Abstract
When hunting in a marsh, Duke Huan of Qi (685–643 v. Chr.) sees a ghost. As his carriage driver does not notice it, the duke completely loses his balance. Back in his palace, he falls into a state of apathy, grows ill, and is not longer able to leave his rooms. A gentleman of Qi with the “telltale” name Huangzi Gaoao, 皇子告敖, restores him to health with skilful and inspired explanations perfectly adapted to the situation. The present research describes the three steps of Huangzi Gaoao’s crisis intervention: 1) Exploring the possible relation of power and dominance between the ghost and the duke. 2) The energetic diagnosis. 3) The trance induction resulting from making the duke remember and imagine the traditional spirits living in a home or in nature. Finally, Huangzi Gaoao invents an additional spirit specifically able to induce the final healing. An overview of the spirits named in this episode is appended.
Leder, Alfred