The Master, Puk-chang, was a noted Korean. From the time of his
birth he was a wonderful mystery. In reading a book, if he but glanced
through it, he could recall it word for word. Without any special study
he became a master of astronomy, geology, medicine, fortune-telling,
music, mathematics and geomancy, and so truly a specialist was he
that he knew them all.
He was thoroughly versed also in the three great religions,
Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. He talked constantly of what
other people could not possibly comprehend. He understood the sounds
of the birds, the voices of Nature, and much else. He accompanied
his father in his boyhood days when he went as envoy to Peking. At
that time, strange barbarian peoples used also to come and pay their
tribute. Puk-chang picked up acquaintance with them on the way. Hearing
their language but once, he was readily able to communicate with
them. His own countrymen who accompanied him were not the only
ones astonished, nor the Chinamen themselves, but the barbarians
as well. There are numerous interesting stories hinted at in the
history of Puk-chang, but few suitable records were made of them,
and so many are lost.
There is one, however, that I recall that comes to me through
trustworthy witnesses: Puk-chang, on a certain day, went to visit
his paternal aunt. She asked him to be seated, and as they talked
together, said to him, "I had some harvesting to do in Yong-nam
County, and sent a servant to see to it. His return is overdue and
yet he does not come. I am afraid he has fallen in with thieves,
or chanced on a fire or some other misfortune."
Puk-chang replied, "Shall I tell you how it goes with him, and how
far he has come on the way?"