A Thousand Years of Chinese Literary Masterpieces - Biographies of Poets

Author: Qin Yu (Compiler)
Publisher:
Publishing 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 and unfamiliar with human affairs; or perhaps they were "flourishing in success, admiring the flowers of Chang'an," or ambitious and yearning for broader horizons, 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 "Marquis of Sima" and had 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 earnestly, hoping to raise their voices, giving rise to phrases 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 remained restless and unwilling to be idle, hoping the king would hear their voices. Their intentions were pure—they wanted to leave a mark as military strategists and statesmen, to wield the "Jiang Hou" sword and reclaim the fifty states. But unfortunately, their honest and steadfast nature ultimately led to their seclusion. In the end, most scholars left behind simple yet profound writings, while few achieved notable success in politics. Time may pass, but it cannot erase their footprints; the stars may shift, but they cannot take away their magnificent masterpieces. The compiler of this book has carefully collected biographies of scholars and literati from the Qin and Han dynasties to the present, aiming to supplement the deficiencies of official histories and delight the readers.