Wei Guan, courtesy name Boyu, was born in Anyi, Hedong. His grandfather, Wei Hao, was summoned from Daijun during the reign of Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty because of his proficiency in Confucianism, but he died in Anyi, Hedong. The court rewarded the place of his death as a burial site, so the Wei family has lived there ever since. His father, Wei Ji, was the Minister of Works in the Wei Kingdom. Wei Guan lost his father at the age of ten and was known for his exceptional filial piety. He was upright, insightful, and renowned for his intelligence and wisdom. He inherited his father's title, becoming the Marquis of Wenxiang. He became an official in the Imperial Library of the Wei Kingdom at a young age. At that time, the laws of the Wei Kingdom were very strict, and his mother, Lady Chen, worried greatly for him. Wei Guan requested a transfer to the position of clerk and was later promoted to the Imperial Library. Despite the prevalence of powerful officials at the time, Wei Guan was able to handle things with ease, maintaining impartiality and rapport with everyone, even earning the admiration of Fu Gu, who compared him to Ning Wuzi. He served in the officialdom for ten years, and due to his outstanding work, he was promoted all the way to Cavalier Attendant. After Emperor Chen Liu ascended the throne, he appointed Wei Guan as an Attendant and sent him to comfort the region of Hebei with the emperor's seal. Due to his contributions in quelling rebellions, his fiefdom and household registration increased. Several years later, he was promoted to the Minister of Justice in the Wei Kingdom. Wei Guan was well-versed in legal texts, and in every case he presided over, he ensured fairness and justice, handling matters according to the law regardless of their size.
When Deng Ai and Zhong Hui launched their campaign against the Shu Kingdom, Yang Xin, as an official, held the emperor's seal to supervise the military operations of Deng Ai and Zhong Hui, serving as the Commander of the Western Army on the march with a thousand soldiers. After the pacification of the Shu Kingdom, Deng Ai arbitrarily rewarded officials without proper authority. Zhong Hui had ulterior motives and, taking advantage of Deng Ai's abuse of power, secretly conspired with Yang Xin to report Deng Ai. The court ordered Deng Ai to be transported in a prisoner's cart, and Zhong Hui instructed Yang Xin to arrest Deng Ai first. Zhong Hui believed Yang Xin's forces were insufficient and wanted Deng Ai to eliminate Yang Xin to strengthen the case against him.
Yang Xin knew that Zhong Hui wanted to harm him, but he was unable to resist. So, he hurried to Chengdu at night and issued a proclamation to Deng Ai's generals, stating he was under orders to capture Deng Ai and would ignore everything else. Those who came to ally with the official army would receive the same titles and rewards as before; those who dared not come would be wiped out along with their families. When the rooster crowed, all the generals had come to submit to Yang Xin, except for those still in Deng Ai's camp.
When day broke and the gates opened, Yang Xin took the messenger's carriage directly into the Chengdu imperial palace. Deng Ai was still asleep and had not gotten up; both he and his son were captured. Deng Ai's generals wanted to abduct him and reorganize their troops to charge towards Yang Xin's camp. Yang Xin, with minimal gear, went out to meet them, pretending to write a report and claiming he needed to explain Deng Ai's situation. The generals bought it and halted. After a while, Zhong Hui arrived, capturing generals like Hu Lie and imprisoning them at Yizhou's post station, then he rallied his troops to rebel.
Meanwhile, the soldiers just wanted to go home, and there was unrest both inside and outside the camp, with everyone feeling anxious. Zhong Hui stayed behind with Yang Xin to discuss strategies and wrote a wooden plaque that read "wants to kill Hu Lie and the others" to show Yang Xin, but Yang Xin disagreed.
Zhong Hui asked Yang Xin to go calm the troops. Although Yang Xin wanted to leave, he insisted outwardly, "You are the commander of all three armies; you should go yourself." Zhong Hui replied, "You're the supervising official; you go first, and I'll follow." Yang Xin then left the palace. Zhong Hui regretted letting him leave and quickly sent someone to bring Yang Xin back. Yang Xin feigned dizziness and collapsed to the ground. Once he exited the palace gate, dozens of couriers pursued him. Yang Xin arrived at the relay station, drank saltwater, and threw up repeatedly. Yang Xin, already frail, looked gravely ill. Zhong Hui dispatched his trusted aides and doctors to assess his condition, all of whom said he would not survive, so Zhong Hui no longer suspected him.
