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唐檀字子產，豫章南昌人也。少遊太學，習京氏易、韓詩、顏氏春秋，尤好災異星占。後還鄉里，教授常百餘人。 |
| | Tang Tan, courtesy name Zichan, was a native of Nanchang, Yuzhang. He studied at the Imperial Academy from an early age and learned Jing Shi Yi (the "Yi Jing" of Master Jing), Han Shi, and Yan Shi Chunqiu. He was especially fond of divination concerning disasters, anomalies, and celestial phenomena. Later, he returned to his hometown and taught more than a hundred students at times.
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元初七年，郡界有芝草生，太守劉祗欲上言之，以問檀。檀對曰：「方今外戚豪盛，陽道微弱，斯豈嘉瑞乎？」祗乃止。永寧元年，南昌有婦人生四子，祗復問檀變異之應。檀以為京師當有兵氣，其禍發於蕭牆。至延光四年，中黃門孫程揚兵殿省，誅皇后兄車騎將軍閻顯等，立濟陰王為天子，果如所占。 |
| | In the seventh year of Yuanchu, there was a birth of lingzhi grass within the borders of the commandery. The governor Liu Zhi wanted to report it and consulted Tan about it. Tan replied, "At present, the relatives of the empress are powerful while yang forces are weak; how can this be a sign of good fortune?" Zhi then stopped. In the first year of Yongning, a woman in Nanchang gave birth to four sons; Zhi once again asked Tan about the omen and its implications. Tan believed that there would be a military disturbance in the capital, with the calamity originating within the palace itself. In the fourth year of Yanguang, Zhonghuangmen Sun Cheng raised troops in the palace and executed Yan Xian, the brother of the empress and General of Chaji, as well as others, and enthroned Jiying Wang as emperor. This indeed came to pass as Tan had foretold.
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永建五年，舉孝廉，除郎中。是時白虹貫日，檀因上便宜三事，陳其咎徵。書奏，棄官去。著書二十八篇，名為唐子。卒於家。 |
| | In the fifth year of Yongjian, he was recommended as a filial and upright official (Xiaolian) and appointed as Langzhong. At that time, a white rainbow pierced the sun; taking this opportunity, Tan submitted three proposals for beneficial measures and explained their ominous signs. After submitting his memorandum, he resigned from office and left. He authored twenty-eight essays, which were titled "Tangzi." He died at home.
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公沙穆字文乂，北海膠東人也。家貧賤。自為兒童不好戲弄，長習韓詩、公羊春秋，尤銳思河洛推步之術。居建成山中，依林阻為室，獨宿無侶。時暴風震雷，有聲於外呼穆者三，穆不與語。有頃，呼者自牖而入，音狀甚怪，穆誦經自若，終亦無它妖異，時人奇之。後遂隱居東萊山，學者自遠而至。 |
| | Gongsha Mu, courtesy name Wenyi, was a native of Jiaodong, Beihai. His family was poor and lowly. 偻 From childhood, he did not like to play or be trifled with; as an adult, he studied Han Shi and Gongyang Chunqiu, and was especially keen on the art of calculating celestial movements based on the Yellow River and Luo River. He lived in the mountains of Jiancheng, using trees and obstructions as his dwelling, living alone without a companion. At that time, there was fierce wind and thunder, and three times someone called out Mu's name from the outside; but Mu did not speak to them. After a while, the caller entered through the window, his voice and appearance very strange. Mu recited scriptures as usual without showing any concern; in the end, there were no other supernatural occurrences, and people at that time found it remarkable. Later he retired to live in seclusion on Donglai Mountain, where scholars came from afar to study with him.
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有富人王仲，致產千金。謂穆曰：「方今之世，以貨自通，吾奉百萬與子為資，何如？」對曰：「來意厚矣。夫富貴在天，得之有命，以貨求位，吾不忍也。」 |
| | There was a wealthy man named Wang Zhong who had amassed property worth ten thousand gold pieces. Zhong said to Mu, "In this age, one can achieve success through wealth. I will give you a million gold pieces as capital; what do you think?" Mu replied, "Your kind intentions are generous." Wealth and rank lie in Heaven's hands; to obtain them is a matter of fate. To seek office through wealth, I cannot bear."
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後舉孝廉，以高第為主事，遷繒相。時繒侯劉敞，東海恭王之後也，所為多不法，廢嫡立庶，傲很放恣。穆到官，謁曰：「臣始除之日，京師咸謂臣曰『繒有惡侯』，以弔小相。明侯何因得此醜聲之甚也？幸承先人之支體，傳茅土之重，不戰戰兢兢，而違越法度，故朝廷使臣為輔。願改往修來，自求多福。」乃上沒敞所侵官民田地，廢其庶子，還立嫡嗣。其蒼頭兒客犯法，皆收考之。因苦辭諫敞。敞涕泣為謝，多從其所規。 |
| | Later he was recommended as Xiaolian and appointed as Zhushi with high rank; he later advanced to Zeng Xiang. At that time, the marquis of Zeng, Liu Chang, was a descendant of Duke Gong of Donghai; he often acted unlawfully, deposed legitimate heirs in favor of concubine-born sons, and behaved arrogantly and recklessly. When Mu assumed office, he paid a courtesy visit and said, "On the day I was appointed, people in the capital all told me, 'Zeng has an evil marquis,' regarding it as a mourning for such a minor official. How could you, my lord, have acquired such an extremely bad reputation?" You are fortunate to inherit your ancestors' lineage and bear the weight of fiefdoms. Instead of being cautious and reverent, you have violated laws and regulations; therefore, the court has sent me as an assistant. I hope you will reform your past ways and cultivate virtue in the future, so that you may seek much happiness for yourself." He then submitted a report to confiscate the land and fields that Chang had illegally occupied from officials and commoners, deposed his concubine-born son, and restored the legitimate heir. Any of his slaves or attendants who broke laws were all arrested and investigated. He repeatedly advised Chang with earnest words. Chang wept and apologized, and followed much of his advice.
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遷弘農令。縣界有螟蟲食稼，百姓惶懼。穆乃設壇謝曰：「百姓有過，罪穆之由，請以身禱。」於是暴雨，既霽而螟蟲自銷，百姓稱曰神明。永壽元年，霖雨大水，三輔以東莫不湮沒。穆明曉占候，乃豫告令百姓徙居高地，故弘農人獨得免害。 |
| | He was later transferred to serve as the magistrate of Hongnong. There were locusts within the county's borders devouring crops, causing panic and fear among the people. Mu then set up an altar and prayed, saying, "If the people have committed offenses, it is my fault. I beg to offer myself in prayer." At that moment, a heavy rainstorm occurred; after the storm cleared, the locusts disappeared on their own. The people hailed him as a divine and wise figure. In the first year of Yongshou, torrential rains caused great floods; all areas east of the Three Fu regions were submerged without exception. Mu had a clear understanding of divination and weather signs, so he forewarned the people to move to higher ground in advance; thus, the people of Hongnong alone were spared from disaster.
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遷遼東屬國都尉，善得吏人歡心。年六十六卒官。六子皆知名。 |
| | He was transferred to serve as Duwei of the Liao Dong Subjugated States and won the hearts of officials and people alike. At the age of sixty-six, he died in office. His six sons were all well known.
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許曼者，汝南平輿人也。祖父峻，字季山，善卜占之術，多有顯驗，時人方之前世京房。自云少嘗篤病，三年不愈，乃謁太山請命，行遇道士張巨君，授以方術。所著易林，至今行於世。 |
| | Xu Man was a native of Pingyu, Ru'nan. His grandfather Xu Jun, courtesy name Jishan, was skilled in divination and had many notable successes; contemporaries compared him to Jing Fang of previous generations. He claimed that as a young man he once suffered from a serious illness, which did not improve for three years. He then went to Mount Tai to pray for his life and met the Daoist master Zhang Jujun on the way, who taught him methods of healing arts. The "Yi Lin" he authored is still in circulation to this day.
