CH 43

“Big Sun, is your wife still waiting on the sick in the temple?”

“But of course! From what I hear, mum’s doing a lot better. She can come home in a few days!” 

“Your wife’s a pious one! It’s all thanks to those monks trapping the plague demons with their sorcery!”

“It’s not thanks to the monks, it’s thanks to Buddha’s grace that we were saved!”

“What? Is that what happened?”

“That’s right, my wife told me already. She said Master Liang or something received guidance from Buddha, and that’s how they caught the plague demons! You see the cloths those street cleaners wear on their faces? Those’re called ‘Liang Scarves,’ Master Liang’s the one who came up with them! When you wear it, it’ll block out the miasma!” 

“Is that true?!”

“Isn’t that obvious? If it wasn’t, there’d be a lot more people sick with cold damage this year.”

“….That’s true! When the plague came around before, there was at least a few deaths in every household. Alas! Who could’ve thought that such small critters as rats could kill so many people?!”

“Indeed! I killed two in my house just yesterday and burned ‘em in the stove! You see, no wonder Blacksmith Sun’s family never got sick. These things are afraid of fire!”

“I hear you’ve gotta watch out for flies too! Nowadays it’s nearly impossible to find any wild mugwort around. You can only buy it from the apothecary. At any rate, the ditch behind my house has been covered up. Apparently as long as there’s no sewage around there won’t be any flies.”

“I didn’t know about that! Eh? Look, the street cleaners are here again!”

They saw a few people, covered with hemp smocks, wearing cloth masks, and carrying buckets, splashing limewater on the streets. The limewater was specially made in the medical center; the blight was forced to flee wherever it was used. A man carrying a leather bag and a long bamboo grabber followed behind them, picking up any dead rodents he came across.

Everyone backed away as the three-man group ambled along the streets. Several people clasped their hands in a Buddhist salute. The peasants all thought that they were the monks  who were driving away the plague demons for them. The fact that many monks truly had joined the street cleaners’ ranks only made the rumors worse. 

Even the person who’d been gossiping like a know-it-all earlier couldn’t help saluting them. Only after they disappeared from view at the end of the long, long street did he straighten back up.

“We all owe our gratitude to Buddha and that Master Liang! Big Sun, you’ve gotta get your wife to ask just where Master Liang’s from and what his name is!”

“Naturally. Once mum gets back all well and better, I’m gonna build a shrine in my house. With Buddha’s protection, all those plague demons and unclean things will be driven far away! I just hope there won’t be any more outbreaks this summer….”

※ 

“Master Jiang, it’s been five days since the last case of cold damage in the western quarter. A dozen or so patients in the medical center have more or less recovered already. Once they stay a full seven days, they can leave.”

Jiang Da let out a long breath at hearing his subordinate’s report. After spending nearly a month, they’d finally succeeded. Aside from the few patients in the medical center, the plague was already over.

In just a little over twenty days, the medical center had received over six hundred and fifty patients. Over half had succumbed to the disease. And over a dozen family members of the workers looking after the patients had accidently fallen sick and passed away. But these casualty numbers were miniscule compared to previous years.

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The was the last time in a hundred years, since the end of the Han Dynasty, that cold damage had been contained by human effort. This deed was perhaps no less meritorious than Zhang Changsha’s writing of “Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases.”

“Don’t let your guard down! Let the street cleaners scatter limewater for another ten days. And all the laborers, you must make sure they haven’t become infected before you let them return. Also, where’s Zhong Wenshou and Gu Shenxing?”

“Doctor Zhong is still with patients. Doctor Gu went to the Guo Residence. He probably won’t be back till noon,” the supervisor replied immediately.

“Mmmm. Remind them to record all the cases they’ve treated and hand them to the office,” Jiang Da nodded. 

The healers had all responded to his grandfather’s letters. As Jiang family had inherited Wang Xi’s learning, no one could question their expertise on cold damage. Who wouldn’t be moved by such a gift of knowledge, and their selfless act of opening a medical center in Jinyang?

Thus, many families had sent their people to lend their aid to the medical center. The prescriptions that Zhang Changsha had recorded in “Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases” over a century ago had spawned countless new medicines. Every family had their own set of theories about medicine, which they’d have likely debated at length over. But now, with hundreds of patients at death’s door, it became the perfect place to test the effectiveness of their prescriptions.

