Who are the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove?

The Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove refer to the seven celebrities in the Wei Dynasty of the Three Kingdoms: Ji Kang, Ruan Ji, Shan Tao, Xiang Xiu, Liu Ling, Ruan Xian and Wang Rong.

They often gathered under the bamboo forest in Shanyang (now Xiuwu, Henan), where they enjoyed themselves as much as they wanted. They were called the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Forest in old times. Most of them admire the learning of Lao and Zhuang, do not adhere to etiquette, and are open-minded by nature. Politically, Ruan Ji, Liu Ling, and Ji Kang all held an uncooperative attitude towards the Sima Group, and Ji Kang was even killed because of this. On the contrary, Wang Rong, Shan Tao, etc. successively took refuge in the Sima family, served as senior officials, and became the confidants of his regime. In terms of article creation, Ji Kang and Ruan Ji are the representatives. For example, Ji Kang's "A Letter on Breaking Diplomacy with Shan Juyuan" used Lao and Zhuang's admiration for nature as an argument to explain that he was not worthy of being an official, and publicly stated his political attitude of not cooperating with the Sima family. The article is quite famous; another example is Ruan Ji's " The eighty-two poems "Yong Huai" use metaphors, sustenance and other techniques to implicitly expose the evil deeds of the highest ruling group and satirize the hypocritical etiquette people. Through the creation of the articles of the Seven Sages, we can get a glimpse of their respective ambitions and interests.

Ji Kang

Ji Kang (223-262) was a famous writer, thinker and musician in the Wei Dynasty during the Three Kingdoms. The word is Shuye. A native of Qiao Guozhi (southwest of today's Suxian County, Anhui Province). Ji Kang was the son-in-law of the Wei clan. He served as a doctor in Zhongsan and was known as Ji Zhongsan in the world. He admires Laozi and Zhuangzi and pays attention to the way of maintaining health and eating. He is the author of "On Health Preservation". As famous as Ruan Ji, he is one of the "Seven Sages of the Bamboo Forest". "Wei's Spring and Autumn Annals": "(Ji Kang) traveled in the bamboo forest with Chen Liu, Ruan Ji, Hanoi Shantao, Henan Xiangxiu, Ji's brother Zi Xian, Langxie Wang Rong, Pei's Liu Lingxiang and He Youyou, and they were named the Seven Sages." His friend Shan Tao (Juyuan) later joined the Sima family and became the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. He once advised him to go out and become an official, but he wrote a "Letter of Severing Diplomacy with Shan Juyuan" to refuse. Because he was "not Tang Wu but weak Zhou Kong" and was dissatisfied with the Sima clique that was in power at that time, he was framed by Zhong Hui and killed by Sima Zhao.

In terms of political thought, Ji Kang "trusted Lao and Zhuang", rejected the "Six Classics", emphasized the opposition between famous religions and nature, and advocated breaking the shackles of etiquette and law. The basis of his philosophical thought is the materialist view of nature, and he adheres to a simple materialist epistemology. He believes that "the vitality is Tao Shuo, and all living beings are endowed with it" ("Mingdan Lun"), and he affirms that all things are produced by the endowment of vitality. He put forward the theory of "go beyond the famous teachings and let nature take its course". Ji Kang was smart, studious and quick-thinking since he was a child. His articles "have novel ideas and are often in opposition to the old theories of ancient times" (Lu Xun's "Wei and Jin Styles and the Relationship between Articles, Medicine and Wine"). His representative works include "A Letter on Breaking Diplomacy with Shan Juyuan" and "On the Difficulty of Natural Learning". The poem is longer than four words and has a clear and solemn demeanor; "Poetry of Youang Anger" and "Gift to Scholars Entering the Army" are more famous. He wrote "On Sound without Sadness and Music", which believed that the same music can cause different emotions, and asserted that the music itself has no sadness and music, and its purpose was to deny the idea of ????ritual and music education promoted by the rulers at that time. He is good at drums and qin, and is famous for playing Guangling San. He also wrote "Qin Fu", which gave a detailed and vivid description of the playing method and expressive power of the qin.