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曼少傳峻學。桓帝時，隴西太守馮緄始拜郡，開綬笥，有兩赤蛇分南北走。緄令曼筮之。卦成，曼曰：「三歲之後，君當為邊將，官有東名，當東北行三千里。復五年，更為大將軍，南征。」延熹元年，緄出為遼東太守，討鮮卑，至五年，復拜車騎將軍，擊武陵蠻賊，皆如占。其餘多此類云。 |
| | Man, from a young age, inherited his grandfather Jun's learning. During the reign of Emperor Huan, when Feng Qian was first appointed as governor of Longxi Commandery and opened his official sash case, two red snakes were seen moving north and south. Qian ordered Man to perform divination for him. After the hexagram was cast, Man said, "Three years later, you will become a border general. Your office will have an eastern name, and you should travel three thousand li to the northeast." "After five more years, you will be appointed as Grand General and lead a southern campaign." In the first year of Yuanxi, Qian was appointed as governor of Liao Dong and campaigned against the Xianbei. By the fifth year, he was again appointed as General of Chaji and led a campaign against bandits in Wuling—all came to pass exactly as foretold. There were many other instances like this, it is said.
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趙彥者，琅邪人也。少有術學。延熹三年，琅邪賊勞丙與太山賊叔孫無忌殺都尉，攻沒琅邪屬縣，殘害吏民。朝廷以南陽宗資為討寇中郎將，杖鉞將兵，督州郡合討無忌。彥為陳孤虛之法，以賊屯在莒，莒有五陽之地，宜發五陽郡兵，從孤擊虛以討之。資具以狀上，詔書遣五陽兵到。彥推遁甲，教以時進兵，一戰破賊，燔燒屯塢，徐兗二州一時平夷。 |
| | Zhao Yan was a native of Langya. From a young age, he had knowledge in the art of divination. In the third year of Yuanxi, Langya bandit Lao Bing and Tai Shan bandit Shusun Wujin killed the Duwei and attacked and captured several subordinate counties in Langya, causing great harm to officials and civilians. The imperial court appointed Zong Zi of Nanyang as Zhankou Zhonglangjiang, gave him a staff and axe to command troops, and ordered the combined forces of the states and commanderies to jointly campaign against Wujin. Yan explained the method of Chen Guxu, stating that since the bandits were stationed in Ju, and Ju was a place with five yang energies, it would be appropriate to mobilize troops from the Five Yang commanderies. They should attack by exploiting their weakness through the strategy of striking where they are vulnerable. Zi submitted a report detailing this, and an imperial edict was issued to dispatch troops from the Five Yang regions. Yan applied the calculations of Dunjia, instructing them on when to advance. In one battle, they defeated the bandits, burned their encampments and strongholds, and at once brought peace to the two states of Xu and Yuan.
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樊志張者，漢中南鄭人也。博學多通，隱身不仕。嘗遊隴西，時破羌將軍段熲出征西羌，請見志張。其夕，熲軍為羌所圍數重，因留軍中，三日不得去。夜謂熲曰：「東南角無復羌，宜乘虛引出，住百里，還師攻之，可以全勝。」熲從之，果以破賊。於是以狀表聞。又說其人既有梓慎、焦、董之識，宜翼聖朝，咨詢奇異。於是有詔特徵，會病終。 |
| | Fan Zhizhang was a native of Nanzheng, Hanzhong. He was broadly learned and knowledgeable in many fields but chose to remain hidden from public life and did not hold office. Once, while traveling in Longxi, he met General Duan Jiong of Poqiang who was campaigning against the western Qiang. Jiong requested an audience with Zhizhang. That night, General Jiong's army was surrounded by the Qiang in multiple layers; as a result, he remained within the camp for three days and could not leave. At night, he told Jiong, "There are no more Qiang in the southeast corner. You should take advantage of this opening to lead your forces out, march a hundred li forward, and then return to attack them; thus you can achieve total victory." Jiong followed his advice, and indeed succeeded in defeating the bandits. He then submitted a memorial to report this matter. It was also said that he possessed the insight of Zishen, Jiao, and Dong; thus, it was appropriate for him to serve the holy dynasty, offering advice on unusual matters. An imperial edict then specially summoned him, but he died before this could happen.
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單颺字武宣，山陽湖陸人也。以孤特清苦自立，善明天官、筭術。舉孝廉，稍遷太史令，侍中。出為漢中太守，公事免。後拜尚書，卒於官。 |
| | Shan Yang, courtesy name Wuxuan, was a native of Lushui, Shanyang. He established himself through solitude and hardship, being particularly skilled in understanding the celestial officials (astronomy) and mathematical calculations. Recommended as a filial and upright man, he gradually advanced to become Taishi Ling and later served as Shizhong. He was sent out to serve as governor of Hanzhong but was dismissed due to official misconduct. Later he was appointed as Shangshu and died in office.
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初，熹平末，黃龍見譙，光祿大夫橋玄問颺：「此何祥也？」颺曰：「其國當有王者興。不及五十年，龍當復見，此其應也。」魏郡人殷登密記之。至建安二十五年春，黃龍復見譙，其冬，魏受禪。 |
| | Initially, at the end of Xiping, a yellow dragon was seen in Qiao. Guanglu Daifu Qiao Xuan asked Yang, "What omen is this?" Yang said, "A king will rise in that region." "In less than fifty years, the dragon will appear again; this is its fulfillment." Yin Deng of Wei Jun secretly recorded these words. In the spring of the twenty-fifth year of Jianshan, a yellow dragon appeared again in Qiao; that winter, Wei accepted the abdication.
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韓說字叔儒，會稽山陰人也。博通五經，尤善圖緯之學。舉孝廉。與議郎蔡邕友善。數陳災眚，及奏賦、頌、連珠。稍遷侍中。光和元年十月，說言於靈帝，云其晦日必食，乞百官嚴裝。帝從之，果如所言。中平二年二月，又上封事，剋期宮中有災。至日南宮大火。遷說江夏太守，公事免。年七十，卒於家。 |
| | Han Yue, courtesy name Shuru, was a native of Shanyin, Kuaiji. He had broad knowledge of the Five Classics and was especially skilled in the study of maps and celestial omens. He was recommended as a filial official (Xiaolian). He was on good terms with Yilang Cai Yong. He frequently presented memorials about disasters and ominous signs, as well as submitted fu (rhapsodies), songs, and lianzhu (linked pearls). He gradually advanced to serve as Shizhong. In the tenth month of the first year of Guanghe, Yue addressed Emperor Ling, stating that an eclipse was certain to occur on the last day of the lunar month and requested that all officials prepare themselves in solemn attire. The emperor followed his advice; as he had said, it indeed came to pass. In the second month of the second year of Zhongping, Yue again submitted a sealed memorial predicting that there would be an omen of disaster in the palace within a specified time. On the designated day, a great fire broke out in Nan Gong Palace. Yue was transferred to serve as governor of Jiangxia but was dismissed due to an official matter. At the age of seventy, he died at home.
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董扶字茂安，廣漢綿竹人也。少遊太學，與鄉人任安齊名，俱事同郡楊厚，學圖讖。還家講授，弟子自遠而至。前後宰府十辟，公車三徵，再舉賢良方正、博士、有道，皆稱疾不就。 |
| | Dong Fu, courtesy name Maoan, was a native of Mianzhu, Guanghan. From an early age he studied at the Imperial Academy and was equally renowned with his fellow townsman Ren An; both studied under Yang Hou of their same commandery, learning about maps and prophecies. After returning home, he taught and lectured, with students coming from afar to study under him. He was repeatedly invited by high officials ten times, summoned three times via the official carriage, and twice recommended as a virtuous and upright scholar, a doctor of learning, or a man of moral integrity; each time he claimed illness and declined to accept.
