第十回 · 卜雨立賭 The Divination and the Wager — Journey to the West

原文 Original text 繁體 Traditional Reader's edition

卜雨立賭 The Divination and the Wager

此cǐ人rén是shì誰shuí？原yuán來lái是shì當dāng朝cháo欽qīn天tiān監jiān臺tái正zhèng先xiān生shēng袁yuán天tiān罡gāng的de叔shū父fù，袁yuán守shǒu誠chéng是shì也yě。那nà先xiān生shēng果guǒ然rán相xiàng貌mào稀xī奇qí，儀yí容róng秀xiù麗lì；名míng揚yáng大dà國guó，術shù冠guàn長cháng安ān。龍lóng王wáng入rù門mén來lái，與yǔ先xiān生shēng相xiāng見jiàn。禮lǐ畢bì，請qǐng龍lóng上shàng坐zuò，童tóng子zǐ獻xiàn茶chá。先xiān生shēng問wèn曰yuē：「公gōng來lái問wèn何hé事shì？」龍lóng王wáng曰yuē：「請qǐng卜bǔ天tiān上shàng陰yīn晴qíng事shì如rú何hé。」先xiān生shēng即jí袖xiù傳chuán一yí課kè，斷duàn曰yuē：「雲yún迷mí山shān頂dǐng，霧wù罩zhào林lín梢shāo。若ruò占zhàn雨yǔ澤zé，準zhǔn在zài明míng朝zhāo。」龍lóng王wáng曰yuē：「明míng日rì甚shén時shí下xià雨yǔ？雨yǔ有yǒu多duō少shǎo尺chǐ寸cùn？」先xiān生shēng道dào：「明míng日rì辰chén時shí布bù雲yún，巳sì時shí發fā雷léi，午wǔ時shí下xià雨yǔ，未wèi時shí雨yǔ足zú，共gòng得dé水shuǐ三sān尺chǐ三sān寸cùn零líng四sì十shí八bā點diǎn。」龍lóng王wáng笑xiào曰yuē：「此cǐ言yán不bù可kě作zuò戲xì。如rú是shì明míng日rì有yǒu雨yǔ，依yī你nǐ斷duàn的de時shí辰chén、數shù目mù，我wǒ送sòng課kè金jīn五wǔ十shí兩liǎng奉fèng謝xiè；若ruò無wú雨yǔ，或huò不bú按àn時shí辰chén、數shù目mù，我wǒ與yǔ你nǐ實shí說shuō：定dìng要yào打dǎ壞huài你nǐ的de門mén面miàn，扯chě碎suì你nǐ的de招zhāo牌pái，即jí時shí趕gǎn出chū長cháng安ān，不bù許xǔ在zài此cǐ惑huò眾zhòng。」先xiān生shēng忻xīn然rán而ér答dá：「這zhè個gè一yí定dìng任rèn你nǐ。請qǐng了le，請qǐng了le。明míng朝zhāo雨yǔ後hòu來lái會huì。」此cǐ人rén是shì谁shuí？原yuán来lái是shì当dāng朝cháo钦qīn天tiān监jiān台tái正zhèng先xiān生shēng袁yuán天tiān罡gāng的de叔shū父fù，袁yuán守shǒu诚chéng是shì也yě。那nà先xiān生shēng果guǒ然rán相xiàng貌mào稀xī奇qí，仪yí容róng秀xiù丽lì；名míng扬yáng大dà国guó，术shù冠guàn长cháng安ān。龙lóng王wáng入rù门mén来lái，与yǔ先xiān生shēng相xiāng见jiàn。礼lǐ毕bì，请qǐng龙lóng上shàng坐zuò，童tóng子zǐ献xiàn茶chá。先xiān生shēng问wèn曰yuē：「公gōng来lái问wèn何hé事shì？」龙lóng王wáng曰yuē：「请qǐng卜bǔ天tiān上shàng阴yīn晴qíng事shì如rú何hé。」先xiān生shēng即jí袖xiù传chuán一yí课kè，断duàn曰yuē：「云yún迷mí山shān顶dǐng，雾wù罩zhào林lín梢shāo。若ruò占zhàn雨yǔ泽zé，准zhǔn在zài明míng朝zhāo。」龙lóng王wáng曰yuē：「明míng日rì甚shén时shí下xià雨yǔ？雨yǔ有yǒu多duō少shǎo尺chǐ寸cùn？」先xiān生shēng道dào：「明míng日rì辰chén时shí布bù云yún，巳sì时shí发fā雷léi，午wǔ时shí下xià雨yǔ，未wèi时shí雨yǔ足zú，共gòng得dé水shuǐ三sān尺chǐ三sān寸cùn零líng四sì十shí八bā点diǎn。」龙lóng王wáng笑xiào曰yuē：「此cǐ言yán不bù可kě作zuò戏xì。如rú是shì明míng日rì有yǒu雨yǔ，依yī你nǐ断duàn的de时shí辰chén、数shù目mù，我wǒ送sòng课kè金jīn五wǔ十shí两liǎng奉fèng谢xiè；若ruò无wú雨yǔ，或huò不bú按àn时shí辰chén、数shù目mù，我wǒ与yǔ你nǐ实shí说shuō：定dìng要yào打dǎ坏huài你nǐ的de门mén面miàn，扯chě碎suì你nǐ的de招zhāo牌pái，即jí时shí赶gǎn出chū长cháng安ān，不bù许xǔ在zài此cǐ惑huò众zhòng。」先xiān生shēng忻xīn然rán而ér答dá：「这zhè个gè一yí定dìng任rèn你nǐ。请qǐng了le，请qǐng了le。明míng朝zhāo雨yǔ后hòu来lái会huì。」

