The Unusual Life of a Song Dynasty Literary Official

Author: Wang Jinglun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-02-02
Features: The Song Dynasty was a paradise for scholars-officials. The imperial decree issued by Emperor Taizu prohibiting the killing of scholars-officials allowed them to live more freely, carefree, and even bold than officials of any other dynasty. Political struggles in the Song Dynasty were relatively mild; if a minister violated the law, they were rarely executed but more often demoted or exiled to distant regions. As a result, ministers could refuse to meet an emperor who was poorly dressed, could be infatuated with young courtesans, or could even compete with the emperor in drinking games, which seemed somewhat abnormal. However, this abnormality was something that modern people yearned for. In a relaxed environment, Song Dynasty scholars-officials, on one hand, served in the world as officials, seeking the pleasures of the mortal world; on the other hand, they transcended worldly life as immortals, exploring the charm of the wild and free, achieving a complementary life between Confucianism and Taoism. While most scholars-officials entered the civil service for the sake of livelihood through imperial examinations, their true desired life was a carefree, natural existence, like fish swimming in water and birds returning to the forest—free, leisurely, poetic, and authentic.