The Legend of the Governor of the Southern Branch [part 1-2]

南柯太守传
The Legend of the Governor of the Southern Branch [part 1-2]
by Li Gong Zuo 李公佐

The legend narrated below is reproduced from the version that appears in the Classified Tales of Zeng Zao (1091-1155), a collection of 252 ancient semi-historiographical stories from the Han to the Song Dynasty which was completed in 1136. The story serves to exemplify the type of dream that signifies a passage from one world to another. Furthermore, it imparts a strong moral that is directly related to Daoism. It also encompasses Confucianist norms and standards which in the eyes of the modern reader may seem outdated and patriarchal. One should be bear in mind that these Confucian ideals reflect the social customs and values of the time and are by no means intrinsic to the relevance of this story.

This story will be  published as part of a book, entitled ‘Arts of Daoism’ (Jan 2021) about stillness cultivation, abstention from grains, sleeping Gong  and dreams from a Daoist perspective.

东平淳于棼，吴楚游侠之士。嗜酒使气，不守细行。累巨产，养豪客。曾以武艺补淮南军裨将，因使酒忤帅，斥逐落魄，纵诞饮酒为事。家住广陵郡东十里，所居宅南有大古槐一株，枝干修密，清阴数亩。淳于生日与群豪，大饮其下。

Chu Yu Fen from Dong Ping was a chivalrous wanderer who roamed in [the southern states of] Wu and Chu. He was fond of alcohol, easily swayed by emotions, and he did not observe the triviality [of social norms] in his behaviour. He had accumulated a large estate and supported a retinue of gallant people. At one time, on account of his military skill, he was appointed Deputy General of the Huai Nan armies. Under the influence of drunkenness in his behaviour, however, he disobeyed the [orders of the] Commander-In-Chief. Consequently, he was reprimanded and dismissed [from his position]. Having lost his ambitions [in this way], he increasingly indulged in the drinking of alcohol, which became his main occupation. His family lived ten Chinese miles east of Guang Ling county. In the southern part of the [family] mansion where he resided, there was a great and ancient locust tree, with dense branches and a tall trunk, [that provided] cool shade over several Mu. Each day, Chun Yu drank excessively beneath [the tree], surrounded by crowds of gallant people.

贞元七年九月，因沉醉致疾。时二友人于座扶生归家，卧于堂东庑之下。二友谓生曰：“子其寝矣！余将秣马濯足，俟子小愈而去。”生解巾就枕，昏然忽忽，仿佛若梦。见二紫衣使者，跪拜生曰：“槐安国王遣小臣致命奉邀。”生不觉下榻整衣，随二使至门。见青油小车，驾以四牡，左右从者七八，扶生上车，出大户，指古槐穴而去。使者即驱入穴中。生意颇甚异之，不敢致问。

[On one occasion,] in the ninth [lunar] month of the seventh year of the Zhen Yuan era (794), having become highly intoxicated, he fell ill. Two friends who were present then assisted him and took him home. They laid him down in the corridor to the east of the main room. The two friends said to him: ‘Master, you should take a rest! We will feed the horses and wash our feet. We will wait for the master to recover a little before we depart’. Chun Yu untied his headband and rested his head on a pillow. He was muddle-headed and in a daze, as though dreaming, when he saw two envoys clad in purple, who knelt down and prostrated to him, saying: ‘The Ruler of the Huai An Kingdom has sent us, petty officials, by command to present to you respectfully his invitation’. Chun Yu automatically reclined on his daybed to adjust his clothes and followed the two envoys to the gate, where he saw a small carriage in azure lacquer, drawn by four horses and with around eight attendants to its left and right. They lifted Chun Yu into the carriage, and then, having departed through the main gate, they travelled to a hole in the locust tree. Then the envoys immediately drove [the carriage] into the hole. Although Chun Yu found this rather strange, he did not dare to ask why.

 

忽见山川风候草木道路，与人世甚殊。前行数十里，有郛郭城堞。车舆人物，不绝于路。生左右传车者传呼甚严，行者亦争辟于左右。又入大城，朱门重楼，楼上有金书，题曰“大槐安国”。执门者趋拜奔走。旋有一骑传呼曰：“王以驸马远降，令且息东华馆。”因前导而去。

Suddenly, he saw mountains and rivers, grassland and wooded scenery, and also paths and roads, all of which were quite different to [those of] the world of humans. After travelling for several dozen Chinese miles, they reached the outskirts of the outer city wall and its battlements. Carts, carriages, and people [stood] in a never-ending [line] along the road. To Chun Yu’s left and right, the carriage attendants shouted [at people to clear the road] with great sternness, and the travellers rushed to the left and right [of the road] to avoid [the carriage]. Subsequently, they entered through the great city wall, with its vermilion gates and multi-storied tower. On the gate tower was inscribed in gold: ‘The Great Kingdom of Huai An’. The guards at the gate hastened to pay their respects and then rushed back [to their posts]. At once, a mounted envoy [approached and] shouted: ‘The King believes that his [future] son-in-law has visited from afar. For the time being, he commands him to rest at the Eastern Florescence Lodge’. The envoy then led them towards [the lodge].

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