In Journey to the West, gods and demons wield immense supernatural powers, while mortals are typically portrayed as frail and vulnerable. Yet, there are rare exceptions—figures like Liu Boqin, Wei Zheng, and Yuan Shoucheng.
Liu Boqin, a hunter, can slay tigers single-handedly; Wei Zheng, a mortal official, once beheaded the Dragon King of the Jing River; and Yuan Shoucheng, a master diviner, demonstrates abilities that blur the line between mortal and celestial. Today, we delve into the mystery of this extraordinary mortal.
Yuan Shoucheng’s Uncanny Powers
Precision in Divination
Yuan Shoucheng can pinpoint the exact locations of fish and shrimp in the Jing River, ensuring fishermen bountiful catches. Most astonishingly, he accurately predicts the timing and quantity of rainfall—a feat typically controlled by the Jade Emperor through celestial decrees.
Knowledge of Cosmic Secrets
He not only foresees the Dragon King’s disobedience of heavenly rain orders but also knows the exact time, location, and executioner (Wei Zheng) appointed by Heaven to behead the Dragon King.
How did he acquire such knowledge?
The novel leaves this ambiguous, but possible explanations include:
Advanced Divination Skills: Yuan Shoucheng’s mastery of the Yijing (Book of Changes o I Ching) and astrology allows him to decode cosmic patterns.
Insider Connections: His nephew, Yuan Tiangang —a famed Tang Dynasty diviner—might have shared celestial secrets.
Possible Daoist Arts: Speculation arises that he might command the Five Thunder Magic, a high-level Daoist technique to summon thunder deities and pray for rain.
Relation to Wei Zheng and Subhuti
While Journey to the West never explicitly links Yuan Shoucheng to Wei Zheng, their roles in the Dragon King’s execution suggest a shared awareness of heavenly machinations.
Another peer in divination is Patriarch Subhuti, Sun Wukong’s mentor, who similarly blends mortal wisdom with cosmic insight
Symbolism and Narrative Function
Yuan Shoucheng’s character critiques the illusion of mortal powerlessness. By outwitting divine beings, he embodies that wisdom and knowledge can rival raw supernatural force. His accurate predictions set in motion the Dragon King’s rebellion, celestial execution by Wei Zheng, and Emperor Taizong’s descent into the Underworld—events pivotal to the scripture-seeking mission.
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