The Collected Works of Tao Yuanming -- Basic Collection of Chinese Family Bookshelves

Author: Guo Jianping
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Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: Tao Yuanming, also known as Yuan, styled Liang. Born in Chaisang, Xunyang (now southwest of Jiujiang, Jiangxi), he lived from the third year of Emperor Xining of the Jin Dynasty (365 AD) to the fourth year of Emperor Yuangai of the Southern Dynasties (427 AD), aged sixty-three. He lived during the transition between the Jin and Southern Dynasties, spending most of his time in the Eastern Jin Dynasty. That was an era of extreme political darkness and corruption. Tao Yuanming was born into a declining official family. His great-grandfather, Tao Kan, was a founding hero of the Eastern Jin Dynasty and served as Grand Marshal. His grandfather, Tao Mao, and father, Tao Yi, both held positions similar to that of a governor. His maternal grandfather, Meng Jia, was a renowned scholar of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Tao Yuanming's grandfather and father were not the legitimate successors to Tao Kan's titles; his father passed away when Tao Yuanming was seven or eight years old, so he lived in poverty from a young age. Influenced by his family environment, Tao Yuanming developed a love for reading at a very young age and had a particular interest in Confucian classics. His reading range included not only Confucian classics but also the widely popular Laozi and Zhuangzi of the Jin Dynasty era, as well as a vast number of historical and literary works from the pre-Qin to the Han and Wei periods, extensively engaging with ancient cultural heritage. In his youth, Tao Yuanming had a grand ambition to "benefit the masses" (Gan Shi Bu Yu Fu), hoping to achieve something significant. From the eighteenth year of Emperor Taiyuan of the Jin Dynasty (393 AD) to the first year of Emperor Yixi of the Jin Dynasty (405 AD), over these thirteen years, Tao Yuanming held various positions such as Libationer, Military Attendant, and County Magistrate. With his upright and incorruptible character, he clashed with the corrupt atmosphere of officialdom and resigned multiple times. His last resignation came from the position of Magistrate of Pengze, ending his official career. From then on, he felt immense spiritual liberation and truly embraced the path of "manual labor and farming." In the early days of returning to farming, Tao Yuanming and his family participated in the labor, with a servant assisting them. They were well-fed and content. In June 408 AD, during the fourth year of Yixi, their home was completely destroyed by a fire, and the family had to live on a boat. In the sixth year of Yixi (410 AD), they moved to Nan Village, reasoning that it had some good neighbors—a mix of farmers, reclusive scholars of Xunyang, as well as minor officials like military attendants, chief clerks, and county magistrates. Tao Yuanming continued to live the life of "self-sufficient farming" in Nan Village, but his family's financial situation deteriorated significantly. He often toiled all year round but struggled to make ends meet. Regarding the issues of entering office and withdrawing from it, Tao Yuanming experienced some conflicts. Due to his clear understanding of the corrupt politics of the time, he resolutely refused to align himself with the rulers. In the late years of Yixi, he again rejected the imperial court's appointment as a Court Scholar. In his later years, plagued by poverty and illness, Tao Yuanming grew increasingly frail. He passed away in November 427 AD, the fourth year of Emperor Yuangai of the Southern Dynasties.