The Administration of Buddhism in China: A Study and Translation ...

(linhuo 燐火), which formed at the sight of battles where much blood was shed. When the blood of the soldiers, coupled with the blood of oxen and horses, soaked into the earth and coagulated there, phenomena such as this occurred. Afterwards Liu Kai excavated the site and found fragments of old weapons. In this way, Zanning provided a naturalistic explanation for phosphorescent glow, which was popularly thought to represent an unrequited spirit or phantom.⁵⁹

Another story from the same collection reveals how Zanning’s knowledge of strange phenomena impressed officials. An unusual painting passed into the hands of Emperor Taizong as part of the tribute accompanying the return of the Southern Tang (Nan Tang) kingdom to Song control.⁶⁰ The unusual aspect of the painting was associated with an ox that during the day appeared in the painting eating grass outside a pen, but at night appeared as lying down inside the pen. When the painting was shown at court, none of the officials could explain the phenomena. Zanning alone understood it. According to Zanning, the “southern barbarians,” when the tide is out, collect drops of liquid left on the shore by a certain kind of oyster, and use it to make colored ink which appears only at night, but not during the day. Another kind of “invisible” ink that appears in the daytime but not at night is produced by grinding up volcanic rocks that have fallen down to the shore. The scholars all refused, at first, to believe Zanning’s explanation, saying there was no basis for it. Zanning replied that the explanation could be found in Zhang Qian’s 張騫 Record of Strange Phenomena in Foreign Countries (Haiwai yiyi ji 海外異物記).⁶¹ When the collection of works in the imperial library was examined, Du Hao 杜鎬 (d.u.) found the reference in a document dating from the Southern dynasties (ca. third to sixth centuries).⁶²

These stories cannot be verified for accuracy, but at the very least suggest Zanning’s reputation for erudition in the early Song literati imaginaire. They reflect the vast range of Zanning’s knowledge and show how it could favorably influence an otherwise skeptical officialdom. Even the likes of Liu Kai, the most intolerant on guwen officials, came to