Biography of a Romancer　Essential Chinese Literary Works of a Thousand Years

Author: Beijing Jinhua Publishing House
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-04-29
Features: "Those who excel in learning should serve in the government." In ancient China, scholars were closely tied to the official path. However, these scholars might be new to the bureaucracy, unfamiliar with human affairs; or perhaps they were "flourishing as if seeing the flowers of Chang'an," yet again, or ambitious, with 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 (historical title), having to find solace in mountains and rivers. Thus, one after another, timeless masterpieces were slowly written; and lines like "Long confined in the cage, finally returned to nature" and "Helpless to watch flowers fall" were widely praised. Yet, they did not truly distance themselves from the official world. Some of them spoke passionately, hoping to raise their voices, giving rise to lines like "Though of humble rank, I dare not forget the nation's worries," and even those "distant from the world" still "worry about their ruler." Though placed in obscurity, they were restless and unwilling to be idle, hoping the king would hear their voices. Their purpose was simple: they wanted to leave a mark as military strategists or political figures, carrying the "Jiang Hou" (a sword symbolizing military might) to reclaim the fifty states. Unfortunately, their honest and steadfast nature ultimately led to their seclusion. In the end, most scholars left the world through simple writings, 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 compilers 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.