Appreciation of Ming and Qing Leisurely Short Pieces: Landscape and Figures

Author: / Country: Mainland China
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Publishing Date: 2001-12-01
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Lǐ Gē was a woman from Bàzhōu. Her mother was "Yīzhīméi," a courtesan. At the age of fourteen, her mother taught her singing and dancing. Lǐ frowned and said, "Everyone has a spouse, why am I the only courtesan?" Her mother explained that they relied on her for food and clothing. Lǐ then made a deal with her mother: "If you can spare me from luxury and rich food, it's fine. Otherwise, I will die." Her mother, fearing for her life, pretended to agree. From then on, Lǐ wore only white and plain clothes, but her hair was combed in elegant styles. Her beauty was like jade and snow, making her seem like a celestial being. When invited to gatherings, Lǐ would first ask if there were any vicious young men present before attending. Before leaving, she would send someone to check again. People were familiar with her behavior and dared not speak disrespectfully to her. When she arrived, she would sing several songs about Taoist immortals, sitting silently with a dignified expression. If anyone tried to flirt with her, she would wave her sleeves and leave immediately without hesitation. On subsequent invitations, she would refuse to attend. One day, the magistrate of Jìyín County, a young man, sent gold to her mother, hoping to take advantage of her. Lǐ entered the house with a knife, supported the door with a large log, and cursed, "I've heard that magistrates are the guardians of public morals. Even if you can't uphold them, why would you ruin them? You wear a (official robes) but act like a dog or pig. You are truly a thief, not an official! Come here! Come here! I will kill you first and then kill myself!" The magistrate fled in terror. At the time, the governor of Jìanzhou admired her virtue and had a son studying for the imperial exams. He proposed to Lǐ as his wife, and she was still a virgin. After living together for several years, chaos broke out in the world, and the couple fled as refugees but were captured by bandits. The bandits, impressed by Lǐ's beauty, wanted to kill her husband and marry her. Lǐ hugged her husband and cursed, "If you want to kill my husband, kill me first. I would rather die than become a bandit with you." Enraged, the bandits killed both of them. Alas! Even a courtesan could have such integrity—how tragic! —From The Complete Works of Lord Song Wenxian
Wú Shì was fond of boasting and elevating his own abilities, claiming no one in the world could match him. He was especially skilled in discussing military strategy, always praising Sun Tzu and Wu Qi. During the chaos of the Yuan dynasty, Zhang Shicheng declared himself king in Gusu and competed with the Ming dynasty for dominance. The battle was undecided when Wú Shì went to meet Zhang Shicheng and said, "I observe that the current situation in the world benefits Gusu the most. Gusu is the richest in grain and silk, and its army is the strongest. However, those who fail to become rulers are mediocre. Now, your generals are all lowly men who don't know strategy. Fighting like mice is futile. If you can command me, the Central Plains can be ours. What's there to fear from small enemies?" Zhang Shicheng agreed and made him a general, allowing him to recruit his own troops. He warned the grain officials not to question his expenses. Wú Shì had previously traveled to Qiantang and associated with vagrants and weak men, recruiting them as soldiers. Many unscrupulous men joined him, and he consumed tens of thousands of units of grain monthly. In his free time, he would slaughter animals, prepare wine, and entertain his recruits, but he never actually led an army. When Lǐ Cao, the Duke of Cao, defeated Qiantang, Wú Shì and his men fled without resistance. They were captured, bound, and executed at the gate. Even at the moment of death, he still said, "I am skilled in the strategies of Sun Tzu and Wu Qi." —From The Collection of Xu Zhi Zhai
[Commentary] The story of Wú Shì serving Zhang Shicheng and being defeated is not recorded in history—it may just be a legend from that time, but he was indeed a typical figure. He was good at talking about military strategy but knew nothing about commanding battles. Yet he went to meet Zhang Shicheng, arrogantly claiming that if he led the army, the Central Plains could be conquered. Tragically, Zhang Shicheng, without proper investigation, actually made him a general and allowed him to recruit soldiers. But when the enemy arrived, he fled without even fighting a battle and was captured and executed. Such men as Wú Shì, who could boast about military strategy but lacked actual ability, were not uncommon in history. A famous example is Zhao Kuo from the Warring States period, who could talk endlessly about military tactics but even his own father, the true strategist Zhao She, couldn't match him. Later, when he replaced Lian Po as general, he was decisively defeated by the Qin army at Changping. Not only did he die, but 400,000 Zhao soldiers were also captured and massacred by Bai Qi. This lesson is indeed painful. However, such talkers could be very persuasive in their discussions, easily misleading people. Even Zhuge Liang, the clever and wise strategist of the Three Kingdoms period, was misled by Ma Su, leading to the loss of Jieting and a heavy blow to the northern campaign. It shows that distinguishing between true ability and mere talk is not easy.