By nightfall, the palace gates had been shut, and Yang Xin drafted a proclamation declaring war on Zhong Hui. Troops from all over rallied to his call and launched an assault on Zhong Hui the following day. Zhong Hui fought back with his elite guards, but the generals defeated him, and only a few hundred of his men fled with Zhong Hui around the palace, and they were all killed. Yang Xin then reassured the generals, calming the hearts of the people. The soldiers from Deng Ai's original camp managed to retrieve the prisoner cart and rescued Deng Ai, returning to Chengdu. Fearing repercussions for conspiring with Zhong Hui against Deng Ai and eager to claim sole credit for Zhong Hui's death, Yang Xin sent the guard Tian Xu t
After the situation was settled, the court intended to reward Wei Guan. Wei Guan believed that the pacification of Shu was the result of everyone's collective efforts. The generals who had made significant contributions ultimately met their demise because of their arrogance and recklessness. Although he had also given advice, he resolutely declined the reward. Later, he was appointed as the Commissioner, Commander of the military affairs in Guanzhong, and General of the West. Shortly after, he was promoted to Commander of the military affairs in Xuzhou, General Who Guards the East, and added the title of Marquis of Ziyang. He also used the remaining titles to appoint his brother as the Marquis of Kaiyangting.
During the Taishi era, Wei Guan was promoted to the General Who Conquers the East, and his title was elevated to Duke. He served as the Commander of the military affairs in Qingzhou, Inspector of Qingzhou, and was further appointed General Who Conquers the East and Governor of Qingzhou. He had notable achievements wherever he served. Upon taking office in Youzhou, Wei Guan submitted a memorial requesting the establishment of Pingzhou and later also served as the Commissioner of Pingzhou. At that time, there were the Wuhuan tribe to the east and the Liwei tribe to the west of Youzhou, both of which frequently harassed the borders. Wei Guan skillfully sowed discord between these two tribes, leading to mutual distrust, which ultimately resulted in the Wuhuan tribe's surrender and the Liwei tribe's demise out of fear. The court highly valued his contributions and rewarded him with the title of Marquis for one of his sons. Wei Guan requested that this title be granted to his brother, but before the court could respond, he passed away unexpectedly. His son Wei Mi was later appointed as a Marquis. Wei Guan had six sons, none of whom received titles, as he bequeathed the titles to his two brothers, earning widespread praise from those both near and far.
Wei Guan made multiple requests to enter the court and finally got his wish. Emperor Wu highly valued him, but shortly afterward, he was reassigned to his original post as a guard. During the Xianning period, Wei Guan was summoned to serve as the Minister of Rites and was also appointed as an attendant to the Emperor. He was strict and used laws to restrain his subordinates, treating the Masters of Writing as his advisors and the Assistants as his subordinates. Wei Guan was knowledgeable and well-versed in literature and history. He and the Assistant Suo Jing were both skilled in cursive script, and they were collectively known as "one master and two wonders." Zhang Zhi at the end of the Han Dynasty was also skilled in cursive script, and it was noted that Wei Guan inherited Zhang Zhi's brushwork, while Suo Jing inherited Zhang Zhi's charm. During the Taikang period, Wei Guan was promoted to Minister of State, while still retaining his positions as an attendant and Minister of Rites. His administration was known for its integrity and efficiency, earning praise from both the court and the people. Emperor Wu ordered Wei Guan's fourth son, Wei Xuan, to be married to Princess Fanchang. Wei Guan, feeling his humble background and the class difference of the marriage, formally declined in a memorial, but the Emperor did not grant his request. He was then appointed as the Tutor to the Crown Prince, and his retinue was expanded. Later, during a solar eclipse, Wei Guan, along with the Grand Commandant Wang Liang of Runan and the Minister of Works Wei Shu, requested to resign, but the Emperor did not permit it.
