Page:The passing of Korea.djvu/527

 in three throws, which forms a trial, there are many possible combinations. The pansu has learned a set formula for each combination, and so it is apparent that this formula must be in the form of an enigma, for it must answer any question that the client may ask. Let us suppose that the man has asked when his friend will get out of jail, and the answer comes: "If the net is old, the carp will break through." This he will forthwith explain to mean that as carp are always caught in winter the friend will languish in durance vile till winter comes. The skill of the pansu is exhibited in fitting the formula to the question in hand. They are a little more accommodating than the priests of the Delphic Oracle in Greece, where the client had to do the guessing himself.

The second form, called "money divination," is accomplished by the use of four, six or eight ancient Korean coins. Those with the seal character on them are the best, but any will do, provided they are old. The diviner shakes the coins in his hand and lets a certain number of them drop. The combination which appears tells him what formula to apply. There are hundreds of ways to manipulate the coins, and each pansu has his own favourite way, just as different cooks have their favourite recipes for preparing food.

The method of practising "book divination" is to ask the questioner in what year, what month, what day and what hour he was born. These four dates, taken two and two, in every combination give four characters, and from these the diviner makes up a verse of poetry. Then he determines which character best fits the case of his client. Using this as an index, he looks up the corresponding passage in his diviner's book, which he carries as faithfully as the surveyor does his table of logarithms, and the passage which he finds will be the enigma from which his client must extract an answer to his question.

Another form of book divination is carried on by the use of the volume called "Record of Previous Existence." This is based upon the fact that many Koreans believe the ills of the