Biography of the Rascal - A Thousand Years of Chinese Literary Treasures

Author: Qin Yu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: "Those who excel in learning should serve in the government." In ancient China, scholars were closely tied to official careers. However, these scholars might be new to the bureaucracy, unfamiliar with human affairs; or perhaps they were "flourishing in success, admiring the flowers of Chang'an," or ambitious and full of aspirations for the world, but often their wishes clashed with reality. Their upright nature made it difficult for them to navigate the official path. Some grew weary and voluntarily resigned, turning to nature; others were demoted to the position of a marshal, finding solace in mountains and rivers. Thus, one after another, timeless masterpieces were slowly written; thus, phrases like "long confined in the cage, finally returning to nature" and "helpless to watch flowers fall" were widely praised. Yet, they did not truly distance themselves from official life. Some of them spoke earnestly, hoping to raise their voices, giving rise to sayings like "though of humble rank, one dare not forget the nation's worries," and even those "distant from the world" still "worry about their ruler." Though placed in obscurity, they remained restless and unwilling to be idle, hoping the king would hear their voices. Their goals were simple—they hoped to leave a mark as military strategists or political figures, to wield the "Jiang Hou" (a sword-like ornament) and reclaim the fifty states. Unfortunately, their honest and steadfast nature ultimately led to their seclusion. In the end, most scholars left the world through pure literature, while few achieved prominence in politics. Time may pass, but it cannot erase their footprints; the stars may shift, but they cannot take away their magnificent masterpieces. The editors of this book have carefully collected biographies of scholars and literati from the Qin and Han dynasties to the present, to supplement the shortcomings of official histories and delight the readers.