"Well, here's the situation. At that time, the State of Wei implemented the Nine-rank System, which was merely a stopgap, not a sustainable solution. We should restore the earlier system of selecting officials through local recommendations. I, along with Taiwei Liang and others, presented a memorial to the emperor, saying: 'In the past, wise rulers valued talent, selected virtuous individuals, and educated the people. Thus, the court upheld high moral standards, and there were few wrongdoings among the populace. Neighbors supervised each other and assessed words and actions, allowing good people to be found. Reputation is not something that can be fabricated, so everyone strives to improve themselves. Consequently, as virtuous people increased, the social atmosphere improved, and with fewer wrongdoers, the social atmosphere became even better. The selection from the countryside is a good system established by the former kings! However, this system gradually fell out of use. The State of Wei was established after a period of chaos, and talents were scattered everywhere, making it difficult to conduct proper assessments. Therefore, they created the Nine-rank System as a temporary means of selecting talent. Initially, evaluations in the countryside were relatively objective, not considering official ranks, with clear praise and criticism and a bit of local customs remaining. But gradually, it changed; evaluations were based solely on official ranks, and everyone focused on positions, sacrificing morality for promotions, competing fiercely over trivial matters, which severely undermined the social fabric. Now that the world is unified and we are about to enter a great era of peace and prosperity, we believe these detrimental systems should be abolished, and the previous system restored. From court officials to local magistrates, evaluations should be based on their respective localities, and no more officials from outside regions should be allowed. This way, neighbors can supervise each other, and local magistrates will be from the area, completely abolishing the Nine-rank System, enabling the recommendation of virtuous talents from local communities. In this manner, subordinates will respect their superiors, and the people will live and work in peace and contentment, resulting in an improved social environment and clearer governance, achieving both education and rule of law. People will understand the standards of good and bad, which will not depend on social interactions, reducing comparisons among each other, and everyone will strive to improve themselves. Now, to abolish the Nine-rank System, we should follow the previous system, allowing court officials to jointly recommend talents, thus broadening the channels for talent selection and motivating everyone to select talents fairly and justly, assessing the achievements of current officials. This is the true way forward!' The emperor felt that we were correct, but in the end, nothing changed."
When Emperor Hui was still the crown prince, the court officials said he was simple-minded and inept in handling state affairs. I often thought about advising him to step down, but I never dared to say it. Later, during a banquet at Lingyun Terrace, I pretended to be drunk and knelt before the emperor's chamber, saying, "I have something to say." The emperor asked, "What do you want to say?" I tried to speak several times but hesitated. Finally, I touched the bed and said, "What a waste of this position!" The emperor then understood my meaning and laughed, saying, "You must really be drunk!" After that, I said nothing more. Empress Jia resented me for this.
Princess Xuan Shang often made mistakes related to wine and debauchery. Yang Jun already had grievances against Zhang Hua and aimed to consolidate power. He believed that if Princess Xuan Shang divorced Zhang Hua, he would surely resign. Therefore, Yang Jun colluded with the palace attendants to frame Zhang Hua and incited the emperor to take back Princess Xuan Shang. Zhang Hua, feeling a mix of shame and fear, requested to retire and returned his official position.
Then the emperor issued an edict, stating: "Zhang Hua, the Minister of Works, is not yet of retirement age, but he has voluntarily resigned his position for many years. He wishes to realize his wish to retire to the countryside while still in sound mind. His sincerity and integrity have truly touched me. I will grant his request, promote him to Grand Guardian, and let him return home to enjoy his old age. He will be assigned one hundred personal guards, and officials such as Longshi, Sima, and Congshi Zhonglang will be assigned to him; as well as all the ceremonial items like large carriages, official horses, ceremonial guards, and bands, as he had before. He will be granted ten fields, fifty mu of garden land, one million pieces of currency, and five hundred bolts of silk; bedding, including beds, canopies, mats, and quilts, should be meticulously prepared by the appropriate staff to express my respect for talented individuals." The court officials then submitted a petition to transfer Princess Xuan Shang to the Court of Judicial Review and to dismiss Zhang Hua from his position, but the emperor refused. Later, the emperor discovered that the palace attendants had concocted lies and wanted to return the princess to Zhang Hua, but unfortunately, Princess Xuan Shang fell ill and passed away.