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靈帝時，大將軍何進薦扶，徵拜侍中，甚見器重。扶私謂太常劉焉曰：「京師將亂，益州分野有天子氣。」焉信之，遂求出為益州牧，扶亦為蜀郡屬國都尉，相與入蜀。去後一歲，帝崩，天下大亂，乃去官還家。年八十二卒。 |
| | During the reign of Emperor Ling, Grand General He Jin recommended Fu; he was summoned and appointed as Shizhong, and was highly esteemed. Fu privately told Tai Chang Liu Yan, "The capital is about to fall into chaos; the region of Yizhou has an aura of a Son of Heaven." Yan believed him and thus requested to be transferred out as the governor of Yizhou. Fu also became Duwei of Shu Jun's Subjugated States, and together they went into Shu. One year after their departure, the emperor died and chaos erupted throughout the land; Fu then resigned from office and returned home. He died at the age of eighty-two.
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後劉備稱天子於蜀，皆如扶言。蜀丞相諸葛亮問廣漢秦密，董扶及任安所長。密曰「董扶褒秋毫之善，貶纖介之惡。任安記人之善，忘人之過」云。 |
| | Later, Liu Bei declared himself Son of Heaven in Shu, just as Fu had predicted. The prime minister of Shu, Zhuge Liang, asked Qin Mi of Guanghan about the strengths of Dong Fu and Ren An. Mi said, "Dong Fu praised even the slightest good deeds and condemned even minor evils." "Ren An remembered people's virtues but forgot their faults," he added.
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郭玉者，廣漢雒人也。初，有老父不知何出，常漁釣於涪水，因號涪翁。乞食人閒，見有疾者，時下針石，輒應時而效，乃著針經、診脈法傳於世。弟子程高尋求積年，翁乃授之。高亦隱跡不仕。玉少師事高，學方診六微之技，陰陽隱側之術。和帝時，為太醫丞，多有效應。帝奇之，仍試令嬖臣美手腕者與女子雜處帷中，使玉各診一手，問所疾苦。玉曰：「左陽右陰，脈有男女，狀若異人。臣疑其故。」帝歎息稱善。 |
| | Guo Yu was a native of Luo, Guanghan. Initially, there was an old man whose origin was unknown; he often fished and cast nets on the Fu River, hence earning him the nickname Fuweng. Living as a beggar among people, he would occasionally treat the sick with acupuncture and stones, and his treatments were always effective at once. He thus composed the Classic of Acupuncture and methods for diagnosing pulses, which were passed down to posterity. After years of seeking knowledge, his disciple Cheng Gao was finally taught by the old man. Cheng Gao also remained in seclusion and did not seek official office. Yu, when young, studied under Gao, learning the techniques of medical diagnosis and the six subtle principles, as well as the methods for understanding yin-yang and hidden conditions. During the reign of Emperor He, he served as Taiyicheng (Deputy Imperial Physician) and achieved many effective results in treatment. The emperor found him remarkable, so he had him test by having a favored court official with beautiful wrists and a woman stay together behind a curtain. He ordered Yu to examine one hand each of them and asked what ailments they suffered from. Yu said, "The left is yang and the right is yin; the pulses indicate male or female, and their conditions appear to belong to different people." "I suspect something unusual about this situation." The emperor sighed and praised him.
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玉仁愛不矜，雖貧賤廝養，必盡其心力，而醫療貴人，時或不愈。帝乃令貴人羸服變處，一針即差。召玉詰問其狀。對曰：「醫之為言意也。腠理至微，隨氣用巧，針石之閒，毫芒即乖。神存於心手之際，可得解而不可得言也。夫貴者處尊高以臨臣，臣懷怖懾以承之。其為療也，有四難焉：自用意而不任臣，一難也；將身不謹，二難也；骨節不彊，不能使藥，三難也；好逸惡勞，四難也。針有分寸，時有破漏，重以恐懼之心，加以裁慎之志，臣意且猶不盡，何有於病哉！此其所為不愈也。」帝善其對。年老卒官。 |
| | Yu was kind-hearted and humble; even for the poor, lowly, or servants, he always gave his utmost care. Yet when treating nobles, there were times when their illnesses did not improve. The emperor then ordered the noble to dress in plain clothes and change his location; after one acupuncture treatment, he was immediately cured. The emperor summoned Yu and questioned him about the situation. Yu replied, "Medicine is called yi because it means intention." "The texture of the skin and its pores are extremely subtle; skill must be applied according to the flow of qi. Even a slight deviation in acupuncture or stone therapy can lead to failure." "The spirit lies between mind and hand; it may be understood but cannot be put into words." "When a noble is in a high position looking down upon his subjects, the subject feels fear and apprehension when attending to him." "There are four difficulties in treating such a person: First, if he insists on his own ideas and does not trust the physician. "Second, if he is careless about his health; "Third, if his bones and joints are not strong enough to respond well to medicine; "And fourth, if he prefers ease and dislikes exertion." "Acupuncture requires precise measurements, and there are times when the treatment may be flawed. When compounded by a patient's fearful mind and cautious thoughts, even my best intentions cannot fully take effect—how then can the illness possibly be cured?" "This is why it was not healed." The emperor praised his response. He died in office at an old age.
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華佗字元化，沛國譙人也，一名归。遊學徐土，兼通數經。曉養性之術，年且百歲而猶有壯容，時人以為仙。沛相陳珪舉孝廉，太尉黃琬辟，皆不就。 |
| | Hua Tuo, courtesy name Yuanhua, was a native of Qiao, Peiguo; he also had the name Gui. While traveling and studying in Xu territory, he became proficient in several classical texts. He understood the techniques of cultivating vitality; at nearly a hundred years old, he still had a vigorous appearance, and contemporaries regarded him as an immortal. Pei Xiang Chen Gui recommended him as filial and upright, and Taiwei Huang Wan invited him to serve; he declined both offers.
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精於方藥，處齊不過數種，心識分銖，不假稱量。針灸不過數處。若疾發結於內，針藥所不能及者，乃令先以酒服麻沸散，既醉無所覺，因刳破腹背，抽割積聚。若在腸胃，則斷截湔洗，除去疾穢，既而縫合，傅以神膏，四五日創愈，一月之閒皆平復。 |
| | He was highly skilled in prescriptions and medicine, using no more than a few ingredients per formula. He could determine the precise amounts from memory without needing to measure them with scales or weights. Acupuncture treatments were limited to just a few points. If the illness was deeply rooted internally and could not be reached by acupuncture or medicine, he would first have the patient drink wine mixed with Mafeisan (a numbing powder), until they were drunk and unconscious. Then he would cut open their abdomen or back and remove the accumulated growths. If the problem was in the intestines, he would cut them out, rinse and clean the area, removing the disease and impurities. Afterward, he would suture the wound and apply a miraculous ointment; within four or five days, the wound would heal, and after one month, the patient would be fully restored to health.
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佗嘗行道，見有病咽塞者，因語之曰：「向來道隅有賣餅人，萍齏甚酸，可取三升飲之，病自當去。」即如佗言，立吐一蛇，乃懸於車而候佗。時佗小兒戲於門中，逆見，自相謂曰：「客車邊有物，必是逢我翁也。」及客進，顧視壁北，懸蛇以十數，乃知其奇。 |
| | On one occasion, while traveling on the road, Tuo saw a man suffering from a blocked throat. He told him, "Earlier along this path there was a man selling steamed buns; his fermented radish juice is very sour. Obtain three sheng of it to drink, and your illness will naturally disappear." The man did as Tuo instructed, immediately vomiting out a snake, which he then hung on his cart and used to await Tuo. At the time, Tuo's young son was playing by the gate and saw this. He turned to others and said, "There is something on the cart; it must be looking for my father." When the visitor entered, he looked toward the north wall and saw more than ten snakes hanging there; thus he realized Tuo's extraordinary abilities.
