An Investigation of the Writings on Divination by Clouds and Vapours from the Three Kingdoms to the Sui-T'ang Periods.

In traditional China, astrological and meteorological manifestations were considered as signs to indicate the future happenings on earth. Therefore, the qualification of a military commander entailed an ability to understand these signs in order to gain a foreknowledge of movement in the enemy camp, whether fortune would favour the offensive or the defensive, the propitious moment to advance or retreat, and so on. There were many writings which contained the secret knowledge of reading military movements through the observation of clouds (yün ...) and vapours (ch'i ...); they were especially prevalent during the periods when China was afflicted by civil wars and foreign invasions. This article is a study of these writings from the Three Kingdoms to the Sui-T'ang periods. The article and another one entitled "A Survey of the Writings on Divination by Clouds and Vapours from Ancient Times to the Han Dynasty" (...) (Chung-kuo Shih Yen-chiu ..., vol. 1988 no. 1 [February, 1988) 133-139) serve as supplements to my book A Study of the Fragmentary Tun-huang Manuscript Chan Yün-ch'i Shu ... (Taipei: I-wen Publishing Company, 1985, with Ho Peng Yoke). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]