Duke Jing dreamed of a vengeful ghost with disheveled hair, beating its chest and jumping, claiming Heaven had granted it leave to avenge the Zhao clan. The diviner Sangtian predicted the duke would "not taste the new grain." He died falling into a latrine pit before eating the new harvest.
Account
Duke Jing of Jin dreamed of a vengeful ghost with disheveled hair, beating its chest and jumping, claiming Heaven had granted it leave to avenge the Zhao clan. The diviner Sangtian predicted the duke would "not taste the new grain." When the new grain ripened, the duke — wanting to disprove the prophecy — ordered a meal prepared, but before eating, he felt a sudden swelling, went to the latrine, and fell in, drowning in the pit. The prophecy was fulfilled completely.
The Chinese idiom "病入膏肓" (the disease has entered the vital organs) originates from this event.
Sources
- Zuo Zhuan, Duke Cheng 10