Yuan Tiangang (袁天罡)

Overview

Yuan Tiangang was a Diviner.

PeriodSui and Tang

IdentityHistorical · Male

Roles

Found in

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 600 to AD 650 元豹少為僧，其師有知人之鑒，從遊十年餘，苦辛無憚，師知其可教，遂以袁、許之術授之。
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 71, passage 172
AD 617 to AD 627 袁、許之術
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passage 54

Key source chapters

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 71 Volume 71 Book of Later Tang 47: Biographies 23: Ma Yu, Si Kongting, Cao Tingyin, Xiao Xifu, Yao Zongzhi, Jia Fu, Ma Gao, Luo Guan, Chun Yuyan, Zhang Ge, Xu Ji, Zhou Xuanbao 2 passages
Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 129 Volume 129 Book of Later Zhou 31: Biographies 9: Chang Si, Di Guangye, Cao Ying, Li Yanyun, Li Hui, Li Jianchong, Wang Zhongyi, Sun Hanyin, Xu Qian, Zhao Feng, Qi Cangzhen, Wang Huan, Zhang Yanchao, Zhang Ying, Liu Renshan 2 passages

Learning and skills

Skill physiognomy 術 · Level namesake-of-tradition
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 129, passages 54, 98

References in the histories

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 71Volume 71 Book of Later Tang 47: Biographies 23: Ma Yu, Si Kongting, Cao Tingyin, Xiao Xifu, Yao Zongzhi, Jia Fu, Ma Gao, Luo Guan, Chun Yuyan, Zhang Ge, Xu Ji, Zhou Xuanbao · 2 passages

Open chapter

元豹少為僧，其師有知人之鑒，從遊十年餘，苦辛無憚，師知其可教，遂以袁、許之術授之。 As a youth Yuanbao became a monk; his teacher, skilled at reading men, trained him for more than ten years of hard service and then taught him the physiognomy of Yuan Tian gang and Xu Fu.

趙鳳奏曰：「袁、許之事，元豹所長者，以陛下貴不可言，今既驗矣，餘無可問。 Zhao Feng objected, "Yuanbao excels at the arts of Yuan and Xu; he said Your Majesty's destiny was beyond words, and that has been proved—there is nothing left to ask.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 129Volume 129 Book of Later Zhou 31: Biographies 9: Chang Si, Di Guangye, Cao Ying, Li Yanyun, Li Hui, Li Jianchong, Wang Zhongyi, Sun Hanyin, Xu Qian, Zhao Feng, Qi Cangzhen, Wang Huan, Zhang Yanchao, Zhang Ying, Liu Renshan · 2 passages

Open chapter

光鄴膚革肥皙，善於攝養，故司天監趙延乂有袁、許之術，嘗謂人曰：「翟君外厚而內薄，雖貴而無壽。」 Guangye's skin was plump and fair and he was skilled at tending his health; the Astronomical Commissioner Zhao Yanyi, versed in the arts of Yuan and Xu, once told others, "Master Di is thick outside but thin within; though he rises high he will not live long."

暉之儀貌不及於常人，而位極將相，年登耳順，袁、許之術，夫何恃哉！ Hui's looks fell short of the ordinary, yet he rose to the summit of general and minister and lived to sixty—what need had he of the arts of Yuan and Xu!