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又有一郡守篤病久，佗以為盛怒則差。乃多受其貨而不加功。無何棄去，又留書罵之。太守果大怒，令人追殺佗，不及，因瞋恚，吐黑血數升而愈。 |
| | There was also a commandery governor who had been suffering from a serious illness for a long time, and Hua Tuo believed that if he became extremely angry, the illness would be cured. So, he accepted much of his money without actually providing treatment. Not long after, Tuo left and also left behind a letter to scold him. The commandery governor was indeed greatly angered, sent men to pursue and kill Tuo, but failed to catch him. As a result of his anger and resentment, he vomited several sheng of black blood and was cured.
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又有疾者，詣佗求療，佗曰：「君病根深，應當剖破腹。然君壽亦不過十年，病不能相殺也。」病者不堪其苦，必欲除之，佗遂下療，應時愈，十年竟死。 |
| | Another patient came to Tuo for treatment, and Tuo said, "Your illness is deeply rooted; you should have your abdomen opened up. However, your life will not last more than ten years anyway; the disease cannot kill you." The patient could not bear the suffering and insisted on removing it. Tuo then performed treatment, which immediately cured him; ten years later, he indeed died.
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| | 方術列傳... : |
廣陵太守陳登忽患匈中煩懣，面赤，不食。佗脈之，曰：「府君胃中有蟲，欲成內疽，腥物所為也。」即作湯二升，再服，須臾，吐出三升許蟲，頭赤而動，半身猶是生魚膾，所苦便愈。佗曰：「此病後三期當發，遇良醫可救。」登至期疾動，時佗不在，遂死。 |
| | Chen Deng, the governor of Guangling, suddenly fell ill with a feeling of discomfort and fullness in his chest, red face, and loss of appetite. Tuo diagnosed him by taking his pulse and said, "Your Excellency has worms in your stomach; they are about to form an internal abscess, caused by foul substances." He immediately prepared two sheng of a decoction, which was taken twice. Soon after, the patient vomited out about three sheng of worms; their heads were red and moving, with half of them still resembling raw fish slices. The illness was thus cured. Tuo said, "This disease will recur in three periods; if you encounter a skilled physician then, it can be saved." When the time came for Deng's illness to flare up again, Tuo was not around and he died.
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| | 方術列傳... : |
曹操聞而召佗，常在左右。操積苦頭風眩，佗針，隨手而差。 |
| | Cao Cao heard of this and summoned Hua Tuo, who then remained in his service as a close attendant. Cao Cao had long suffered from headaches and dizziness; after Tuo treated him with acupuncture, he was immediately cured at once.
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| | 方術列傳... : |
有李將軍者，妻病，呼佗視脈。佗曰：「傷身而胎不去。」將軍言閒實傷身，胎已去矣。佗曰：「案脈，胎未去也。」將軍以為不然。妻稍差百餘日復動，更呼佗。佗曰：「脈理如前，是兩胎，先生者去，血多，故後兒不得出也。胎既已死，血脈不復歸，必燥著母脊。」乃為下針，并令進湯。婦因欲產而不通。佗曰：「死胎枯燥，埶不自生。」使人探之，果得死始，人形可識，但其色已黑。佗之絕技，皆此類也。 |
| | There was a General Li whose wife fell ill, so he called for Hua Tuo to examine her pulse. Tuo said, "She has been physically harmed but the fetus remains." General Li said that in fact she had suffered physical harm and the fetus was already gone. Tuo replied, "According to her pulse, the fetus is still present." General Li did not believe this. After the wife's condition improved slightly, more than a hundred days later it recurred and he called for Tuo again. Tuo said, "Her pulse is the same as before; she was carrying twins. The first fetus left, but with excessive blood loss, so the second child could not be delivered." "The dead fetus is no longer connected to her blood vessels and must have dried up and adhered to the mother's spine." Tuo then administered acupuncture and also ordered a decoction for her. The woman wanted to give birth but could not proceed. Tuo said, "The dead fetus has become dry and will not come out on its own." He had someone examine her, and indeed a dead fetus was found; the human form could be recognized, but it had already turned black. Tuo's extraordinary medical skills were all of this nature.
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| | 方術列傳... : |
為人性惡難得意，且恥以醫見業，又去家思歸，乃就操求還取方，因託妻疾，數期不反。操累書呼之，又敕郡縣發遣，佗恃能厭事，猶不肯至。操大怒，使人廉之，知妻詐疾，乃收付獄訊，考驗首服。荀彧請曰：「佗方術實工，人命所懸，宜加全宥。」操不從，竟殺之。佗臨死，出一卷書與獄吏，曰：「此可以活人。」吏畏法不敢受，佗不強與，索火燒之。 |
| | Hua Tuo was a man of strong character, difficult to please and hard to satisfy. He also considered it shameful to be known merely as a physician. Moreover, he missed home and wished to return. So he requested from Cao Cao permission to go back for medical formulas, but then used the excuse that his wife was ill, repeatedly delaying his return beyond scheduled times. Cao Cao sent repeated letters summoning him back and also issued orders to the commanderies and counties to send him off. However, Tuo relied on his abilities and was averse to being controlled; he still refused to come. Cao Cao became greatly enraged, sent people to investigate, and discovered that his wife's illness was a fabrication. He then had Tuo arrested and put in prison for interrogation, where he was subjected to examination and eventually confessed under pressure. Xun Yu pleaded, "Hua Tuo's medical skills are indeed remarkable; they hang the lives of people in balance. He should be spared and forgiven." Cao Cao did not listen and had him executed. Before his death, Tuo handed a scroll of medical texts to the jailer and said, "This can save lives." The official feared breaking the law and dared not accept it. Tuo did not force him to take it but instead asked for fire and burned the scroll himself.
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初，軍吏李成苦欬，晝夜不寐。佗以為腸帻，與散兩錢服之，即吐二升膿血，於此漸愈。乃戒之曰：「後十八歲，疾當發動，若不得此藥，不可差也。」復分散與之。後五六歲，有里人如成先病，請藥甚急，成愍而與之，乃故往譙更從佗求，適值見收，意不忍言。後十八年，成病發，無藥而死。 |
| | Initially, a military official named Li Cheng suffered from persistent coughing and could not sleep day or night. Tuo diagnosed it as an intestinal abscess, gave him two qian of a powder to take, and immediately the patient vomited up two sheng of pus and blood; from then on he gradually recovered. Tuo warned him, "In eighteen years, the disease will flare up again; if you do not have this medicine at that time, it cannot be cured." He then gave him another portion of the powder. After five or six years, a fellow townsman fell ill in the same way as Cheng had previously. He urgently requested the medicine; out of pity, Cheng gave it to him and then deliberately went back to Qiao to seek more from Tuo, only to find that he had been arrested. Cheng hesitated, unwilling to speak up about this. Eighteen years later, Cheng's illness recurred; without the medicine, he died.
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| | 方術列傳... : |
廣陵吳普、彭城樊阿皆從佗學。普依準佗療，多所全濟。 |
| | Wu Pu of Guangling and Fan A of Pengcheng both studied under Hua Tuo. Pu followed Tuo's methods for treatment, saving many lives.
