The Concept of Predetermination and Fate in the Han
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 20380156 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Cho-Yun Hsu (0000-0002-1402-6442, University of Pittsburgh, corresponding author) |
| Year | 1975 |
| Volume | 1 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 51-56 |
| Publication date | 1975-01-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Early China (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0362-5028 • E-ISSN: 2325-2324 |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1017/s0362502800006957 |
| OpenAlex | W2480118757 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
A number of interesting anecdotes are recorded in the Shih-chi and the Han-shu , especially in the biographies of various renowned figures. Some of these anecdotes are related to the concept of predestination and fate. The most frequently mentioned cases are the stories of the births of emperors and founders of dynasties and legends related to the ancient sage kings. At the beginning of the “Annals of Liu Pang,” the founder of the Han dynasty, it is related that he was engendered by a dragon and from this acquired an unusual physiognomy resembling the face of a dragon. His unusual appearance impressed his prospective father-in-law, who decided to let him marry his daughter, the future Empress Lü. An old lady, Madame Hsu, who was noted for her ability to prophesize by physiognomy, was so impressed by the appearance of Liu Pang that she prophesized a good fortune for the whole family. The legend associated with Liu Pang, that his killing of a white snake was lamented by a mysterious old lady as the act of killing the “Son of the White Emperor” by the “Son of the Red Emperor”, is very familiar. It is further related that Liu's wife never failed to locate his hideout because there was always a colorful haze and mist over it
Ancient history · Annals · Art · Emperor · Genealogy · Legend · Literature · Physiognomy · Sociology · Theology · Wife · Chinese history and philosophy · Environmental and Cultural Studies in Latin America and Beyond · History · Philosophy · Space Technology and Applications
| Citations per year | 0.33 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2023 - 2023 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |