Chapter 8 A Credulous Skeptic: Ji Yun on the Mantic Arts and Spirit-Writing
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Abstract
This contribution deals with various assessments of mantic practices by Ji Yun 紀昀 (also: Ji Xiaolan 紀曉嵐, 1724–1805). Ji Yun was a compiler of the huge anthology Siku quanshu 四庫全書 (The complete library in four branches) for which he also composed an introduction to the chapter on mantic arts (shushu 術數), where he distances himself from them. However, in his brush notes, the Yuewei caotang biji 閱微草堂筆記, Ji Yun examines the appearance of ghosts, the efficacy of fengshui 風水 experts, predictions by means of horoscopy and other “strange” phenomena. A man of letters, Ji Yun was particularly interested in practices of spirit-writing. Most of his jottings rely on the accounts of close relatives and friends, so he apparently believed in the veracity of the stories. One of his key concepts is ling 靈, “numinous efficacy.” In his view, the objects used in mantic procedure are not ling by themselves, but they are made so by human efforts. Most of his jottings rely on the accounts of close relatives and friends, indicating that he believed in the veracity of the stories.