第一百二十篇第一百二十篇Story One Hundred and Twenty

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Story One Hundred and Twenty · Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio

The Gambling Charm

A line drawing in the manner of a late-Qing lithographed edition: Inside a monk's room in a large temple by daylight, a lean gambler in a soft cap leans across a square table, shouting with one hand stretched out over a bowl of dice, while a stout bald monk with prayer beads stares back wide-eyed with one hand on his knee. Strings of copper cash lie stacked on the table, and a Buddha scroll, a lattice window, an incense burner and a couch with folded bedding stand behind them.

韓道士,居邑中之天齊廟。多幻術,共名之「仙」。先子與最善,每適城,輒造之。一日,與先叔赴邑,擬訪韓,適遇諸途。韓付鑰曰:「請先往啟門坐,少旋我即至。」乃如其言。詣廟發扃,則韓已坐室中。諸如此類。

韩道士,居邑中之天齐庙。多幻术,共名之「仙」。先子与最善,每适城,辄造之。一日,与先叔赴邑,拟访韩,适遇诸途。韩付钥曰:「请先往启门坐,少旋我即至。」乃如其言。诣庙发扃,则韩已坐室中。诸如此类。

A Daoist named Han lived in the Tianqi Temple in my county town. He had many magic arts, and everyone called him “the Immortal.” My late father was his closest friend, and whenever he went into town he would call on him. One day my father and my late uncle went to the town meaning to visit Han, and happened to meet him on the road. Han handed them his key. “Please go on ahead, open the door and sit down,” he said. “I’ll be along in a moment.” They did as he said. When they reached the temple and undid the lock, there was Han, already sitting in the room. That is the kind of thing he did.

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