逐句解 Line by line

此cǐ人rén是shì誰shuí？原yuán來lái是shì當dāng朝cháo欽qīn天tiān監jiān臺tái正zhèng先xiān生shēng袁yuán天tiān罡gāng的de叔shū父fù，袁yuán守shǒu誠chéng是shì也yě。此cǐ人rén是shì谁shuí？原yuán来lái是shì当dāng朝cháo钦qīn天tiān监jiān台tái正zhèng先xiān生shēng袁yuán天tiān罡gāng的de叔shū父fù，袁yuán守shǒu诚chéng是shì也yě。

Who was this man? He was none other than the uncle of Yuan Tiangang, the reigning Director of the Astronomical Bureau — Yuan Shoucheng himself.

當朝 ('of the present court') takes 朝 as cháo; 欽天監臺正 is the Director of the imperial Astronomical Bureau, and 袁天罡 (Yuán Tiāngāng) a famous Tang astrologer, here given a diviner uncle.

那nà先xiān生shēng果guǒ然rán相xiàng貌mào稀xī奇qí，儀yí容róng秀xiù麗lì；名míng揚yáng大dà國guó，術shù冠guàn長cháng安ān。那nà先xiān生shēng果guǒ然rán相xiàng貌mào稀xī奇qí，仪yí容róng秀xiù丽lì；名míng扬yáng大dà国guó，术shù冠guàn长cháng安ān。

The master was indeed of striking appearance and elegant bearing; his fame spread through the great realm, his art the foremost in Chang'an.

相 in 相貌 ('countenance') is xiàng; 冠 in 術冠長安 ('his art crowns Chang'an') is guàn, 'to be first, to top,' and 長 in 長安 is cháng.

龍lóng王wáng入rù門mén來lái，與yǔ先xiān生shēng相xiāng見jiàn。禮lǐ畢bì，請qǐng龍lóng上shàng坐zuò，童tóng子zǐ獻xiàn茶chá。龙lóng王wáng入rù门mén来lái，与yǔ先xiān生shēng相xiāng见jiàn。礼lǐ毕bì，请qǐng龙lóng上shàng坐zuò，童tóng子zǐ献xiàn茶chá。

The Dragon King came in at the door and greeted the master. When the courtesies were done, he invited the dragon to the seat of honor, and a serving-boy presented tea.

