日者列傳

Since antiquity, whenever a king received the Mandate and ruled, has his rise ever failed to involve divination by tortoise shell and yarrow stalk to determine Heaven's will? This was especially pronounced under the Zhou, and also evident under the Qin. When the King of Dai entered to take the throne, the decision relied on diviners. The office of Grand Diviner was established with the founding of the Han.

Sima Jizhu was a man of Chu. He practiced divination in the Eastern Market of Chang'an.

Song Zhong, a Central Grand Master, and Jia Yi, an Erudite, both went out on the same day for their rest-day ablutions. Traveling together, they discussed and recited the Way and methods of the sage-kings, exploring every aspect of human nature, gazing at each other and sighing. Jia Yi said: 'I have heard that the sages of antiquity, when they were not at court, were invariably to be found among the diviners and physicians. I have now observed the Three Excellencies, the Nine Ministers, and the officials and grand masters of the court — their measure can be taken. Let us try the world of diviners and see what we find.' The two men rode together to the market and strolled through the divination shops. It had just rained, the streets were nearly empty, and Sima Jizhu sat at his leisure with three or four disciples attending him. He was discoursing on the Way of Heaven and Earth, the movements of the sun and moon, and the fundamental principles of yin-yang and fortune. The two Grand Masters bowed twice and introduced themselves.

Song Zhong and Jia Yi were struck with sudden realization. They straightened their cap-strings, adjusted their collars, and sat upright, saying: 'Looking at your bearing, sir, and hearing your words — in our humble observation of the world, we have never encountered the like. Why then do you dwell in such a lowly place? Why is your occupation so demeaning?'

Sima Jizhu threw back his head and laughed, holding his stomach: 'I had taken you Grand Masters to be men of learning and principle, yet how vulgar your words are, how uncouth your speech! Whom do you consider worthy? Whom do you regard as elevated? And by what right do you call an elder lowly and demeaning?'

Moreover, the diviner sweeps and cleans, sets out the seats, straightens his cap and sash, and only then speaks of the matter at hand — this is ritual propriety. Through his words, the spirits may accept offerings; a loyal minister may serve his superior; a filial son may nurture his parents; a loving father may raise his children — this is virtue. For a righteous fee of merely tens or hundreds of coins, the sick may be healed, the dying may live, disasters may be averted, enterprises may succeed, and sons and daughters may be properly married — is this virtue merely worth tens or hundreds of coins? This is what Laozi meant when he said: 'The highest virtue does not claim virtue — therefore it possesses virtue.' The diviner's benefit is great while his fee is small — is this not precisely what Laozi described?

Song Zhong and Jia Yi were suddenly lost in themselves, their faces drained of color, mouths clamped shut, unable to speak. They gathered their robes, rose, bowed twice, and took their leave. They walked as if drifting; at the door they could barely climb into their carriage, slumping over the rail with bowed heads, unable to catch their breath.

Three days later, Song Zhong met Jia Yi outside the palace gate. They drew each other aside and whispered, sighing to one another: 'The higher the Way, the greater the security; the higher the position, the greater the peril. We occupy dazzling positions of power, and the day of our ruin draws near. When a diviner errs in his reading, he merely loses his fee; when one who plans for a ruler errs, he loses his life. The distance between these is as vast as a cap atop the head and a shoe upon the ground.'

In time, Song Zhong was sent on a mission to the Xiongnu, failed to reach his destination and returned, and was convicted. Jia Yi became tutor to King Huai of Liang; when the king fell from his horse and died, Jia Yi refused to eat and died of grief and remorse. These were men who pursued the flower while severing the root.

The Grand Historian says: The reason ancient diviners were not recorded is that most did not appear in the standard texts. When it came to Sima Jizhu, I determined to record him.