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佗語普曰：「人體欲得勞動，但不當使極耳。動搖則穀氣得銷，血脈流通，病不得生，譬猶戶樞，終不朽也。是以古之仙者為導引之事，熊經鴟顧，引挽腰體，動諸關節，以求難老。吾有一術，名五禽之戲：一曰虎，二曰鹿，三曰熊，四曰猿，五曰鳥。亦以除疾，兼利蹄足，以當導引。體有不快，起作一禽之戲，怡而汗出，因以著粉，身體輕便而欲食。」普施行之，年九十餘，耳目聰明，齒牙完堅。 |
| | Tuo told Pu, "The human body needs exercise, but one should not overexert oneself." "Movement and activity help digest food energy, promote blood circulation, prevent illness from arising. It is like a door hinge that never rots." That is why ancient immortals practiced qigong exercises, mimicking the movements of bears and eagles, stretching their waists and bodies, moving all joints in order to delay aging. I have a technique called the Five Animal Frolics: first is the tiger, second the deer, third the bear, fourth the monkey, and fifth the bird. It also helps eliminate illness, benefits the limbs, and serves as a substitute for qigong exercises. "If your body feels unwell, get up and perform the movements of one animal; you will feel relaxed and perspire. Then apply powder to your skin, and your body will become light and you will have an appetite." Pu practiced these exercises; in his more than ninety years of age, he still had sharp hearing and eyesight, with complete and strong teeth.
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阿善針術。凡醫咸言背及匈藏之閒不可妄針，針之不可過四分，而阿針背入一二寸，巨闕匈藏乃五六寸，而病皆瘳。阿從佗求方可服食益於人者，佗授以漆葉青办散：漆葉屑一斗，青办十四兩，以是為率。言久服，去三蟲，利五藏，輕體，使人頭不白。阿從其言，壽百餘歲。漆葉處所而有。青办生於豐、沛、彭城及朝歌閒。 |
| | Fan A was skilled in acupuncture techniques. All physicians commonly say that the area between the back and chest cavity should not be randomly needled, and if needled at all, no more than four fen. However, A inserted needles into the back to a depth of one or two cun, and up to five or six cun in the region of the heart and thoracic cavity, yet patients were cured. Fan A asked Tuo for prescriptions of substances that could be taken orally and beneficial to people. Tuo gave him a formula called Quye Qingban San: one dou of powdered lac leaves, fourteen liang of Qingban, using this as the standard proportion. He said that long-term consumption would eliminate three types of parasites, benefit the five internal organs, lighten the body, and prevent one's hair from turning white. Fan A followed his advice and lived to be over a hundred years old. Lac leaves are found in certain places. Qingban grows in Feng, Pei, Pengcheng, and between Chaoge.
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漢世異術之士甚眾，雖云不經，而亦有不可誣，故簡其美者列于傳末： |
| | In the Han dynasty there were many individuals with unusual skills; although some of their claims may seem unorthodox, they are not entirely unfounded. Therefore, I have selected those with remarkable achievements and listed them at the end of this biography:
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泠壽光、唐虞、魯女生三人者，皆與華佗同時。壽光年可百五六十歲，行容成公御婦人法，常屈頸鷮息，須髮盡白，而色理如三四十時，死於江陵。唐虞道赤眉、張步家居里落，若與相及，死於鄉里不其縣。魯女生數說顯宗時事，甚明了，議者疑其時人也。董卓亂後，莫知所在。 |
| | Ling Shouguang, Tang Yu, and Lu Nüsheng were three individuals who lived during Hua Tuo's time. Shouguang was about one hundred and fifty or sixty years old. He practiced the methods of Yungong for controlling women, often bending his neck and breathing like a pheasant. Though his beard and hair were completely white, his complexion remained as it had been in his thirties or forties. He died in Jiangling. Tang Yu was involved with the Daichimei and Zhang Bu factions at home, and when he became entangled in their affairs, he died in his hometown of Boliu, Buqi Xian. Lu Nüsheng often spoke about events from the reign of Emperor Xianzong with great clarity, leading some to suspect that he was a contemporary of that time. After the chaos caused by Dong Zhuo, no one knew where they were.
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徐登者，閩中人也。本女子，化為丈夫。善為巫術。又趙炳，字公阿，東陽人，能為越方。時遭兵亂，疾疫大起，二人遇於烏傷溪水之上，遂結言約，共以其術療病。各相謂曰：「今既同志，且可各試所能。」登乃禁溪水。水為不流，炳復次禁枯樹，樹即生荑，二人相視而笑，共行其道焉。 |
| | Xu Deng was a native of Minzhong. Originally a woman, she transformed into a man. She was skilled in shamanistic practices. Also Zhao Bing, courtesy name Gonga, of Dongyang, who could practice Yue medicine. At that time there was war and chaos, and a great outbreak of disease occurred. The two met by the Wushang Stream, and thus made an agreement to use their skills together to treat illness. They said to each other: "Now that we share the same goal, let us first test our respective abilities." Deng then cast a spell on the stream water. The water stopped flowing; Bing then placed another prohibition on a dead tree, and the tree immediately sprouted new shoots. The two looked at each other and smiled, and together they practiced their craft.
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登年長，炳師事之。貴尚清儉，禮神唯以東流水為酌，削桑皮為脯。但行禁架，所療皆除。 |
| | Since Deng was older, Bing treated him as a teacher. They valued purity and frugality; when offering sacrifices to the gods, they used only flowing water from the east as libations and peeled mulberry bark as meat substitutes. They simply cast spells, and all those treated were cured.
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後登物故，炳東入章安，百姓未之知也。炳乃故升茅屋，梧鼎而爨，主人見之驚懅，炳笑不應，既而爨孰，屋無損異。又嘗臨水求度，船人不和之，炳乃張蓋坐其中，長嘯呼風，亂流而濟。於是百姓神服，從者如歸。章安令惡其惑眾，收殺之。人為立祠室於永康，至今蚊蚋不能入也。 |
| | Later, after Deng passed away, Bing went east to Zhang'an; the local people did not yet know of him. Bing deliberately climbed onto a thatched hut, placed a tripod on the roof, and cooked over it. The owner saw this and was alarmed; Bing laughed but did not respond. Soon after the cooking was done, there was no damage or abnormality to the house. Once, when he arrived at a river and sought passage, the boatman refused to ferry him. Bing then sat in the middle of the boat with his canopy open, raised a long cry to summon the wind, and crossed the turbulent stream. From that moment on, the local people revered him as if he were a deity; those who followed him did so with devotion, like returning home. The county magistrate of Zhang'an disliked that he was misleading the people and had him arrested and killed. People built a shrine for him in Yongkang, and to this day, mosquitoes cannot enter it.
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費長房者，汝南人也。曾為市掾。市中有老翁賣藥，懸一壺於肆頭，及市罷，輒跳入壺中。市人莫之見，唯長房於樓上睹之，異焉，因往再拜奉酒脯。翁知長房之意其神也，謂之曰：「子明日可更來。」長房旦日復詣翁，翁乃與俱入壺中。唯見玉堂嚴麗，旨酒甘肴盈衍其中，共飲畢而出。翁約不聽與人言之。後乃就樓上候長房曰：「我神仙之人，以過見責，今事畢當去，子寧能相隨乎？樓下有少酒，與卿為別。」長房使人取之，不能勝，又令十人扛之，猶不舉。翁聞，笑而下樓，以一指提之而上。視器如一升許，而二人飲之終日不盡。 |
| | Fei Changfang was a native of Runan. He once served as an official in the market administration. In the marketplace there was an old man selling medicine, who hung a gourd at his stall. When the market closed, he would leap into the gourd. The townspeople never saw this happen; only Changfang observed it from a 楼上 (upper floor) and was astonished. He then went to the old man, bowed twice, and presented wine and dried meat as offerings. Knowing Changfang's interest in his supernatural abilities, the old man said to him, "You may come again tomorrow." The next day, Changfang visited the old man again, and the old man then took him into the gourd with him. Inside they found only a magnificent jade hall filled with delicious wine, fragrant delicacies, and abundance; after drinking together, they emerged. The old man warned him not to tell anyone about this experience. Later, the old man came up to Changfang and said, "I am a being of immortals, but I have been reprimanded for my transgressions. Now that my affairs are complete, I must leave. Would you be willing to accompany me?" "There is a little wine below the tower; let us drink it as parting farewells." Changfang sent someone to fetch it, but they could not carry it. He then ordered ten men to lift it, yet still could not raise it. The old man heard this and laughed as he came down the tower, lifting the jar with one finger alone. It appeared to be a vessel of about one sheng in size, yet the two drank from it all day without finishing its contents.