Every day, the doctors’ understanding of cold damage would grow. Aside from those who’d obviously been bitten by bugs or rats, they’d discovered several patients with odd symptoms. Superficially, they appeared to be sick with cold damage, but in reality, they’d caught something else. It led the doctors to give more thought to what “blight” really was. Just how many kinds of blight were there? What were the ways in which they spread? And how could they be cured? Perhaps cold damage was a far broader classification than what they’d previously expected.

Whether it was trying to find a panacea for cold damage in its entirety, or coming up with specific prescriptions based on observed symptoms, everyone had their own ideas. The implementation of masks and numerous sanitization methods had greatly decreased the doctors’ casualty rates and increased their zeal. Jiang Da hadn’t forgotten Liang Zixi’s previous advice. He started putting a case-recording system into effect in the medical center. Each doctor, after they treated a patient, would write down their methods and prescriptions, then give them to Jiang Da, who would organize them. Perhaps it’d only take a few months before a new medical text, containing their experience in disease control, came into existence for the betterment of the people. 

These were all real accomplishments. After issuing meticulous instructions to the supervisor, Jiang Da sighed in relief and sagged into his seat. His energy had been drained dry over the last few days. He’d thinned so much that his cheeks were hollowed out. But if not for this trial, he might never have gotten insight into the true nature of cold damage. To a healer, this ordeal was actually a blessing!

And this was all thanks to Liang Zixi! It was too bad that he’d been too busy in Jinyang recently to tend to his health. After he finished up in the medical center, he intended to hurry back to the Liang Estate to look after him.

Just as he was lost in thought, someone came to his door and notified, “Master Jiang, Physician Jiang’s carriage is outside. He wants you there as soon as possible.”

What? Jiang Da leapt to his feet and dashed out of the medical center. His grandfather was unwell right now, and only responsible for organizing case records. Why had he suddenly come to the medical center? 

Upon exit, he saw an ox-pulled carriage, as expected. Physician Jiang, seated in the carriage, was peering out through the curtain. When he saw Jiang Da, he waved him over, “Da-er, hurry, get on.”

Jiang Da hastily got into the carriage, as instructed, which began moving before he even had the chance to sit down. Jiang Da’s anxiety soared upon seeing his grandfather’s solemn expression. He asked, “Grandfather, has something happened?”

“Controller Wang told the two of us to go to the governor’s mansion. The Duke of Dongying has summoned us!”

※ 

Before the height of the plague outbreak, Sima Teng, as the provincial governor of Bing Province, had long left Jinyang behind. Only after it was wrapping up, did he leisurely saunter back to his residence. The moment they entered through the side gate, they were buffeted by the smell of mugwort. But unlike ordinary families, who crudely burned pure mugwort, this aroma was mingled with other fragrances. It was clean and refreshing, and even better at repelling bugs.

Amidst the pleasing scent, Physician Jiang and his grandson made their way to the hall in the rear courtyard. They saw a man clothed in brocade and capped with a formal headdress sitting in the center seat. Wang Wen beside him, a feathered fan in his hands and a faint smile on his face.

Physician Jiang saluted at once, “Hail, Duke of Dongying.”

“So you’re Physician Jiang, the one who extinguished cold damage and saved Jinyang from disaster? Quickly, please stand,” the duke said magnanimously. 

“It was hardly by my work alone. It was due to your wholehearted support, duke, and Controller Wang’s, that the plague was overcome. I was merely there at the right time, and undeserving of such praise, duke.” Physician Jiang respectfully bowed, before taking the guest seat on the side.

Seemingly pleased with his response, Sima Teng swayed his feathered fan and said, “The recent happenings in Jinyang have truly astounded me. It turns out that there really is a way to suppress the much-feared cold damage. Right now, it’s already the beginning of summer, the time when plague runs most rampant. I wish for the two of you to travel with me to the capital and meet with the emperor, to teach your methods far and wide.”

Standing behind his grandfather, Jiang Da’s face instantly reddened. He wanted them to go to the capital and see the emperor? Wasn’t this an excellent opportunity for the Jiang family to reenter the imperial palace? Ever since his grandfather had retired, no one from their family had been able to enter the Court of Attendants. Even he had to wait several years until he was forty before had the qualifications to work under the Minister of Ceremonies. He couldn’t have even dreamed that he’d have the chance to go to Luoyang so soon! And if he was granted an audience with the emperor, then surely all the people under heaven would benefit by learning how to defend themselves from disease!

