Biography of Shen Yue, the Master of Rhetoric

Author: Lin Jiali
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-12-01
Features: Shen Yue, styled Xiwen, was a native of Wukang (now Xuding County, Zhejiang Province) in the Wu region of the Southern Dynasties. He held official positions in the Song, Qi, and Liang dynasties, and traditional history generally regards him as a figure of the Liang Dynasty. Shen Yue came from a prominent aristocratic family during the Southern Dynasties. There is a saying in history that "No family in Jiangdong was as powerful as Zhou or Shen," highlighting the high social status of his family. From a young age, Shen Yue was diligent in his studies. He would review the books he read during the day at night. His mother worried that his body could not withstand such intense studying and often reduced the amount of lamp oil he used, removing the fire for warmth early. In his youth, Shen Yue had already "become proficient in all fields of knowledge," wrote excellent essays, and developed a strong interest in history. The land of Zhejiang, though not particularly vast but deeply rooted in culture, has nurtured numerous cultural figures: Wang Xizhi, Xie Lingyun, Luo Binwang, Meng Jiao, Han Shan, Zhao Mengfu, Huang Gongwang, Wang Meng, Mao Dun, Xia Yan, Yu Dafu, Zhu Kezhen, and Tong Dizhou. They devoted their talents to the inheritance and innovation of culture, achieving great accomplishments. The "Biographical Series of Zhejiang Cultural Figures" is a cultural project launched by the Zhejiang Academy of Social Sciences in response to the call of the provincial party committee and government, introducing the biographies of 100 ancient and modern Zhejiang-native cultural figures. This book is one of the series, introducing the great master of poetry—Shen Yue.