相 in 相見 ('to meet each other') is xiāng; 童子 ('serving-boy') takes 子 as zǐ. The dragon is received as an honored guest.

先xiān生shēng問wèn曰yuē：「公gōng來lái問wèn何hé事shì？」先xiān生shēng问wèn曰yuē：「公gōng来lái问wèn何hé事shì？」

The master asked: 'On what matter has the gentleman come to inquire?'

公 is a polite 'sir, gentleman.' The consultation begins.

龍lóng王wáng曰yuē：「請qǐng卜bǔ天tiān上shàng陰yīn晴qíng事shì如rú何hé。」龙lóng王wáng曰yuē：「请qǐng卜bǔ天tiān上shàng阴yīn晴qíng事shì如rú何hé。」

The Dragon King said: 'I would have you divine how the skies will run — overcast or clear.'

卜 ('to divine') is bǔ; 陰晴 ('cloud and clear') is the weather. The dragon asks the one question whose answer he alone should control.

先xiān生shēng即jí袖xiù傳chuán一yí課kè，斷duàn曰yuē：「雲yún迷mí山shān頂dǐng，霧wù罩zhào林lín梢shāo。若ruò占zhàn雨yǔ澤zé，準zhǔn在zài明míng朝zhāo。」先xiān生shēng即jí袖xiù传chuán一yí课kè，断duàn曰yuē：「云yún迷mí山shān顶dǐng，雾wù罩zhào林lín梢shāo。若ruò占zhàn雨yǔ泽zé，准zhǔn在zài明míng朝zhāo。」

The master straightaway passed a hexagram from his sleeve and pronounced: 'Cloud shrouds the mountain-tops, mist wraps the treetops. If you would divine the rain, it will surely fall tomorrow.'

袖傳一課 is 'to pass a divination from the sleeve'; 占 in 若占 ('if you divine') is zhàn, and 明朝 ('tomorrow morning') takes 朝 as zhāo. The oracle's four-character phrases give a plain forecast of rain.

龍lóng王wáng曰yuē：「明míng日rì甚shén時shí下xià雨yǔ？雨yǔ有yǒu多duō少shǎo尺chǐ寸cùn？」龙lóng王wáng曰yuē：「明míng日rì甚shén时shí下xià雨yǔ？雨yǔ有yǒu多duō少shǎo尺chǐ寸cùn？」

The Dragon King said: 'At what hour tomorrow will the rain come? And how many chǐ and cùn will it measure?'

甚 in 甚時 ('what time') is shén; 尺 and 寸 are kept as chǐ and cùn (the chi about a third of a meter, the cun a tenth of that). The dragon presses for the precise detail he means to falsify.

先xiān生shēng道dào：「明míng日rì辰chén時shí布bù雲yún，巳sì時shí發fā雷léi，午wǔ時shí下xià雨yǔ，未wèi時shí雨yǔ足zú，共gòng得dé水shuǐ三sān尺chǐ三sān寸cùn零líng四sì十shí八bā點diǎn。」先xiān生shēng道dào：「明míng日rì辰chén时shí布bù云yún，巳sì时shí发fā雷léi，午wǔ时shí下xià雨yǔ，未wèi时shí雨yǔ足zú，共gòng得dé水shuǐ三sān尺chǐ三sān寸cùn零líng四sì十shí八bā点diǎn。」

The master said: 'Tomorrow at the hour of chen the clouds will spread, at si the thunder will break, at wu the rain will fall, and at wei it will be complete — in all, three chǐ, three cùn, and forty-eight drops of water.'

得 in 共得 ('in all obtain') is dé. The double-hours 辰, 巳, 午, 未 run from about 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.; the almost absurdly exact total — down to forty-eight 點 (drops) — is what makes the prediction impossible to fudge, and the trap perfect.