Jiang Da’s heart pounded loudly, but Physician Jiang replied neutrally, “I am honored by your sincerity, duke, but I’m afraid I’m too old and frail to go forth to Luoyang with you. And besides, my grandson and I can hardly take all the credit. The other doctors in the medical center made great contributions as well. I implore you, duke, to choose more from the capable healers there to bring with you to the capital.” 

His words were very earnest and appropriate. Sima Teng appraised Physician Jiang for a while, and noticed he really did look pale and feeble. It’d be a shame if he happened to die on the way to Luoyang. He pondered for a moment, then smiled, “As expected of one of Maoshen’s people. Alright, I’ll choose four healers from the medical center, as well as Jiang Da, to accompany me to the capital.”

“Thank you for your generosity,” Physician Jiang instantly saluted. Jiang Da immediately followed his example.

As the main subject was decided already, Sima Teng asked them a few more questions about the goings-ons in the medical center before dismissing them.

The moment they left, Jiang Da couldn’t resist asking, “Grandfather, why is your face so graven? Isn’t going to the capital a good thing?” 

“It isn’t.” Physician Jiang answered quietly, “We’ll talk on the carriage.”

After they embarked the carriage and let down the curtains, Physician Jiang sighed, “I didn’t think the Duke of Dongying would personally visit Luoyang. It’d be fine if it was just the doctors going there, but with the addition of an imperial relative changes things…. ay, do you know who the current Minister of Works is?”

“Is it… the Prince of Donghai?” Even though he wasn’t familiar with court politics, Jiang Da had still heard of the names of some of the highest ranking officials.

“It is exactly the Prince of Donghai! He’s the Duke of Dongying’s older brother. If the duke goes to the capital, that prince is sure to be involved. And the Prince of Dongying is obsessed with ‘philosophical conversation;’ he believes in Daoism. Because of this, the duke won’t bring up the prophetic dream, nor will he invite the monks of Huai’en Temple. Without Buddha’s involvement, only the doctors’, then all the merit will go to the duke for his wisdom in using worthy people!” 

Finally realizing what was going on, Jiang Da asked troubledly, “But how can that be? If it weren’t for the saying that all this was by Buddha’s decree, how would those ignorant peasants have believed the disease control measures would work? And Liang Zixi….”

Physician Jiang shook his head, “If I’m not mistaken, the Duke of Dongying has no intention of sharing these methods to the common people. He only cares about using them in the palace for the emperor’s sake – that too would be a commendable deed, why bother wasting effort on the insignificant commoners? Da-er, I fear this trip to the capital won’t be anything good…”

The waters in Luoyang were too deep for little people like them to wade in.

“It’s all well if all he cares about is taking credit, but getting pulled into the court’s political battles is practically a death sentence. The duke’s not going to let our family go, it seems. When you visit the capital, you must be careful to not hear or say anything you’re not supposed to. Pretend you’re deaf and mute and go along with whatever the duke has in mind.” 

Cold sweat was already seeping down Jiang Da back at his grandfather’s directions. This was wildly different than what he’d imagined. Could it be that the court didn’t care about the welfare of the people? But his grandfather was too serious for him to doubt his words. After a long silence, Jiang Da nodded, “I’ll heed your words, grandfather, and act with utmost caution! Grandfather, you must make sure to take care of your health back at home too. Once the new book is complete, our Jiang family will go down in history!”

“That’s the spirit.” Physician Jiang sighed, “The situation in Jingyang is too complicated for us doctors to do anything about. It’s just a shame that Liang Zixi will miss such a fine chance to earn renown. Ah well, he’s not the kind to care about reputation in the first place.”

Jiang Da’s heart sank as he was reminded of his beautiful yet sickly friend. Not only wouldn’t he be able to go to the Liang Estate to help him, he wouldn’t even be able to mention him to the emperor. But still, no matter how much the Duke of Dongying tried to erase the matter of Buddha communing his teachings through a dream, the people he’d saved in Luoyang would remember him. Instead of being entangled with the court, it was better for him to remain in Bing Province to recuperate.

He’d definitely help Liang Zixi find a good doctor when he went to the capital! With this resolve, Jiang Da silently lowered his head and started making arrangements. He hoped he could finish all his assorted tasks before he left for Luoyang. 

