BIAN QUE AND KING HUAN

Once Bian Que went to the state of Qi, in northeastern China, where King Huan, who ruled the state, treated him as an honored guest. 

Bian Que told King Huan, “You have disease at the level of your muscles. If it is not treated, it will go deeper.”

King Huan said, “I am not sick.” Bian Que then left.

Five days later, Bian Que again visited King Huan and again said, “You have disease in the blood. If we do not treat it, it will go deeper.”

“King Huan said, “I am not sick.” Bian Que left again.

Five days later, Bian Que again visited King Huan and said, “You have a gastrointestinal disease. If not treated, it will go deeper.” King Huan did not answer, and Bian Que left again.

After five days, Bian Que was going to visit King Huan, but he walked away when he saw King Huan from afar. An attendant of King Huan asked him why he was leaving.

Bian Que said, “When the disease was in the muscles, medicine could treat it. In the blood, acupuncture could treat it. When gastrointestinal, medicinal liquor can treat it. But when disease is in the bone marrow, even the gods in charge of life cannot treat it. King Huan’s disease is in the bone marrow now, so I cannot treat it.”

After five days, King Huan was in pain and sent for Bian Que, but Bian Que had left. King Huan then died.

Bian Que, who lived at the beginning of the 5th century B.C.