Lao Xue An Notes--Tang and Song

Author: (Song) Lu You
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-08-13
Features: The old scholar's pavilion is the foundation, dare not deceive oneself even in the slightest detail? Often silent in reading, yet the closed door has more teachers. Great difficulties reveal the truth, the sincere heart knows the hidden. Tang and Yu are before the eyes, this life is not yet a rhino. This is a poem self-titled by the famous Southern Song patriotic poet Lu You (styled Wuguan, styled Fangweng, 1125-1209) for his study, the Old Scholar's Pavilion (see Volume 50 of Jian Nan Shi Gao). The naming of the Old Scholar's Pavilion was likely around the late Chunxi period (1190), when Lu You retired to his hometown of Shanyin (now Jinghu Lake, Shaoxing, Zhejiang). The pavilion was by the side of Jinghu Lake, with only two thatched houses, but backed by green mountains and facing clear waters, which was actually a good place for Lu You to read and write. Lu You also explained the meaning behind naming the Old Scholar's Pavilion, saying it was "inspired by Shi Kang's saying that 'even in old age, learning is like walking at night with a candle'" (see the self-note to the poem "Old Scholar's Pavilion" in Volume 33 of Jian Nan Shi Gao). His notes from the Old Scholar's Pavilion were likely written during this period, though some entries may have been written before, but the final completion must have been during his time of studying by the side of Jinghu Lake, otherwise he would not have used "Old Scholar's Pavilion" as the title. Lu You's youngest son, Lu Ziyu, said: "The notes from the Old Scholar's Pavilion were written during the Chunxi and Shaoxi periods by the Grand Historian" [3]. This is largely reliable. Lu You was a famous poet and also a scholar with broad knowledge. The "Continued Records of Wuxi" described him as "possessing extensive learning, surpassing literary talent, and having a deep love for poetry. His other records and inscriptions were deeply profound; he was particularly familiar with the historical anecdotes and origins of figures from the previous dynasty. Thus, his reputation shone brightly in his time." Among Lu You's numerous works, the notes from the Old Scholar's Pavilion may not occupy a large proportion, but the content recorded is mostly based on the author's personal experiences, observations, and hearsay, making it rich in content and highly valuable for reference. Among them, there are many records of the anti-Jin activities, such as Volume 1 describing how Emperor Gaozong Zhao Gou "crossed the Yangtze River from Weiyang in great haste, with the two ministries still setting up canopies and riding off, while soldiers and civilians ambushed the Yellow Prime Minister with bricks," Volume 2 recording how a soldier from the Front Hall Department assassinated Qin Hui, and also recording how the folk painter Zhao Guang refused to paint for the Jin army even at the cost of having his right thumb chopped off, unwilling to be captured by the Jin forces. It also records how a commoner named Li He, famous for selling roasted chestnuts in the former Song capital Kaifeng, which was occupied by the Jin, had his son risk his life to present roasted chestnuts with tears to the envoy sent by the Southern Song to the Jin court. These entries reflect the patriotic fervor of the people, their anti-Jin sentiments, and their strong resentment toward the Southern Song ruling faction's surrenderists. Regarding the exposure of Qin Hui, Volume 1 records how Qin Hui "killed Yue Fei in Lin'an and was met with tears from the people," another entry describes how Qin Hui "when in power, often accused others of crimes, his power was terrifying," Volume 3 records Qin Hui's "ten guests," Volume 2 records how the people of Song Bianzhong mocked Qin Hui's deeds as "an achievement that could not be abandoned," Volume 8 records Qin Hui's autocratic and petty nature, and Volume 2, 3, and 5 respectively record how Qin Hui's son Qin Xie and granddaughter acted arrogantly and tyrannically. Regarding peasant uprisings, Volume 3 records Tong Guan's sale of official ranks during the suppression of Fang La's rebellion, and Volume 9 records the course of the peasant uprisings led by Wang Xiaoguo (Bo) and Li Shun, which helps in understanding peasant uprisings. The notes also contain a large amount of content on the famous items, rituals, and institutions of the time, as well as various anecdotes and interesting stories, which are helpful for the study of cultural history. Additionally, Lu You's "Shan-Hui Shi Hua" (Mountain-Hui Poetic Discourses) has not been passed down, but the notes preserve some materials on poetic theory, revealing some of his views on poetry. Regarding the notes from the Old Scholar's Pavilion, predecessors have given many good evaluations. Chen Zhenzong in "Direct Records of the Straight and Equal Books" said that Lu You "knew his predecessors, and by the time he reached old age, what he recorded and heard was truly remarkable. The 'Four Treasuries General Catalogue' says the notes 'often contain anecdotes and old classics that are sufficient for verification.' Li Ciming in 'Yue Man Tang Reading Records' said it 'describes historical anecdotes, occasionally examines old texts, all of which are meticulous, and the discussions on current affairs and figures are also mostly fair.' These words are not excessive. In summary, the content is rich, the attitude is serious, and the material is strong, making this notes a standout among the records of the Song people.