The Collection of the Seven Scholars of Jian'an

Author: Yu Shaochu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features: The Jian'an period was an important era in the history of ancient Chinese literature, marked by flourishing creativity and outstanding achievements. Among the renowned writers of this period, in addition to the "Three Caos" (Cao Cao, Cao Pi, and Cao Zhi), the most notable were the "Seven Scholars" proposed by Cao Pi in his essay "Lun Wen," namely Kong Rong, Chen Lin, Wang Can, Xu Gan, Ruan Yu, Ying Yang, and Liu Zhen, collectively known as the "Seven Scholars of Jian'an." The lives of the Seven Scholars spanned over sixty years, from Kong Rong's birth in the third year of the Yujiagao era of Emperor Huandi of the Han Dynasty (153 AD) to Xu Gan's death in the twenty-third year of the Jianfa era of Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty (218 AD), coinciding with the turbulent period of social upheaval at the end of the Han Dynasty.
During the Eastern Han Dynasty, starting from Emperor Huandi's reign, eunuchs and relatives of the imperial family engaged in mutual strife, alternatingly seizing power, leading to increasingly corrupt and dark politics. Their ruthless oppression and exploitation of the people sparked the Yellow Turban Rebellion in the first year of Emperor Ling's middleping era (184 AD). Although this rebellion was brutally suppressed by the armed forces of the landlord class and ultimately failed, it left the Eastern Han Dynasty severely weakened and on the brink of collapse.