In the postscript to The Yue Witch and Wú Shì, the author wrote, "I have seen many people die from their own lies and arrogance, yet they remain unaware of their faults. How confusing! While traveling in Wu and Yue, I heard these two stories and collected them as a warning to the world." Even today, these tales still serve as a cautionary reminder.
Hán Huā Zhuàng Zhì
Gui Youguang
A maid, Wei Ruiren's concubine, died on the fourth day of the fifth month in the Dingyou year of the Jiajing era and was buried in Xūqiu. She served me but did not survive—such is fate! When the maid first came as a concubine, she was ten years old, with twin braids and wearing deep green cloth robes. One cold day, she boiled lotus roots until they were tender. She (xuē -) them into a full bowl. When I returned from outside, I took one to eat; the maid took the bowl away, not giving any to me. Wei Ruiren laughed at her. The mistress often had the maid sit by the table to eat, and her eyes would flutter as she ate. Wei Ruiren would point her out to me and laugh. Thinking back, it was already ten years since then. Alas, how tragic!
[Commentary] Separation and death are the most painful experiences in life, and even time cannot erase the lasting wounds. Especially when writing a funeral epitaph for the deceased, memories flood back. As the saying goes, "After the pain has subsided, the pain remains." Hán Huā was the maid of Gui Youguang's late wife, Wei. When she came to the Gui household at the age of ten, she was still a innocent girl. Five years later, Wei passed away; four years after that, Hán Huā also died, at only nineteen. A young woman at the peak of her youth was now buried in a desolate mound. When writing the epitaph, the author vividly recalled Hán Huā's appearance ten years earlier: her twin braids, her deep green cloth robes, and her innocent, childlike demeanor. He remembered a winter day when Hán Huā had boiled lotus roots and (xuē -) them into a full bowl. When he entered the room, he took one, but Hán Huā refused, taking the bowl away. She had done so because she wanted to give them to her mistress. Her little scheming, her obvious affection and partiality to her mistress, and her endearing innocence drew the mistress's loving and kind laughter. The author also remembered how Hán Huā's bright, black eyes would twinkle as she ate, her childlike and adorable expression. Wei Ruiren would then point her out to him and laugh again. These small, trivial incidents vividly portrayed the image of an endearing little girl while also conveying the warm, close bond between mistress and maid.
Hu Huaichen, a modern critic, remarked on this essay: "He skillfully captures the spirit of the maid, expressing her emotions in a subtle and lifelike manner." (See A Hundred Methods of Classical Writing) These small details are about Hán Huā, but between the lines, they also reflect the author's grief for his late wife. Hán Huā taking the bowl of lotus roots, "Wei Ruiren laughed at her"; Hán Huā eating, "her eyes fluttered, and Wei Ruiren laughed again at me." These everyday scenes were once dismissed as trivial, but now, in the author's heart, they have become precious memories and painful remembrances. "Alas, how tragic!" The sigh at the end of the essay weighs heavily on the reader's heart, lingering long after.
Gāng Fēng Huàn Náng
Zhou Hui
The Justices of the Peace of the Ministry of Revenue, Gāng Fēng Hǎi Gōng, died in his official residence. Among his fellow officials in Nanjing, only Su Minhuái from the Ministry of Revenue remained. Su Minhuái examined his belongings and found only eight taels of salary in a bamboo cage, a length of ramie cloth, and several old clothes. How many Justices of the Peace like this can there be! Wang Sīkòu Fengzhōu once remarked on him: "He fears death, loves money, and does not form factions." These nine characters perfectly summarize Hǎi Gōng's life. Even if a thousand words of flattery were written, could this praise be improved? —From Jinling
[Commentary] The story of Gāng Fēng Hǎi Gōng serving as a Justice of the Peace and his integrity is not recorded in history—it may just be a legend from that time, but he was indeed a typical figure. He was fearless of death, loved money, and did not form factions. This nine-character summary perfectly captures his life. Even if a thousand words of flattery were written, could this praise be improved?