龍lóng王wáng笑xiào曰yuē：「此cǐ言yán不bù可kě作zuò戲xì。如rú是shì明míng日rì有yǒu雨yǔ，依yī你nǐ斷duàn的de時shí辰chén、數shù目mù，我wǒ送sòng課kè金jīn五wǔ十shí兩liǎng奉fèng謝xiè；若ruò無wú雨yǔ，或huò不bú按àn時shí辰chén、數shù目mù，我wǒ與yǔ你nǐ實shí說shuō：定dìng要yào打dǎ壞huài你nǐ的de門mén面miàn，扯chě碎suì你nǐ的de招zhāo牌pái，即jí時shí趕gǎn出chū長cháng安ān，不bù許xǔ在zài此cǐ惑huò眾zhòng。」龙lóng王wáng笑xiào曰yuē：「此cǐ言yán不bù可kě作zuò戏xì。如rú是shì明míng日rì有yǒu雨yǔ，依yī你nǐ断duàn的de时shí辰chén、数shù目mù，我wǒ送sòng课kè金jīn五wǔ十shí两liǎng奉fèng谢xiè；若ruò无wú雨yǔ，或huò不bú按àn时shí辰chén、数shù目mù，我wǒ与yǔ你nǐ实shí说shuō：定dìng要yào打dǎ坏huài你nǐ的de门mén面miàn，扯chě碎suì你nǐ的de招zhāo牌pái，即jí时shí赶gǎn出chū长cháng安ān，不bù许xǔ在zài此cǐ惑huò众zhòng。」

The Dragon King said with a laugh: 'These words must be no jest. If tomorrow it truly rains, and rains by the hours and the amounts you have set, I will send you fifty taels of divination-silver in thanks. But if there is no rain, or if it does not keep to your hours and amounts, then I tell you plainly: I will smash your shop-front, tear your signboard to shreds, and drive you out of Chang'an on the spot, and you shall not delude the crowds here any longer.'

長 in 長安 is cháng; 課金 is the diviner's fee, 五十兩 fifty taels of silver (兩, liǎng). 惑眾 is 'to delude the multitude.' The wager is struck — and it is exactly the display of unlawful rain the ministers warned against.

先xiān生shēng忻xīn然rán而ér答dá：「這zhè個gè一yí定dìng任rèn你nǐ。請qǐng了le，請qǐng了le。明míng朝zhāo雨yǔ後hòu來lái會huì。」先xiān生shēng忻xīn然rán而ér答dá：「这zhè个gè一yí定dìng任rèn你nǐ。请qǐng了le，请qǐng了le。明míng朝zhāo雨yǔ后hòu来lái会huì。」

The master answered cheerfully: 'That is entirely as you please. Farewell, then, farewell — we shall meet again tomorrow, after the rain.'

忻然 is 'gladly, with an easy air'; 明朝 ('tomorrow') takes 朝 as zhāo, and 一 in 一定 is yí before the falling tone of 定. The diviner's serene confidence is unshaken.

總評 Commentary

The scene at the diviner's is the still center around which the chapter turns. The Dragon King, disguised, asks Yuan Shoucheng to foretell the weather — the one thing a dragon of rain should command absolutely — and the diviner answers with a precision that is almost provocation: rain tomorrow, spreading at the hour of chen, thundering at si, falling at wu, complete at wei, to a total of three chǐ, three cùn, and forty-eight drops. The very exactness of the figure is the hook; no vague forecast could be falsified, but this one invites the attempt.

The dragon takes the bait with a laugh, staking fifty taels against the diviner's shopfront and signboard. What he cannot see is that the wager is a trap of his own making: to win it he must alter the rain, and the reader already knows from his ministers' warning that tampering with clouds and rain over Chang'an is an offense against Heaven. Yuan Shoucheng's cheerful, unruffled acceptance — 'we shall meet again tomorrow, after the rain' — carries the calm of a man who knows the future is not his opponent's to change.