After Emperor Hui ascended the throne, he gave Zhang Hua another one thousand soldiers. After Yang Jun was executed, Zhang Hua was appointed as the Minister of Personnel, granted the green sash, allowed to wear court attire and enter the court without bowing, appointed as Commander of Cavalry, and assisted Prince Liang of Runan in political affairs. Prince Liang of Runan proposed that the princes return to their respective fiefdoms and discuss the matter with the ministers in the court, but no one dared to respond except for Zhang Hua, who supported the proposal. Prince Sima Wei of Chu held a grudge against him because of this. Empress Jia had always resented Zhang Hua and feared his integrity and righteousness, unable to indulge her debauchery. She heard about the conflict between Zhang Hua and Sima Wei, so she falsely accused Zhang Hua and Prince Liang of plotting a rebellion similar to the Yi Huo incident, which led the emperor to issue an edict dismissing Sima Wei, Zhang Hua, and others from their positions. The edict was delivered to Sima Wei by the eunuchs. Sima Wei, known for his frivolity and deceit, wanted to take revenge and sent Prince Xia of Qinghe to arrest Zhang Hua that very night.
Zhang Hua's close confidants suspected the edict was forged and advised him, "According to the laws and customs, there has never been such a thing happening to a minister assisting the court. Please hold off for now. It won't be too late to deal with the consequences once the court responds!" Zhang Hua did not listen, and as a result, he and his son Zhang Heng, Zhang Yue, Zhang Yi, and nine others were executed together, at the age of seventy-two. Zhang Heng's two sons, Zhang Qie and Zhang Jie, happened to be at the clinic then, so they escaped unharmed.
At first, when Du Yu heard that Shi Chong had killed Deng Ai, he said in front of everyone, "Boyu, he won't be able to escape this disaster! As a famed scholar and high-ranking official, he's got a bad reputation and can't manage his subordinates well. This is what happens when a petty person takes the place of a gentleman; how can he bear this responsibility?" Hearing this, Shi Chong quickly resigned and apologized before his carriage was even ready. Just as Du Yu predicted, the outcome was exactly as he foresaw. At first, while Shi Chong's family was cooking, some rice fell to the ground and surprisingly turned into snails. Over a year later, disaster hit. Chief scribe Liu Yao and others from Taibao risked a lot to gather and bury Shi Chong.
Later, when Shi Chong was the Minister of Works, his inspector Rong Hui committed a crime, and Shi Chong reprimanded him and sent him away. When Shi Chong ran into trouble, Rong Hui came with the army to attack him, which led to Shi Chong's descendants getting caught up in it.
After the King of Chu was killed, the daughter of Zhang Guan, the Minister of Public Works of the Chu State, wrote a letter to the court officials saying: "My father's posthumous title has not yet been determined, just like anyone else, which I find very puzzling. It's shocking that no one in the whole country has spoken up. The 'Spring and Autumn Annals' have such a glaring oversight; where does the responsibility lie? I am filled with grief and anger, which is why I am writing to you to explain the situation." Consequently, some officials took yellow banners, sounded the drum of appeal, and reported to the emperor: "Initially, those who forged the edict came to Zhang Gong's residence. Upon receiving the edict, Zhang Gong should have been dismissed from his position. He immediately surrendered the official seal and insignia; although there were soldiers in his residence, he did not use a single one, obeying the edict, and left alone in a carriage. The edict only stated that Zhang Gong was to be removed from office, but those below the Right Army falsely used the edict, violating its content, and actually killed the ministers, failing to report to the court, and arbitrarily arrested and executed the sons and grandsons, harming the ministers and their nine children. However, the edict clearly stated, 'Those who were misled and deceived by the King of Chu are not conspirators and should be released.' According to the edict, those who were forced to carry white staffs were merely local villagers. The law stipulates that being instructed to kill is a capital crime. Moreover, Zhang Gong killed loyal ministers and harmed the faithful; even if he is not considered a conspirator, he should still be executed. Now, although the main culprit has been killed, those who killed Zhang Gong are still at large. We are concerned that the relevant departments have not investigated the facts in detail and may let them go, failing to pursue the matter vigorously, resulting in the unresolved enmity of Zhang Gong and his sons, with their vengeful spirits forever resentful, appealing to heaven, which fills us ministers with sorrow and will also sadden future generations. We are all wounded, having just buried Zhang Gong. We would like to report that when Zhang Gong served as Minister of Public Works, he had a subordinate named Rong Hui, who was utterly ruthless. He was dismissed from his position but knew the number of Zhang Gong's family members and the names of his grandsons. Later, Rong Hui was transferred to the Right Army, and that night, he shouted loudly outside Zhang Gong's residence, reading the forged edict that removed Zhang Gong from office. When the front gate opened, Rong Hui entered through the middle gate and read the forged edict he brought again, personally taking away Zhang Gong's official seal, insignia, and the mink coat, urging Zhang Gong to leave the residence. Rong Hui recorded the names of Zhang Gong's family members and grandsons in order, escorting them with weapons, surrounding them at the northern side of the East Pavilion Road, and in the blink of an eye, he killed them all. The sons and grandsons of Zhang Gong who were killed were all done by Rong Hui. The treasury was also looted by Rong Hui. If Rong Hui is investigated, all his treachery will come to light. We request the emperor to thoroughly investigate the truth of the matter and hold his entire family accountable." The emperor agreed.