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長房遂欲求道，而顧家人為憂。翁乃斷一青竹，度與長房身齊，使懸之舍後。家人見之，即長房形也，以為縊死，大小驚號，遂殯葬之。長房立其傍，而莫之見也。於是遂隨從入深山，踐荊棘於群虎之中。留使獨處，長房不恐。又臥於空室，以朽索懸萬斤石於心上，眾蛇競來齧索且斷，長房亦不移。翁還，撫之曰：「子可教也。」復使食糞，糞中有三蟲，臭穢特甚，長房意惡之。翁曰：「子幾得道，恨於此不成，如何！」 |
| | Changfang then wished to seek the Dao, but he was concerned about his family. The old man cut a green bamboo stick, measured it so that its length matched Changfang's height, and told him to hang it behind his house. When the family saw it, they thought it was Changfang's body and believed he had hanged himself. In great alarm, they cried out in grief and proceeded to bury him with funeral rites. Changfang stood by the side of his own body, but no one saw him. Thus he followed the old man into a deep mountain, treading through thorns and brambles among a group of tigers. He was left alone in this place, yet Changfang did not fear. He was also made to lie in an empty room, with a rotten rope suspending a ten-thousand-jin stone above his chest. A group of snakes came and gnawed at the rope until it nearly broke, yet Changfang remained unmoved. When the old man returned, he patted him and said, "You are worthy of instruction." He then made Changfang eat excrement, which contained three kinds of parasites and was especially foul-smelling and filthy. Changfang felt disgusted by it. The old man said, "You were nearly on the path to immortality, but you failed here—how unfortunate!"
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長房辭歸，翁與一竹杖，曰：「騎此任所之，則自至矣。既至，可以杖投葛陂中也。」又為作一符，曰：「以此主地上鬼神。」長房乘杖，須臾來歸，自謂去家適經旬日，而已十餘年矣。即以杖投陂，顧視則龍也。家人謂其久死，不信之。長房曰：「往日所葬，但竹杖耳。」乃發冢剖棺，杖猶存焉。遂能醫療眾病，鞭笞百鬼，及驅使社公。或在它坐，獨自恚怒，人問其故，曰：「吾責鬼魅之犯法者耳。」 |
| | Changfang bid farewell and returned home. The old man gave him a bamboo staff, saying, "Ride on this wherever you wish to go, and you will arrive by yourself." Once you have arrived, simply cast the staff into Gebei Lake." He also gave him a talisman and said, "Use this to command spirits and deities on earth." Changfang rode the staff and returned home in a moment. He thought he had only been away for about ten days, but it had already been more than ten years. He then cast the staff into the pond; looking back, it was a dragon. His family had thought he long dead and did not believe him. Changfang said, "What was buried before was only the bamboo staff." They then dug up the grave and opened the coffin; the staff remained there. From that point on, he was able to treat various illnesses, whip away a hundred ghosts, and even command local deities. Sometimes while sitting among others, he would suddenly become angry for no apparent reason; when people asked why, he said, "I am merely punishing ghosts and demons who have broken the law."
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汝南歲歲常有魅，偽作太守章服，詣府門椎鼓者，郡中患之。時魅適來，而逢長房謁府君，惶懼不得退，便前解衣冠，叩頭乞活。長房呵之云：「便於中庭正汝故形！」即成老鱉，大如車輪，頸長一丈。長房復令就太守服罪，付其一札，以敕葛陂君。魅叩頭流涕，持札植於陂邊，以頸繞之而死。 |
| | Every year in Runan, there were always ghosts and demons who impersonated the governor's official attire and came to the government office beating the drum; this became a problem for the region. At that time, one of these ghosts happened to come and encountered Changfang paying respects at the governor's office. Terrified and unable to retreat, it hurried forward, removed its clothes and hat, and kowtowed in desperation for mercy. Changfang scolded it, saying, "Right here in the courtyard, show your true form!" It immediately transformed into an old tortoise as large as a cart wheel, with a neck one zhang long. Changfang then ordered it to confess its crimes in the governor's presence and gave it an official document, instructing Gebei Jun (the deity of Gebei Lake). The ghost wept bitterly as it kowtowed; holding the document, it planted it by the lakeside and then wrapped its neck around it before dying.
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| | 方術列傳... : |
後東海君來見葛陂君，因淫其夫人，於是長房劾繫之三年，而東海大旱。長房至海上，見其人請雨，乃謂之曰：「東海君有罪，吾前繫於葛陂，今方出之使作雨也。」於是雨立注。 |
| | Later, Donghai Jun came to visit Gebei Jun and took advantage of the situation by committing adultery with his wife. As a result, Changfang issued an indictment against him and bound him in restraints for three years; during this time, Donghai suffered from a severe drought. Changfang went to the seashore and saw a group of people pleading for rain. He told them, "Donghai Jun has committed crimes; I previously restrained him in Gebei, but now I have just released him to bring you rain." At this, the rain immediately poured down.
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長房曾與人共行，見一書生黃巾被裘，無鞍騎馬，下而叩頭。長房曰：「還它馬，赦汝死罪。」人問其故，長房曰：「此狸也，盜社公馬耳。」又嘗坐客，而使至宛市鮓，須臾還，乃飯。或一日之閒，人見其在千里之外者數處焉。 |
| | Once, while traveling with others, Changfang saw a scholar wearing a yellow headscarf and a fur coat, riding a horse without a saddle, who dismounted and kowtowed to him. Changfang said, "Return the horse to its owner, and I will pardon you of your death penalty." People asked why this happened. Changfang said, "This is a cat; it merely stole the local deity's horse." On another occasion, while entertaining guests, he sent someone to buy pickled fish in Wan. In a moment the person returned with rice instead of the fish. Sometimes within the span of one day, people saw him at multiple places hundreds of miles away.
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後失其符，為眾鬼所殺。 |
| | Later, when he lost his talisman, he was killed by a group of ghosts.
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薊子訓者，不知所由來也。建安中，客在濟陰宛句。有神異之道。嘗抱鄰家嬰兒，故失手墯地而死，其父母驚號怨痛，不可忍聞，而子訓唯謝以過誤，終無它說，遂埋藏之。後月餘，子訓乃抱兒歸焉。父母大恐，曰：「死生異路，雖思我兒，乞不用復見也。」兒識父母，軒渠笑悅，欲往就之，母不覺攬取，乃實兒也。雖大喜慶，心猶有疑，乃竊發視死兒，但見衣被，方乃信焉。於是子訓流名京師，士大夫皆承風向慕之。 |
| | Ji Zixun is unknown in terms of his origin. During the Jian'an period, he was a guest in Wanju, Jiying. He possessed supernatural abilities. Once, he was holding a neighbor's infant when he accidentally dropped it and the child died. The parents cried out in shock and grief, their sorrow unbearable to hear; yet Zixun only apologized for his mistake, offering no other explanation, and eventually buried the child. More than a month later, Zixun returned with the child in his arms. The parents were greatly frightened and said, "Life and death are separate paths; although I miss my child, please do not show him to me again." The child recognized his parents and joyfully smiled and ran toward them. The mother, without thinking, reached out to take him, only to realize it was truly her son. Although greatly overjoyed and celebrating, she still had doubts; secretly opening the grave to look at the dead child, she found only clothes and bedding. Only then did she believe it was true. From then on, Zixun became well known in the capital; scholars and officials all followed his example and admired him.