Ruan Ji

Ruan Ji (210～263) was a poet of the Wei Dynasty during the Three Kingdoms. The name is Si Zong. Chenliuwei's family (now part of Henan). He is the son of Ruan Yu, one of the seven sons of Jian'an. Ruan Ji had a political ambition to help the world. He once visited Guangwu City to observe the ancient battlefields of Chu and Han, and lamented that "there are no heroes to make Zhuzi famous!" At that time, Emperor Cao Rui of the Ming Dynasty had died, and Cao Shuang and Sima Yi assisted Cao Fang. They fought openly and secretly. , the political situation is very dangerous. Cao Shuang once summoned Ruan Ji to join the army, but he resigned and returned home citing illness. In the tenth year of Zhengshi (249), Cao Shuang was killed by Sima Yi, leaving the Sima family alone in the government. The Sima clan killed dissidents, and many people were implicated. Ruan Ji was originally politically inclined to the royal family of Cao Wei and was dissatisfied with the Sima Group, but at the same time he felt that things in the world were no longer feasible, so he adopted an attitude of staying aloof and protecting himself, either studying behind closed doors, climbing mountains and rivers, or having a good time Too drunk to wake up, or silent. However, in some cases, Ruan Ji had to deal with it due to Sima's power. He accepted the official position granted by the Sima family, and served as the middle man of the Sima family, his father and his son, the regular attendant of the scattered cavalry, the infantry captain, etc., so later generations called him "Ruan Infantry". He was also forced to write "Encouragement Articles" for Sima Zhao, who proclaimed himself Duke of Jin, and Bei Jiuxi. Therefore, the Sima family adopted a tolerant attitude towards him, and did not pursue his various behaviors that were wild and unruly and violated etiquette and law, and finally he was able to live out his life. Ruan Ji's works include 6 poems, 9 relatively complete prose pieces, and more than 90 poems. Ruan Ji's poems represent his major literary achievements. His main works are 82 five-character "Poems of Praise of Love". Ruan Ji's works are recorded in 13 volumes of "Sui Shu·Jing Ji Zhi". The original collection has been lost.

However, not many of his works have been lost. Taking poetry as an example, "Jin Shu·Ruan Ji Biography" states that he "composed more than 80 "Yonghuai Poems"", and it seems that all of them have been passed down. Various collections appeared in the Ming Dynasty. Zhang Pu compiled "The Collection of Ruan Bingbing" and included it in "The Collection of One Hundred and Three Masters of Han, Wei and Six Dynasties". Shanghai Ancient Books Publishing House compiled and published "Collection of Ruan Books" in 1978. The annotated version includes "Annotations on the Poems of Ruan Bingbing" by Huang Jie, published by People's Literature Publishing House in 1957.

Shan Tao

Shan Tao is the eldest of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove. He joined the Bamboo Forest Masters because of his demeanor. Wang Rong, who was also one of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Forest, commented on him: "Like pure jade and pure gold, everyone admires its treasures, but no one knows its utensils." In other words, he gives people an impression of profound quality. And magnanimity was one of the demeanor of celebrities at that time. Although Shan Tao had a close affection for Ji Kang and Ruan Ji, their ambitions and interests were actually different. This can be seen from the fact that he promoted Ji Kang to replace him and even led Ji Kang to break off their friendship. He took a different path to becoming an official.

Shan Tao is a very knowledgeable person who approaches power cautiously. At the critical moment of the power struggle between the Cao family and the Sima family, Shantao saw that something was about to happen, so he "hidden himself and refused to take part in world affairs." Before this, he served as an official for Cao Shuang, but Cao Shuang was about to be defeated, so he retired to avoid suspicion. But when the overall situation was decided and the Sima family was in power, he came out. Shantao and Sima are very close relatives by marriage, and relying on this relationship, he went to see Master Sima. Master Sima knew his intentions and ambitions, so he said to him: "Lu Wang wants to be an evil official?" So he ordered Sili to recruit talented people, except doctors, and transfer them to Hussar General Wang Chang as a doctor. After a long time, he paid homage to Prime Minister Zhao and moved to Zhao. "Of course he started out as a minor official, but when he was appointed as the Minister of Libu, Shan Tao's official career was smooth sailing.

Ji Kang once wrote an article "A Letter on Severing Diplomacy with Shan Juyuan", which made later generations look down upon Shan Tao. Although Shan Tao is not as clear-cut between right and wrong, upright and urgent as Ji Kang, he is just doing what is customary. For example, he also drinks alcohol, but within a certain limit, stopping at eight buckets, which is different from other people who drink heavily and become extremely drunk. Shan Tao lived a frugal life and was admired by Shi Lun. Twenty years after Ji Kang was killed, he recommended Ji Shao, Ji Kang's son, as Secretary Cheng. He told Ji Shao: "I have been thinking about you for a long time. There is still news in the four seasons of heaven and earth, but what about people!" It can be seen that! He has not forgotten his old friend for twenty years.

As for him taking refuge with the Sima clan, it seems to be beyond reproach. Because the purpose of scholars seeking knowledge is "to apply it to the world," they must also have the so-called problem of "realizing one's own value." However, they have so little territory of pure knowledge. Except for astronomy and calendar, other science and technology are almost the humble industries of "medicine, divination, astrology" and "hundred industries". Law, economics and management are mostly the exclusive domain of officials. Music, chess, calligraphy and painting are just hobbies for most people, and all they can do is study and serve as officials. In a society where the imperial power monopolizes everything, not to mention those who have only one skill and can even croak and steal, even the most talented people with world-class skills rarely show their skills except "goods and the emperor's family".