The court recognized that Zhang Gong's entire family was innocent victims, so they posthumously acknowledged Zhang Gong's achievements in the conquest of Shu, appointed him as the Marquis of Lanling County, expanded his fief by three thousand households, posthumously honored him as "Cheng," and bestowed upon him the Huangyue insignia. A man named Heng initially served as an official in Jushan, then moved to the Prince of Qi's court as the Minister of Works, and subsequently rose through the ranks, serving as the Prince's Attendant, a Gentleman of the Imperial Library, the Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat, the Prince's Tutor, and a Gentleman of the Yellow Gate, as his rank steadily increased. He was especially adept at cursive and clerical scripts and also authored a book titled "Four Styles of Calligraphy." The book states that writing originated during the time of the Yellow Emperor. Ju Shou and Cang Jie created written symbols, which replaced the earlier method of recording information using knotted ropes, likely inspired by bird footprints. Writing developed in this way, which outlines six methods of character formation: 1. Pictograms are created based on the meaning of the object; 2. Ideograms are formed by imitating the shape of the object; 3. Pictophonetic characters are formed based on the category of the object, combined with pronunciation; 4. Compound characters combine several characters to express a new meaning; 5. Derivative characters are deduced based on the meaning of the character; 6. Borrowed characters have different pronunciations but the same meaning. From the time of the Yellow Emperor through the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, writing remained largely unchanged. During the Qin Dynasty, Qin Shihuang employed seal script and ordered the burning of ancient texts, resulting in the loss of ancient scripts.
During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, King Gong of Lu tore down Confucius's house and found the Book of Documents, the Spring and Autumn Annals, the Analects, and the Book of Filial Piety. At that time, people no longer recognized ancient characters and called them "Kedou Shu." The Han Dynasty kept these ancient texts under tight wraps, and few people could see them. In the early Wei Dynasty, Handan Chun passed down ancient characters. Jing Hou's ancestors had made a copy of the Book of Documents as written by Handan Chun, and later showed it to him, but Handan Chun couldn't tell the difference. By the time of the Wei Zhengshi era, a stone inscription with three characters was carved, but the original writing style of Handan Chun had already been lost, and people began to write based on the appearance of "Kedou Shu." In the first year of Taikang, someone in Jixian excavated the tomb of King Xiang of Wei and found over a hundred thousand characters on bamboo slips. Upon careful examination, the characters Jing Hou copied bore some resemblance to those on the bamboo slips. There were several ancient texts, one of which detailed the history of the Chu state and was particularly well written. Heng had a deep appreciation for these ancient texts, so he made every effort to study them, hoping to better preserve these ancient characters. Although he felt his level was insufficient, he still wanted to do his part in preserving the writings of the ancients. There wasn't a specific name for it back then, so we can just call it "Zishi."
Speaking of which, during the time of the Yellow Emperor, the record keepers Jue Song and Cang Jie looked up at the footprints left by birds and pondered the invention of writing. These writings recorded various events and established different systems; all of the Yellow Emperor's laws and regulations relied on them for dissemination, and thus the characters were passed down through generations.
However, during the tyrannical Qin Dynasty, the despot Qin Shi Huang caused great chaos in the world, leading to the collapse of the righteous path and the extinction of ancient characters. Later, Emperor Wen of Wei took an interest in ancient things and heard that some ancient characters were inscribed in tombs, but no one had excavated them throughout the ages, making it hard to tell which were real and which were fake. It wasn't until the Kaiyuan period of the Jin Dynasty that the court made a strong push for ancient culture, and it seemed that heaven also showed its favor, allowing ancient characters to come to light once again.