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後乃駕驢車，與諸生俱詣許下。道過滎陽，止主人舍，而所駕之驢忽然卒僵，蛆蟲流出，主遽白之。子訓曰：「乃爾乎？」方安坐飯，食畢，徐出以杖扣之，驢應聲奮起，行步如初，即復進道。其追逐觀者常有千數。既到京師，公卿以下候之者，坐上恆數百人，皆為設酒脯，終日不匱。 |
| | Later he rode a donkey cart with fellow students to visit Xu Xia. On the way through Yingyang, they stopped at a host's house for lodging. Suddenly, the donkey he was driving collapsed dead, with maggots flowing out; the host quickly informed him of this. Zixun said, "Is it really like that?" He calmly sat down to eat his meal. After finishing, he slowly stepped out and tapped the donkey with a staff; at the sound of the tap, the donkey suddenly sprang up and walked as before, so they resumed their journey. There were often hundreds of onlookers chasing after them to watch. After arriving in the capital, officials from the high-ranking ministers down would wait for him; there were always hundreds of people seated at a time. He provided wine and food for all of them, and it never ran out throughout the day.
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後因遁去，遂不知所止。初去之日，唯見白雲騰起，從旦至暮，如是數十處。時有百歲翁，自說童兒時見子訓賣藥於會稽市，顏色不異於今。後人復於長安東霸城見之，與一老公共摩挲銅人，相謂曰：「適見鑄此，已近五百歲矣。」顧視見人而去，猶駕昔所乘驢車也。見者呼之曰：「薊先生小住。」並行應之，視若遲徐，而走馬不及，於是而絕。 |
| | Later he disappeared, and no one knew where he had gone. On the day he first left, people only saw white clouds rising up from dawn until dusk, appearing in dozens of places like that. At the time there was an old man who claimed to be a hundred years old, saying that when he was still a child, he had seen Zixun selling medicine in Kuaiji market, and his appearance showed no difference from now. Later, people saw him again at the eastern Bachi city of Chang'an, where he was with an old man, rubbing a bronze figure together. They said to each other, "Just now I saw this being cast; it is already nearly five hundred years old." He looked around at the people and then left, still riding the donkey cart he had ridden before. Those who saw him called out to him, saying, "Master Ji, please stay a little while." He walked on and responded to them; he seemed slow and unhurried, yet galloping horses could not catch up. Thus, they lost sight of him.
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劉根者，潁川人也。隱居嵩山中。諸好事者自遠而至，就根學道，太守史祈以根為妖妄，乃收執詣郡，數之曰：「汝有何術，而誣惑百姓？若果有神，可顯一驗事。不爾，立死矣。」根曰：「實無它異，頗能令人見鬼耳。」祈曰：「促召之，使太守目睹，爾乃為明。」根於是左顧而嘯，有頃，祈之亡父祖近親數十人，皆反縛在前，向根叩頭曰：「小兒無狀，分當萬坐。」顧而叱祈曰：「汝為子孫，不能有益先人，而反累辱亡靈！可叩頭為吾陳謝。」祈驚懼悲哀，頓首流血，請自甘罪坐。根嘿而不應，忽然俱去，不知在所。 |
| | Liu Gen was a native of Yingchuan. He lived in seclusion in the Song Mountains. Many people who were interested in such matters came from afar to study the Dao with him. The governor Shi Qi considered Gen a fraud and false prophet, so he arrested him and brought him before the prefecture authorities, accusing him by saying, "What kind of technique do you have that you deceive and mislead the common people?" "If you are truly endowed with supernatural powers, then demonstrate one miracle to prove it." Otherwise, you will be executed immediately." Gen said, "I truly have no other supernatural abilities; I can only make people see ghosts." Qi said, "Quickly summon them so the governor may witness it with his own eyes. Only then will you be exonerated." Gen then turned to his left and howled. After a short while, dozens of Qi's deceased ancestors and close relatives appeared before him, all bound with their hands behind their backs, bowing toward Gen and saying, "My son has behaved improperly; he deserves severe punishment." They turned to scold Qi, saying, "As a descendant, you have been of no benefit to your ancestors and instead have brought disgrace upon their spirits!" "You should kneel down and apologize on our behalf." lando Qi was terrified, sorrowful, and bowed his head until blood flowed from it, pleading to take the punishment upon himself. Gen remained silent without responding, and suddenly they were all gone, their whereabouts unknown.
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左慈字元放，廬江人也。少有神道。嘗在司空曹操坐，操從容顧眾賓曰：「今日高會，珍羞略備，所少吳松江鱸魚耳。」放於下坐應曰：「此可得也。」因求銅盤貯水，以竹竿餌釣於盤中，須臾引一鱸魚出。操大拊掌笑，會者皆驚。操曰：「一魚不周坐席，可更得乎？」放乃更餌鉤沈之，須臾復引出，皆長三尺餘，生鮮可愛。操使目前鱠之，周浹會者。操又謂曰：「既已得魚，恨無蜀中生薑耳。」放曰：「亦可得也。」操恐其近即所取，因曰：「吾前遣人到蜀買錦，可過敕使者，增市二端。」語頃，即得薑還，并獲操使報命。後操使蜀反，驗問增錦之狀及時日早晚，若符契焉。 |
| | Zuo Ci, courtesy name Yuanfang, was a native of Lujiang. From an early age he possessed supernatural abilities. He once attended a banquet hosted by Sikong Cao Cao. Cao casually looked at the assembled guests and said, "Today's gathering is grand; all kinds of delicacies are almost fully prepared, except for the Wu Songjiang mandarin fish." Yuanfang, seated among the lower guests, responded, "That can be obtained." He then asked for a bronze plate to hold water and used a bamboo pole with bait to fish in the plate. In no time, he pulled out a mandarin fish. Cao Cao clapped his hands and laughed heartily; all those present were astonished. Cao said, "One fish is not enough for the entire banquet—can you get more?" Yuanfang then baited and cast his hook again. In a short while, he pulled out more fish; they were all over three feet long, fresh and lively, and very appealing. Cao had the fish prepared into sashimi right before everyone's eyes, enough to serve all those present. Cao then said, "Now that we have the fish, it is a pity there's no fresh ginger from Shu." Yuanfang replied, "That can also be obtained." Cao was afraid that Yuanfang might go to fetch it nearby, so he said, "I previously sent someone to Shu to buy brocade. You may pass along a message to the envoy and ask him to purchase two more pieces." Before long, Yuanfang returned with fresh ginger as well as the reply from Cao's envoy. Later, when Cao's envoy returned from Shu, he was questioned about the details of the additional brocade and the time it had taken. The information matched perfectly, like a seal and its impression.
