Supernatural Gift of Prophecy of Zi Wei Dou Shu‘s Master Chen Tuan
Master Chen Tuan possessed an extraordinary ability to perceive the intentions of others. In his meditation room, there was a large ladle hanging on the wall. Daoist Jia Xiufu visited him, secretly desiring the ladle. Without a word from Jia, Chen Tuan saw through his thoughts and said, “You have come here with no other purpose than to ask for this ladle.” He then instructed his attendant to gift it to Jia, who was astonished by Chen Tuan’s insight, believing he had encountered a divine being.
On another occasion, a man named Guo Hang was temporarily staying in Hua Yin and spent a night at Yun Tai Temple. At midnight, Chen Tuan suddenly woke Guo and urged him to return home immediately. Guo hesitated but eventually left at dawn. Upon his return, he learned that his mother had suffered a sudden heart attack around midnight. Fortunately, she recovered after a short time, equivalent to the duration of a meal.
Chen Tuan’s ability to solve people’s doubts with a calm, unshaken heart earned him a reputation for noble virtue. His fame eventually reached Emperor Mingzong of the Later Tang dynasty, who became eager to meet him. The emperor repeatedly sent royal envoys with imperial letters, urging Chen Tuan to visit. Initially unmoved by the summons, Chen Tuan eventually agreed and traveled to the capital, Luoyang.
When Chen Tuan arrived at the court, he greeted Emperor Mingzong with a simple bow instead of the traditional kneeling, shocking the gathered ministers. Even more astonishing, Chen Tuan fell asleep right there in the court. Instead of punishment, Mingzong praised him as an extraordinary man and treated him as an honored guest, offering him the highest hospitality reserved for sages.
The emperor even attempted to persuade Chen Tuan to join the court. When all other efforts failed, Mingzong tried to tempt him with beauty, sending three stunning women to his residence. However, Chen Tuan remained undisturbed, sleeping peacefully through the night. The next day, he wrote to the emperor: “Like snow and jade, pure and untouched. I appreciate Your Majesty’s kindness, but a hermit dreams not of earthly desires. Please, ask the heavenly maidens to descend elsewhere.” Without a formal farewell, Chen Tuan left the palace.
Emperor Zhou Shizong of the Later Zhou also recognized Chen Tuan’s supernatural wisdom and sought his insight to predict the empire’s future. Though Chen Tuan couldn’t directly reveal the heavenly secrets, he presented the emperor with a cryptic poem:
“A solid block of wood, flourishing and grand. If you desire longevity, add a precious canopy.”
Zhou Shizong mistakenly believed the poem referred to his own prosperous reign, interpreting the symbols as omens of enduring fortune. Delighted by the perceived blessing, the emperor offered Chen Tuan a high-ranking title, which he gently declined.
Deeply impressed by Chen Tuan’s transcendence, Zhou Shizong honored him with the title Master Bai Yun (White Cloud Immortal), further spreading his legendary reputation.
Years later, Zhao Kuangyin launched the Chenqiao Mutiny, overthrowing the Zhou dynasty and founding the Song dynasty. Only then was the true meaning of the poem revealed: the character for “wood” (木) combined with the radical for “canopy” (宀) forms the character for Song (宋). The rise of the Song dynasty and its enduring legacy had been foreseen by Chen Tuan long before it unfolded.