order, officials traveled daily, aware of Yan’s whereabouts.
Yan was about to hire a boat to sail south from Gong County when he learned the capturing officials were about to arrive. Fearing he could not escape his fate, he got the military officer’s daughter drunk with wine. In the middle of the night, he strangled the young woman with the strings of a pipa and sank her body to the bottom of the river. The next day, the officials arrived and scoured Yan’s boat, but found no trace of the military officer’s daughter. They had no choice but to return empty-handed.
The young woman’s soul seeks revenge
Sometime later, Yan ascended to the position of military governor in Jiannan. However, during his tenure, he fell gravely ill. He never believed in superstition about ghosts and gods and would punish anyone who discussed such matters.
One summer day around noon, a Taoist suddenly arrived at the military office and introduced himself, saying: “I came from Mount Emei to see Yan Wu.” At first, the gatekeeper refused to let him in, but after the Taoist sternly rebuked him, the gatekeeper reluctantly allowed him in and reported the matter to Yan. Yan found it strange and had the Taoist brought into the office.
Yan observed with curiosity and apprehension as the Taoist ascended the steps, and the visitor engaged in a heated exchange with an unseen entity. Their argument echoed loudly, filling the air with tension that lingered for an eternity. After exchanging greetings with Yan, the Taoist said with a grave expression: “You are gravely ill.” “Your karmic creditor is close at hand, waiting for retribution. Why cling to stubbornness? You should quickly repent for your transgressions, offer incense as penance, and mend your ways before it’s too late.”
Upon hearing this, Yan became furious, but remained silent. Undeterred, the Taoist bluntly asked: “Have you ever taken a life only to be haunted by its memory?” Yan thought long before replying: “I have done no such thing.”
The Taoist then said: “When I was at the steps earlier, I saw a person who died unjustly, with messy hair, crying to me. At first, I thought she was a spirit from the mountains or a ghost haunting the place, so I scolded her loudly. Later, she said she had been killed by you and had divine permission to seek revenge. How can you say there is no such thing?”
Yan was surprised that the Taoist knew so much, so he asked: “What does the ghost look like?” The Taoist replied, “The ghost is a young woman, about sixteen or seventeen years old, with something like a musical instrument string tied around her neck.”
It suddenly dawned on Yan. He quickly bowed to the Taoist and said: “Master, you are truly a sage. What should I do if what you say is true?” The Taoist said: “She wants to meet with you now, so you should go and ask her for it yourself.”
Bad deeds must be paid for
The Taoist tidied the hall, removing unnecessary items and lighting incense to create a serene atmosphere. He prepared clothing and provided a writing surface for Yan, leaving only a young servant to tend to him.
Outside the hall, on the east side, was a small room that the Taoist had cleaned and hung a curtain at the door. The Taoist sat outside the entrance with water in his mouth, spraying water while sweeping the floor with a willow branch. Then, as the Taoist sat there with his eyes closed and his teeth clenched, he saw a shadow moving in the room, prompting a long sigh.
The Taoist said: “Madam, you can come out now.” After a prolonged pause, a disheveled young woman with a pipa string tied around her neck appeared. She lifted the curtain and approached the hall door, tidying her hair and bowing to Yan as she entered. At the sight of her, Yan was overcome with both fear and remorse, covering his face with his hands.
The young woman spoke with sorrow and reproach at that moment: “Your cruelty knows no bounds. I stood by you, attempting to escape together, and my loyalty never faltered. Yet your fear of guilt led you to commit an unforgivable act. Leaving me elsewhere might have been pardonable, but to strangle me to death — how could you do such a thing?”
Overwhelmed with regret upon hearing her words, Yan offered repeated apologies. He considered reciting Buddhist scriptures and burning more paper money in a bid for forgiveness. The Taoist, deeply moved, earnestly pleading on Yan’s behalf.
The young woman’s voice carried a solemn tone. “It’s futile,” she said. “His own hands took my life, and I have already appealed to the Heavenly Emperor. The time for retribution is limited to thirty years and cannot be altered now. Tomorrow evening marks the appointed hour.”
With her words spoken, the young woman gracefully departed, disappearing into the shadows of the small room. Seeing that Yan’s fate was sealed, the Taoist bid farewell and departed. With deep remorse, Yan quickly set his affairs at home in order and passed away the following evening.
Whispers of this tragic tale linger in the corridors of time. Yan’s journey from power to penance offers a sad reflection on the intricate web of cause and effect woven by human actions. Our deeds, both good and bad, shape the trajectory of our lives. Negative actions accumulate karmic debts, inevitably demanding restitution — perhaps even at the cost of one’s life.
May Yan’s journey be a steadfast reminder, guiding us toward mindful awareness and ethical behavior.
Translated by Joseph Wu and edited by Tatiana Denning
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