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後操出近郊，士大夫從者百許人，慈乃為齎酒一升，脯一斤，手自斟酌，百官莫不醉飽。操怪之，使尋其故，行視諸鑪，悉亡其酒脯矣。操懷不喜，因坐上收欲殺之，慈乃卻入壁中，霍然不知所在。或見於市者，又捕之，而市人皆變形與慈同，莫知誰是。後人逢慈於陽城山頭，因復逐之，遂入走羊群。操知不可得，乃令就羊中告之曰：「不復相殺，本試君術耳。」忽有一老羝屈前兩膝，人立而言曰：「遽如許。」即競往赴之，而群羊數百皆變為羝，並屈前膝人立，云「遽如許」，遂莫知所取焉。 |
| | Later, when Cao went out to the suburbs with about a hundred officials and scholars following him, Ci prepared one sheng of wine and one jin of dried meat. He personally poured the drinks, and all the officials became drunk and well-fed. Cao was puzzled by this and sent people to investigate the matter. When they checked all the cooking stoves, they found that both the wine and dried meat had vanished completely. Cao was displeased and, while still seated at the banquet, ordered his men to arrest and kill him. Ci then stepped back into a wall, vanishing suddenly without a trace. Some who saw him in the marketplace tried to capture him again, but all the people in the market changed their forms to look like Ci; no one could tell which was the real one. Later, someone encountered Ci on a hill in Yangcheng and tried to chase after him again; he then ran into the flock of sheep. Cao, knowing that Ci could not be captured, ordered someone to go among the sheep and tell him, "I will no longer kill you; I was merely testing your abilities." Suddenly, an old ram bent its two front knees and stood on its hind legs to speak, saying, "So sudden is this?" People rushed to see it, and hundreds of the sheep all transformed into rams, each bending its front knees and standing on their hind legs while saying "So sudden is this," so no one knew which was the real Ci.
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計子勳者，不知何郡縣人。皆謂數百歲，行來於人閒。一旦忽言日中當死，主人與之葛衣，子勳服而正寢，至日中果死。 |
| | Ji Zixun was a person of unknown origin, from an unspecified commandery or county. Everyone said he was hundreds of years old and had been walking among people. One day, he suddenly said that he would die at noon. The host gave him a hemp robe; Zixun put it on and lay down to sleep properly. At noon, as predicted, he indeed died.
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上成公者，宓縣人也。其初行久而不還，後歸，語其家云：「我已得仙。」因辭家而去。家人見其舉步稍高，良久乃沒云。陳寔、韓韶同見其事。 |
| | Shang Chenggong was a native of Mi Xian. At first, he went away and stayed for a long time without returning; later when he came back, he told his family, "I have already become an immortal." He then bid farewell to his family and left. His family saw that with each step he took, he rose slightly higher; after a long while, he vanished into the clouds. Chen Shi and Han Shao both witnessed this event.
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解奴辜、張貂者，亦不知是何郡國人也。皆能隱淪，出入不由門戶。奴辜能變易物形，以誑幻人。 |
| | Jie Nugu and Zhang Diao were also people of unknown origin, their commandery or kingdom not known. Both could vanish and appear at will, entering and exiting without using doors or gates. Nugu was able to change the forms of objects, deceiving people with illusions.
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又河南有麴聖卿，善為丹書符劾，厭殺鬼神而使命之。 |
| | Also in Henan there was Qu Shengqing, who was skilled at writing talismans and incantations with cinnabar. He could subdue and kill ghosts and gods, commanding them to do his will.
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又有編盲意，亦與鬼物交通。 |
| | There was also Bian Mangyi, who similarly communicated with spirits and supernatural beings.
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初，章帝時有壽光侯者，能劾百鬼眾魅，令自縛見形。其鄉人有婦為魅所病，侯為劾之，得大蛇數丈，死於門外。又有神樹，人止者輒死，鳥過者必墜，侯復劾之，樹盛夏枯落，見大蛇長七八丈，懸死其閒。帝聞而徵之。乃試問之：「吾殿下夜半後，常有數人絳衣被髮，持火相隨，豈能劾之乎？」侯曰：「此小怪，易銷耳。」帝偽使三人為之，侯劾三人，登時仆地無氣。帝大驚曰：「非魅也，朕相試耳。」解之而蘇。 |
| | Initially, during the reign of Emperor Zhangdi there was a man named Shouguang Hou who could summon and subdue all kinds of ghosts and demons, making them bind themselves and reveal their forms. A woman from his hometown had fallen ill due to a demon's affliction; Hou exorcised it and caught a giant snake several zhang long, which died outside the gate. There was also a sacred tree; anyone who stopped beneath it would die, and any bird that flew over it would fall. Hou exorcised the tree again, causing it to wither and shed its leaves in midsummer, revealing a giant snake about seven or eight zhang long hanging dead among the branches. The emperor heard of this and summoned him. He then tested him by asking, "After midnight in my palace hall, there are often several people wearing red robes and disheveled hair following each other with fire. Can you subdue them?" Hou said, "These are minor spirits; they can be easily dispelled." The emperor secretly had three people pretend to be them. Hou exorcized the three, and immediately they fell to the ground lifeless. The emperor was greatly startled and said, "They are not spirits; I was only testing you." After the spell was lifted, they revived.
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甘始、東郭延年、封君達三人者，皆方士也。率能行容成御婦人術，或飲小便，或自倒懸，愛嗇精氣，不極視大言。甘始、元放、延年皆為操所錄，問其術而行之。君達號「青牛師」。凡此數人，皆百餘歲及二百歲也。 |
| | Gan Shi, Dongguo Yannian, and Feng Jundashu were all Daoist alchemists. They generally practiced the Rongcheng method of controlling women, sometimes drinking urine, or hanging upside down by themselves, cherishing and conserving their vital energy, avoiding excessive glances or grandiose speech. Gan Shi, Yuanfang, and Yannian were all captured by Cao Cao, who questioned them about their techniques and put them into practice. Jundashu was known as the "Qingniu Master." All of these several individuals lived to be over a hundred or even two hundred years old.
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王真、郝孟節者，皆上黨人也。王真年且百歲，視之面有光澤，似未五十者。自云：「周流登五岳名山，悉能行胎息胎食之方，嗽舌下泉咽之，不絕房室。」孟節能含棗核，不食可至五年十年。又能結氣不息，身不動搖，狀若死人，可至百日半年。亦有室家。為人質謹不妄言，似士君子。曹操使領諸方士焉。 |
| | Wang Zhen and Hao Mengjie were both natives of Shangdang. Wang Zhen was nearly a hundred years old; his face had a lustrous appearance, making him look as if he were no more than fifty. He claimed, "I have traveled and ascended the Five Sacred Mountains and famous mountains throughout the land. I am fully capable of practicing fetal breathing and fetal feeding methods, sipping saliva from under my tongue and swallowing it, without abstaining from marital relations." Mengjie could hold a jujube seed in his mouth; he did not need to eat for as long as five or ten years. He was also able to hold his breath without exhaling, remaining motionless with a body that appeared lifeless, for as long as one hundred days or half a year. He also had a family and wife. He was a person of upright character, cautious in his words and not prone to idle talk, resembling a gentleman scholar. Cao Cao appointed him as the leader over all Daoist alchemists and practitioners.
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北海王和平，性好道術，自以當仙。濟南孫邕少事之，從至京師。會和平病歿，邕因葬之東陶。有書百餘卷，藥數囊，悉以送之。後弟子夏榮言其尸解，邕乃恨不取其寶書仙藥焉。 |
| | Wang Heping of Beihai had a nature that loved Daoist arts, believing himself destined to become an immortal. Sun Yong from Jinan served under him when he was young and followed him to the capital. When Heping fell ill and died, Yong then buried him in Dongtao. There were more than a hundred volumes of books and several bags of medicine; he gave them all away. Later, his disciple Xia Rong claimed that Heping had achieved transcendence through corpse dissolution, and Yong then regretted not having taken the precious books and elixirs of immortality.
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贊曰：幽貺罕徵，明數難校。不探精遠，曷感靈效？如或遷訛，實乖玄奧。 |
| | Commentary: The mysterious gifts are rarely verified; clear evidence is hard to confirm. Without exploring the profound and distant, how can one elicit divine effects? If there is any alteration or distortion, it truly deviates from the profound mysteries.
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