A Thousand Years of Chinese Literary Masterpieces: Biographies of Poets

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 life. 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, 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, seeking solace in 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 imprisoned in a 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 "far from the world's affairs" still "worry about their ruler." Though placed in obscurity, they remained restless and unwilling to be idle, hoping their voices would reach the king. Their intentions were simple—they hoped to leave a legacy as military strategists or political figures, carrying the sword of Wu and reclaiming the fifty states. But unfortunately, their honest and steadfast nature ultimately led them to seclusion. In the end, most scholars left behind simple literary works, rarely achieving 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 literary figures from the Qin and Han dynasties to the present, to supplement the shortcomings of official histories and delight the readers.