Karmic debts come about because of wrong thoughts and actions. During the turbulent period of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, Western Shu and Southern Tang states enjoyed relative peace, providing a favorable environment for artists. Two renowned bird-and-flower painters of this era were Huang Quan of Western Shu and Xu Xi of Southern Tang. They were celebrated for their unique styles, with people often saying: “Huang’s paintings are rich and noble, while Xu’s are wild and unrestrained.”
The story of Huang Quan and Xu Xi
Huang Quan (903-965) was a native of Chengdu. His meticulous paintings gained fame early in his life. He studied various masters, and the Song Dynasty’s Xuanhe Painting Manual praised him for his comprehensive skills, stating: “He combines the essence of many styles, making him unparalleled in history. His depictions of wildflowers, exotic birds, riverbanks, and ancient boats are exceptional.”
At 17, Huang served the Later Shu ruler Wang Yan as an imperial painter and was later promoted to Vice Minister of the Capital. After the Northern Song conquered Shu, Huang, his two sons, and his brother Weiliang joined the Song’s Imperial Painting Academy, where they gained great renown. Huang’s paintings became the standard for academy-style painting.
Xu Xi (886-975), although a commoner at the end of the Five Dynasties, came from a prominent family in Jiangnan. He was known for his elegant, literati-style ink paintings of birds and flowers. His seemingly casual brushstrokes and minimal use of color brought his subjects to life with a vivid, natural spirit.
The Southern Tang ruler Li Houzhu collected Xu Xi’s works in his palace. After the Southern Tang fell to the Song, these paintings were transferred to the Song court. Emperor Taizong of Song, upon seeing Xu Xi’s painting of a pomegranate tree bearing hundreds of fruits, was so impressed by its grandeur and bold brushwork that he exclaimed: “Among flower and fruit paintings, Xu Xi’s work stands alone; the rest are not worth viewing!” The Xuanhe Painting Manual also praised Xu Xi’s paintings as “imbued with spirit and elegance, unparalleled in history.”
After the Song annexed the Southern Tang, Xu Xi came to the capital and submitted his paintings to the Imperial Painting Academy for evaluation. At that time, Huang Quan was in charge of the academy. Fearing that Xu Xi might surpass him and take his favored position, Huang deliberately criticized Xu Xi’s extraordinary works as “crude and unrefined,” thus rejecting him from the academy.
Why was Huang Quan so afraid of Xu Xi potentially taking his place? The Song Dynasty calligraphy and painting master Mi Fu explained: “Huang Quan’s paintings are easy to imitate, but Xu Xi’s are not.” This highlighted Xu Xi’s unparalleled talent. Though fine and detailed, Huang’s meticulous bird-and-flower paintings lacked the spirit and were easier to replicate. Huang was well aware of this difference, but lacked the magnanimity to appreciate Xu Xi’s achievements or accept him as a colleague. Instead, he obstructed Xu Xi, causing him great hardship. How would this karmic debt be resolved?
The repercussions in a future life
Time flies, and 700 years later, could these two souls meet again?
During the Qing Dynasty, Luo Yangshan, an official in the Ministry of Rites, faced constant obstruction from his colleagues, making his work as difficult as walking through thorns. His cautious and meticulous nature eventually led to illness, leaving him depressed and spiritless.
One day, while sitting in a daze, Luo dreamed of a beautiful mountain scene with blooming flowers and flowing water. The serene environment lifted his spirits. As he walked along the stream, he came to a thatched cottage where an old man invited him in for a chat. The two had a pleasant conversation, but the old man noticed Luo’s troubled expression and asked about it. Luo recounted his years of suffering.
The old man sighed and comforted him, saying: “This is due to karma from a past life, which you are unaware of. Seven hundred years ago, you were the Song Dynasty painter Huang Quan, and the person who obstructed you was Xu Xi. Xu Xi’s paintings were superior to yours, but you feared he would take your favored position at court. You used deceitful words to exclude him from the academy, causing him to live in hardship and die with regret.
“Through several lifetimes, you have not met again until now. In this life, you are repaying the karmic debt from seven hundred years ago. What you are experiencing now is precisely what you inflicted on him. There is no need for resentment. Everything in this world follows the law of karma; actions have consequences. The seeds you sow will eventually bear fruit. This karmic connection is like a magnet attracting iron; once close, they are inseparable. The meeting of karma is as inevitable as the sun and moon cycles. The harm you inflict on others ultimately harms yourself.
“I have a past connection with you, and seeing you still unenlightened, I reveal this past karma to help you understand the cause of your current suffering. Your debt with that person is now settled. From now on, be cautious and do not create new karmic debts.”
Hearing the old man’s words, Luo Yangshan suddenly understood, and his competitive spirit vanished. A few days later, his illness healed without medication.
Epilogue
Although Luo Yangshan did not know who the old man in his dream was or the nature of their past connection, his explanation of karma and the principle of actions having consequences resolved the actual cause of his worldly troubles. This understanding lifted the burden from his heart, allowing him to recover his peace of mind. It seems he had also formed good connections in the past, which led to the old man’s guidance, enabling him to resolve a 700-year-old grudge and return to a path of unobstructed peace.
The blessings of life do not lie in winning or losing but in the consequences of one’s actions. To understand the fruits of today, look at the seeds sown yesterday (in past lives or this life). See how a small, selfish scheme to protect one’s interests can create significant mistakes, harm others, and incur debts that must be repaid, even across lifetimes. The obstacles and frustrations in life are often the result of one’s actions in this or a previous life.
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