Bone reading is a form of Chinese folk divination that involves predicting a person’s fate by feeling their skull, neck, and wrist bones. This technique, traditionally passed down among the blind, serves as their livelihood. Those who have had a bone reading by a master are often amazed by the technique’s mystical accuracy. Unlike facial features that change over time, bone structures remain largely unchanged. This is a well-known story about a blind master bone reader named Mr. Gao.
Mr. Gao’s early life: learning to be a good person
Mr. Gao was born blind, but fortunately, he grew up in a wealthy family. His grandfather hired teachers to teach him the Three Character Classic and Zhuzi Family Instructions, ensuring he knew how to be a good person.
Facing hardships and finding a mentor
When Mr. Gao grew up, society was in turmoil. Due to his family’s poor social status, their property was confiscated, and he had to live in a small shack on barren land. He initially learned to sing, performing in markets for tips. One day, while performing at a market, an elderly blind man suddenly collapsed at his stall. Many urged Mr. Gao to move his stall and ignore the old man, but he didn’t. Instead, he took his hard-earned money to call a doctor. The old man woke up and refused the doctor, so Mr. Gao took him to his shack, feeding him and letting him stay for over half a year without any intention of driving him away.
Later, the old man revealed: “To be honest, I pretended to faint. I am a descendant of bone readers. I felt my own bones and knew my end was near, so I urgently sought an apprentice, and that’s why I chose you. Today, I will formally read your bones to see if you are suitable.”
After the old man’s assessment, he formally passed the bone reading technique to Mr. Gao. The old man later died as he had predicted, and Mr. Gao began his career as a bone reader.
A prisoner’s redemption
One evening, a tall man came to Mr. Gao for a bone reading. As soon as he entered, he asked if the reading would be accurate. Mr. Gao, sensing trouble, said it wouldn’t be accurate, hoping he would be discouraged and leave. The man insisted, accusing Mr. Gao of not wanting to read his bones because he thought he couldn’t afford to pay for it. Mr. Gao then said: “If you insist on a reading, you’ll have to pay double.” The man agreed.
After a while, Mr. Gao said: “You are a prisoner who was recently released, but you will soon go back to prison.” The man was shocked and asked why. Mr. Gao explained: “In the next few days, you’re planning something to land you back in prison.” Upon hearing this, the man knelt and begged Mr. Gao for guidance. Mr. Gao told him to leave immediately and go as far away as possible. The man, thoroughly convinced, revealed his story.
He had just been released from prison and found his wife with another man. He was planning to kill them both, but hesitated. Mr. Gao had sensed all of this through the bone reading. Realizing the gravity of his intentions, the man abandoned his murderous plan and fled far away.
A high-ranking official’s warning
One day, an ordinary-looking man came to Mr. Gao for a bone reading. After feeling his neck bones, Mr. Gao immediately clasped his hands and said: “You are at least a county magistrate.” The man was impressed and admitted he was indeed an official of equivalent rank. Mr. Gao continued: “I hope you won’t be offended, but you are currently ill. It’s a shameful illness…” The official whispered, asking what it was. Mr. Gao said: “It’s syphilis.”
Like a thunderbolt, the official was stunned and quickly confirmed, asking if it was serious. Mr. Gao replied: “Your hands are full of small bones, indicating you’ve been with many women. Is that true?” The man admitted it, confirming his many relationships. Mr. Gao advised him to stop immediately, warning that his lifespan, originally set at 75, would now be cut to 63, with him dying painfully from syphilis. Realizing the truth, the official changed his ways and later sent Mr. Gao a generous gift, including a gold-plated double-dragon cane.
Limiting daily readings
As Mr. Gao’s fame grew, more people sought his bone reading services. However, he limited himself to three to five people a day. When asked why, Mr. Gao explained: “Nowadays, people are like beasts in human skin, not behaving as humans should.” Reflecting on Mr. Gao’s words, one might agree when looking at the bizarre news every day.
Before his master passed away, he told Mr. Gao that bone reading could only predict fortunes and misfortunes, but the ultimate outcome depended on the person’s choices. These arts are effective for ordinary people, but ineffective for those of great virtue or extreme evil. Therefore, one should cultivate virtue and good deeds from within rather than relying on fortune-telling.
The moral of Mr. Gao’s stories
Mr. Gao’s stories illustrate the profound belief that our actions and intentions deeply influence our destinies. Through self-improvement and ethical behavior, we can steer our lives toward better outcomes.
Translated by Katy Liu
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