Prijateljstvo onkraj smrti

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Prijateljstvo onkraj smrti

Fan Shi of the Han dynasty, courtesy name Juqing, was a native of Jinxiang in Shanyang. His given name was also written Fan (泛). He was a friend of Zhang Shao of Runan, whose courtesy name was Fubo. The two studied together at the Imperial Academy. Later, when they took their leave to return to their native places, Fan Shi said to Yuanbo, “In two years I shall come back. On my way, I will call to pay my respects to your mother and see your children.” They agreed upon a day. As the appointed time approached, Yuanbo told his mother all about it and asked her to prepare a meal to await his friend. His mother said, “You have been parted for two years, and he made his promise a thousand li away. How can you be so certain he will keep it?” He replied, “Juqing is a man of his word. He will surely not fail me.” His mother said, “If that is so, I shall brew wine for you.” On the appointed day, Fan Shi indeed arrived. He entered the hall, paid his respects, and drank with them. They parted only after enjoying themselves to the full. Later, Yuanbo fell gravely ill. Dao Junzhang and Yin Zizheng, men of the same commandery, came morning and night to attend him. As he lay dying, Yuanbo sighed and said, “My one regret is that I cannot see my friend in death.” Zizheng said, “Junzhang and I have devoted ourselves wholeheartedly to you. If we are not your friends in death, whom else could you seek?” Yuanbo replied, “You two are my friends in life. Fan Juqing of Shanyang is what I call a friend in death.” Soon afterward, he died. Fan Shi suddenly dreamed that Yuanbo appeared before him, wearing a dark ceremonial cap with its tassels hanging down and slippers on his feet. He called out, “Juqing! I died on such-and-such a day, and at such-and-such a time I am to be buried, to return forever to the Yellow Springs. If you have not forgotten me, can you reach me in time?” Fan Shi awoke with a start, and tears fell as he lamented. He at once put on the mourning clothes proper to a friend and hurried away, hoping to arrive by the day of the burial. Before he could reach the place, however, the funeral procession had already set out. When it reached the grave and the coffin was about to be lowered, the coffin would not move forward. Yuanbo’s mother laid her hand upon it and said, “Yuanbo! Is there someone you are waiting for?” They kept the coffin there for a while. Then they saw a plain carriage drawn by white horses approaching, its occupant wailing aloud. His mother gazed toward it and said, “That must be Fan Juqing.” When Fan Shi arrived, he struck the coffin in grief and said, “Go now, Yuanbo! The living and the dead must take different roads. Here we part forever.” A thousand people had gathered for the burial, and all wiped away their tears. Fan Shi then took hold of the funeral rope and drew the coffin onward. Only then did it move. He stayed beside the grave to see the mound completed and trees planted, and only afterward departed.