Zhao Da

Historical Record

Zhao Da, a native of Henan, studied from childhood under the Han Palace Attendant Shan Fu, learning the art of the Nine Palaces single-reckoning, and through his subtle powers of reasoning penetrated deeply into the mysteries of this learning^[1]. He foresaw that there was a royal aura in the southeast, and to escape the chaotic age crossed the Yangtze to the lands south of the river. Zhao Da's reckoning ability was extraordinary; he could respond on the instant and answer as if divinely inspired, even precisely calculating the number of locusts and predicting hidden objects, in every case with results that came true. Once someone doubted the accuracy of his locust calculation, whereupon Zhao Da had the man scatter several pecks of small beans on a mat, and he could immediately reckon their number, which on inspection proved correct to the last bean^[1].

Zhao Da once visited an old friend, who held a banquet to entertain him but said during the feast that the wine and meat were insufficient. Zhao Da picked up the chopsticks from the dish and, after gauging back and forth, pointed out that beneath the eastern wall the friend had hidden one hu of fine wine and three jin of venison, astonishing all the guests and the host alike. The host admitted he had meant to test Zhao Da's skill, and then brought out the wine and meat for all to drink together. On another occasion, someone placed a slip inscribed with a number in the millions into an empty granary and sealed it, asking Zhao Da to reckon it. Zhao Da accurately calculated the number, and said that it "had a name but no substance"—his subtlety is evident here^[1].

Despite possessing such profound skill, Zhao Da prized his learning exceedingly and would not lightly pass it on. Even when such famed scholars and worthies as Kan Ze and Yin Li personally humbled themselves to seek instruction, Zhao Da kept it secret and would not divulge it^[2]. The Assistant Grand Astrologer Gongsun Teng once served Zhao Da as a master for a long time, toiling diligently for years; although Zhao Da once promised to teach him, he repeatedly stopped just at the critical moment. Later Gongsun Teng prepared wine vessels and respectfully sought instruction, and only then did Zhao Da speak his heart: his forebears had obtained this art originally meaning to become teachers to emperors, but for three generations had risen no higher than Astrologer Gentleman, and so he was unwilling to pass it on again. He also said that this art was subtle, and that even between father and son it was not spoken of. Yet, moved by Gongsun Teng's unflagging devotion, Zhao Da finally decided to teach him. He brought out two scrolls of plain writing and had Gongsun Teng copy and read them, agreeing that after several days, once he had pondered and discoursed on them once more, he would teach him. But when Gongsun Teng came at the appointed time, Zhao Da falsely claimed the scrolls had been lost, suspecting they had been stolen by his son-in-law, and thereafter broke off the instruction^[2].

When Sun Quan was on campaign, he often had Zhao Da make reckonings, and the results were all as he had said^[3]. Sun Quan once asked about his method of reckoning, but Zhao Da steadfastly refused to disclose it, and for this reason he was not greatly employed, his salary and rank remaining low. The Book of Wu records that after Sun Quan proclaimed himself emperor, he asked Zhao Da how many years he might enjoy his imperial position. Zhao Da answered, "Twelve years from the founding reign-year of Gaozu—Your Majesty's will be double that." Sun Quan was greatly pleased, and those around him all cried "Ten thousand years," and it later proved indeed as Zhao Da had said^[3].

Zhao Da often mocked those occult practitioners who watched the stars and gazed at vapors, holding that they ought to be able, within their curtains, to know the way of Heaven without going out the door and window, rather than exposing themselves day and night out of doors to observe the atmospheric signs, which was no easy task^[4]. When at leisure with nothing to do, he once reckoned for himself and sighed, "My allotted span will end on such-and-such a day of such-and-such a month in such-and-such a year." His wife, having witnessed the accuracy of Zhao Da's reckoning, burst into tears on hearing this. To comfort his wife, Zhao Da reckoned again and changed his words, saying, "I made an error just now; the time has not yet come." Yet in the end he died right on the appointed day^[4]. Sun Quan, hearing that Zhao Da had left behind a written work, sent men to search for it without success, and afterward questioned his daughter and opened the coffin to inspect it, but again found nothing, and his art was thus lost forever^[4].

In the Novel

The Romance of the Three Kingdoms does not give Zhao Da any literary portrayal, so there is no specific plot or characterization of him in the novel. The historical sources record that Zhao Da was versed in the art of the Nine Palaces single-reckoning, able to foretell the future and reckon with astonishing precision; but in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a novel centered on military struggle and heroic figures, a person like Zhao Da, whose strength lay in occult arts and who did not directly take part in military or political struggle, would generally not be drawn into the main narrative line. Therefore the "in the novel" portion concerning Zhao Da may be regarded as not clearly recorded in history.

Key Relationships

* Shan Fu (student_of): Zhao Da's teacher, who passed on to him the art of the Nine Palaces single-reckoning^[1].
* Eastern Wu (serves): The side Zhao Da served; Sun Quan repeatedly had him reckon fortune and misfortune and relied to some degree on his ability^[3].
* Gongsun Teng (student_of): Zhao Da's disciple, who long followed Zhao Da in study but ultimately failed to fully obtain his true teaching^[2].
* Kan Ze, Yin Li (seekers of instruction): Two famed scholars and worthies who sought instruction from Zhao Da, but Zhao Da kept it secret and would not tell them^[2].
* Sun Quan (ruler): Zhao Da's sovereign, who appreciated his arts of reckoning but, because Zhao Da would not disclose his method, did not greatly employ him^[3].

Iconic Scenes

* Reckoning the small beans: To prove the subtlety of his reckoning, Zhao Da had several pecks of small beans scattered on a mat and could immediately and accurately reckon their number, convincing all^[1].
* Seeing through the hidden wine and meat: At a friend's banquet, Zhao Da by reckoning pointed out that fine wine and venison were hidden beneath the friend's eastern wall, exposing the friend's test and displaying his insight^[1].
* Predicting his own lifespan: Zhao Da once reckoned for himself and foretold the date of his own death; although he changed his words to comfort his wife, he ultimately died right on the appointed day, showing the accuracy of his reckoning and a sense of fated destiny^[4].
* Withholding his secret art: Zhao Da treasured his art of the Nine Palaces single-reckoning so greatly that even facing famed scholars and diligent disciples he would never lightly pass it on, even putting people off with falsehoods, so that in the end his art was lost forever^[2].
* Predicting Sun Quan's years on the throne: After Sun Quan proclaimed himself emperor, Zhao Da accurately predicted the length of his reign, namely "Twelve years from the founding reign-year of Gaozu—Your Majesty's will be double that," a prediction later confirmed^[3].