Xiang Xiu

A writer in the Wei and Jin Dynasties. One of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove. The word Ziqi. A native of Huai County, Hanoi (now southwest of Wuzhi, Henan). The year of birth and death is unknown. Shao Yinghui. Be friendly with Ji Kang and others. Xiang Xiuben lived in seclusion. After Ji Kang was killed in the fourth year of Jingyuan (263), he had to enlist in Luoyang under the high pressure of the Sima family. Later, he served as the minister of Sanqi, and then became the regular servant of Huangmen Sanqi. Xiang Xiu learned from Lao Zhuang. Although the book "Zhuangzi" was widely circulated at that time, the old notes "cannot trace its purport". Xiang Xiu wrote "Zhuangzi's Hidden Interpretation" to explain the metaphysics, which had a great influence and promoted the popularity of metaphysics. But Xiang Xiu has not finished writing "Autumn Water" and "Zhi Le". Later, Guo Xiang completed the annotations on "Autumn Waters" and "Zhi Le" on the basis of "Zhuangzi Yinjie", and further developed them, forming the "Zhuangzi Commentary" seen today.

Liu Ling

His courtesy name was Bolun, a native of Peiguo (now Suxian County, Anhui Province). One of the "Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove". At the end of the Wei Dynasty, he joined the army for Jianwei. At the beginning of the Jin Dynasty, Emperor Wu of the Jin Dynasty called for countermeasures and emphasized governance by doing nothing, so he was deposed. He opposed Sima's dark rule and hypocritical ethics. In order to avoid political persecution, he became addicted to alcohol, pretended to be crazy, and was willful and dissolute. Once when a visitor came to visit, he was not wearing any clothes. When the guest asked him, he said, "I use the heaven and the earth as my home, and my room as my clothes. Why do you get into my clothes?" His unruly behavior showed his denial of the famous religious etiquette. He only wrote one article, "Ode to the Virtue of Wine".

Ruan Xian

Ruan Xian, also known as Zhongrong, is one of the "Seven Sages of the Bamboo Forest". He served as a minister of cavalry and supplemented the post of prefect of Shiping.

Shan Tao thought that he was "chatty and few in desire, deeply aware of the pure and the turbid, and could not move anything. If he were an official, he would be extinct" (see the original biography of "Book of Jin"), but Emperor Wu of Jin thought that he was drunk and vain. Not for use.

Like Ruan Ji, he is unrestrained and unruly. He had a private relationship with his aunt's Xianbei maid. When his mother died, his aunt wanted to return her home according to etiquette, but Ruan Xian asked to keep the maid, which was not tolerated by etiquette at the time. Later, the maidservant left, and Ruan Xian borrowed a donkey to ride on him and chased her. He finally chased the maidservant back and gave birth to a son named Ruan Fu, who was ridiculed by the world. He doesn't make friends casually, but only enjoys singing and drinking with close relatives and friends. One time, his relatives and friends were drinking together, and he also came to join. He didn't use a wine glass, but used a big basin to hold wine, and he got drunk. At that time, a large group of pigs came to drink, and Ruan Xian drank with the pigs. He was drinking and playing the harp, which was really a great time. So "drinking with pigs" became a joke.

Ruan Xian was a famous musician at that time because of his wonderful interpretation of music and his ability to play the pipa. There is an ancient pipa named "Ruan Xian". He once discussed music rhythm with Xun Xu. Xun Xu thought he was far inferior to Ruan Xian, so he was extremely jealous. Ruan Xian was demoted to the post of Shiping Prefect. Ruan Xian also wrote "Lvyi" handed down to the world, see the notes of "Shishuoxinyu·Shujie".

Wang Rong

Wang Rong (234-305), whose courtesy name was Chong, was from Linyi (now Shandong) in Langxie. Minister of the Western Jin Dynasty, one of the "Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove". Young Yingwu, full of energy. He was good at talking, and he went on a trip to the bamboo forest with Ruan Ji, Ji Kang and others. After Rong tasted it, Ji said: "Vulgar things have come back to ruin people's will." He is the most vulgar among the "Seven Sages". During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Jin Dynasty, he successively served as Huang Menlang of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Changshi of Sanqi, Governor of Hedong, Governor of Jingzhou, and Marquis of Anfeng County. Later he moved to the posts of Guang Luxun, Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and so on. During the reign of Emperor Hui, he was promoted to Situ. Rong flatters and seeks favors, is keen on fame and fortune, and has nothing to offer advice when setting up the dynasty. He is extremely greedy and stingy by nature, and his fields are spread all over the states, gathering endless amounts of money. Every time he holds a chip in his teeth, he makes calculations day and night, but he always seems to be short of money. The Rong family had good plums and often sold them, but they were afraid that others would gain access to the seeds, so they often drilled the cores and sold them, for which they were ridiculed by the world.