Sharing the remaining words

Author: Wang Shizhen
Editor-in-Chief: Chen Donglin
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-03-01
Features: Excerpt:
Shuzao Shizhou, a jinshi graduate of Kangxi's Jiaxi year, served as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy.
23 Li Shiqian, an honest official
Li Shiqian, styled Jiyao, was from Shanyang, Huai'an. He became a jinshi in Shunzhi's Xinchou year and initially served as a prosecutor of Lu'an Prefecture. Later, he held the posts of magistrate of Leiling and Licheng counties, gaining a reputation for integrity. He was recalled to the capital as a censor and was known for his incorruptibility. Over time, he retired due to illness. During a severe famine in Shaanxi, he was specially appointed as a consultant to the grain supervision office. He remained steadfast in his principles, possessing no personal wealth. He died in office. Generals, governors, and other officials below him, finding his court overgrown with weeds, had no means to pay for his funeral. They collected money to buy a coffin and arrange his burial, returning his remains to Jianghuai.
I once served as a vice censor-in-chief and knew his character—truly a gentleman of antiquity.
24 In the late Northern Song Dynasty, those who studied poetry and prose were beaten with sticks during the reign of Emperor Daojun. On the suggestion of censors, those who practiced poetry and prose were beaten 100 times. Yin Tianmin, a teacher in Nanjing, upon arriving, burned all the classics from the Records of the Grand Historian down to Ouyang Xiu's History, leaving only the courtyard empty. Wang Anshi's scholarship had such a harmful effect on social morality and the human heart.
Additionally, the censor Li Yanzhang proposed this measure, claiming that poetry and prose were the core of the Yuanyou school of thought, targeting the four scholars Huang, Qin, Chao, and Zhang, while also attacking earlier figures like Tao Yuanming, Du Fu, and Li Bai, which was particularly ridiculous. When formulating laws, how could they be so arbitrary? These two sons truly lost their moral compass, being the most shameless of all!
25 Cui Qi and others were like beasts with human faces
During the reign of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty, many officials composed poems in response to imperial decrees, such as Cui Qi, Zheng Yin, and Song Zhiwen, who were like beasts with human faces. Zhang Jienzhi and the Five Kings were all killed by these three. They intended to support Wu Sansi, endangering the Tang state, and their crimes were equal to those of Zong Chuке. Their harsh voices also corrupted the elegance of poetry. Every time I read Tang poetry to this point, I cannot help but fume.
26 Posthumous honors transferred to his brother
In the current court, there is a practice of transferring posthumous honors to one's parents. Li Dehuang, as the governor of Jingnan, served as the acting vice minister of rites and grand councilor. During a period of imperial grace, he was to be posthumously honored with the title of his grandfather. Instead, he requested that his brother, the former governor of Chu Prefecture and vice minister of works, Dexiu, be posthumously honored as the minister of rites. This was a precedent never heard of in ancient or modern times.
27 Shi Runzhang's poetry is as sublime as Pan Lang's
Here is a poem by Pan Lang from the early Song Dynasty:
"Long journey sees gray hair,
Alone I return to Tonglu by boat.
New moon offers no bright light,
Setting sun leaves lingering glow.
Fisherman's pond, waters swift,
Longshan's village, smoke faint.
Flocks of wild geese on the sand—
Each takes flight southward."
This poetry is as sublime as that of Cen Jizhou. Another line, "Cool night makes rain seem near,
Silent courtyard seems empty of monks," is also excellent. My dear friend Shi Runzhang, styled Yushan, wrote in "A Night Stay at Tianyi Temple in Yuezhou":
"Moonlight shines on bamboo early,
Morning dew rises from sleeves."
This is also as sublime as Pan Lang's words.
28 The Mid-Autumn Festival of the eighth year of the Chunxi era