※

“Master, the Duke of Dongying is heading to the capital with the healers from the medical center!” A young monk exclaimed fretfully. “Is he abandoning our Huai’en Temple? How could he do this?!”

“The current Minister of Works is partial to Daoism. It’s not surprising that the Duke of Dongying would make such a decision,” the old monk replied impassively.

“Then what about all our endeavors? Six of our monks have died already, yet he’s overlooking us entirely, doesn’t that mean this was all for nothing….” 

“Nianfa!” The old monk raised his voice, “Do not be possessed by such resentment!”

The young monk lurched, then clasped his hands at once, “I am wrong.”

“Indeed. The Duke of Dongying is merely ingratiating himself with his betters. It is easy to delude one’s superiors but hard to deceive the masses. The truth of what has happened in Jinyang is already known by all its people. Haven’t you seen how prosperous our temple has become? It might not be a bad thing that the duke is leaving Jinyang now, for we will be holding a grand ceremony at our temple to expiate the souls of the dead.”

The young monk slowly came around, “Of course, if we hold the ceremony now, we’ll surely engrave the Buddha’s grace into the people’s hearts. But when is the best time to do so?” 

“Maudgalyāyana pleaded to the Buddha for a way to save his mother, who had been reborn as a hungry ghost. The Buddha responded that he must marshall the monks’ collective efforts to make offerings of food to the Sangha on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, then use that merit to bring salvation to his mother. Maudgalyāyana did as Buddha said, and was able to relieve his mother of the cycle of reincarnation.”

Such was written in Dharmarakṣa’s translation of the Ullambana Sutra. Of course, Nianfa was familiar with the story. He frowned subconsciously at his master’s words, “But the fifteenth day of the seventh month is the Daoists’ Zhongyuan Festival. Are we going to hold our ceremony on the same day?”

“Daoists consider it to be the day that the God of Earth absolves people of their sins. Buddhists say it is the day that Maudgalyāyana gathers merit to save his mother. Does the Daoist belief not bolster our own? Go to the Wang Residence and inform Controller Wang. He is surely not in agreement with the duke on this matter, and stricken with guilt. He will support us in holding this ceremony. And so, the myth that the Buddha has conferred his favor unto us will be known through all of Bing Province,” the old monk said languidly, his lips curling into a smile.

Daoists had their three gods. They believed that the God of Heaven bestowed blessings on the fifteenth of the first month, the God of Earth pardoned sins on the fifteenth of the seventh month, and the God of Water relieved disaster on the fifteenth of the tenth month. These three days were commonly known as “Shangyuan Festival,” “Zhongyuan Festival,” and “Xiayuan Festival.” Zhongyuan Festival was the God of Earth’s holiday. Wouldn’t the tale of Maudgalyāyana sink deeply into the peoples’ psyche if they proclaimed it on that day? 

Nianfa’s face brightened with enlightenment, “What you say makes sense, master! Bing Province has so many nobles, and the Wang family has so many acquaintances. If they all know of the Buddha’s part in this miracle, then we needn’t worry about the duke’s actions at all!”

“It’s good you understand.” The old monk opened his eyes, “When you meet with the controller, try to find out information about Benefactor Liang. Tell him that our temple is willing to pray for the fortune of he who met with the Buddha. It would round this cycle of karma if he were to attend this ceremony.”

At first, it was Liang Zixi who borrowed Buddha’s name to dispel the plague. Now, the Huai’en Temple would hold a ceremony in Liang Zixi’s name to spread belief in Buddha. This was the cause and effect of fate.

Nianfa clasped his hands and said gladly, “I will do as you say.” 

The author has something to say:

The Duke of Dongying, Sima Teng, is the younger brother of the Prince of Donghai, Sima Yue. And Sima Yue is the last one to show up in the ‘War of Eight Princes.’

On the fifteenth of the seventh month, there’s a Daoist holiday called Zhongyuan Festival and a Buddhist holiday called Ullambana Festival. The two holidays merged later on into the commonly known Ghost Festival. The Ullambana Festival was first held by Emperor Wu of Liang during the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420 CE – 589 CE). Although, there was already record of the Ullambana Sutra during the Western Jin Dynasty, and people at the time held filial piety in high importance, so it shouldn’t be too strange for someone to use it.

Dharmarakṣa was the most prominent translator of sutras into Chinese before Kumarajiva came to China. He passed away in 308 CE.