These unearthed texts, they're truly stunning, with the characters designed in a particularly ingenious way. Some characters are created based on sounds, while others are created based on the appearance of things. For example, the character for "sun" is as perfectly round as a monarch; the character for "moon" appears as if it's missing a piece, like a loyal subject. Clouds drift and curl in the sky, while stars twinkle and gleam; crops bow their heads low, and mountain peaks rise high and stretch endlessly; insects seem to be moving, and birds seem to be about to fly, but haven't flown yet.
Just look at the strokes of these characters—they're crafted with such meticulous care! The structure of the characters is harmonious, and the strokes start and end perfectly. Some characters resemble bent bows, while others resemble bowstrings; some characters have upright strokes, like dragons soaring through water, while others have flowing strokes, like raindrops falling from the sky. Some characters carry a grand flair, like wild geese soaring high, while others are written with softness and fluency, like fluttering tassels.
From a distance, these characters shimmer like the wind rippling across water; up close, they feel particularly natural. These are genuine treasures from the era of the Yellow Emperor, the very foundation of the Six Arts! Zhòuwen and Seal Script are its descendants, while Clerical Script and Cursive Script are its distant relatives. Observing the shapes of these characters reveals that their essence can't be fully captured by language alone.
During the reign of King Xuan of Zhou, the esteemed Shi Zhou penned a fifteen-chapter book called "Dàzhuàn." Some characters mirror those from ancient times, while others are different, so later generations called this type of script "Zhòu script." Later, when King Ping relocated eastward and the feudal lords governed independently, regional customs and practices varied significantly, resulting in a diverse array of writing styles.
After Emperor Qin Shi Huang unified the six states, Prime Minister Li Si proposed standardizing the writing system and eliminating characters that differed from those of the Qin state. Li Si himself authored "Cāngjié Pian," Zhào Gāo, the Prefect of the Central Chariot Office, wrote "Yuánlì Pian," and Hú Wújìng, the Grand Historian, wrote "Bóxué Pian." These three works were adaptations of Shi Zhou's Dàzhuàn, with some characters simplified and others having their writing styles changed, which is what we refer to as "Xiaozhuan."
There are also stories about a commoner named Cheng Miao who worked as a jailer in the Qin Dynasty, fell out of favor with Qin Shi Huang, and was imprisoned in the Yunyang prison for ten years. While in prison, he studied the Great Seal Script, adding strokes to some characters while removing them from others, changing square characters to round ones and vice versa, and then presented the modified characters to Qin Shi Huang. Qin Shi Huang was impressed and released him, appointing him as an imperial censor in charge of unifying the script. There are claims that Cheng Miao actually unified the Clerical Script, not the Small Seal Script.
Since the Qin Dynasty abolished ancient characters, there came to be eight different styles of writing: Great Seal Script, Small Seal Script, Carved Symbols, Insect Script, Imprinted Script, Inscribed Script, Weapon Script, and Clerical Script. During Wang Mang's rule, the Minister of Works Zhen Feng organized the script, restoring some ancient characters, leading to six distinct styles of writing: Ancient Text (the characters found on the walls of Confucius temples), Unusual Characters (characters slightly different from Ancient Text), Seal Script (Qin Dynasty's seal script), Assistant Script (Clerical Script), Miao Seal (characters used for imprints), and Bird Script (characters written on flags and letters).
Later, Xu Shen authored the "Shuowen Jiezi," using seal script as the standard and establishing the system of characters, which is regarded as the most authoritative work on the subject. During the Qin Dynasty, Li Si's style of writing was known as "Second Seal," and many inscriptions on mountains and bronze objects were written by Li Si. During the Han Dynasty's Jianwu period, there was a man named Cao Xi, whose calligraphy differed slightly from that of Li Si yet remained exceptional. Handan Chun, a student of Cao Xi, nearly mastered the entirety of his teacher's calligraphic essence. Wei Dan was a student of Handan Chun, though he was not as skilled as his mentor. During the Taihe period, Wei Dan became the Wudu Prefect due to his impressive calligraphy, and was later appointed to the imperial court as a palace attendant. Many precious inscriptions on objects in the Wei Kingdom were written by Wei Dan. During the late Han Dynasty, there was also a man named Cai Yong who combined the calligraphy styles of Li Si and Cao Xi, creating a style that blended ancient and modern styles, although not as delicate as Handan Chun.
Yong wrote an article about seal script, titled "The Force of Seal Script." It says, "The traces left by birds, followed by the ancient figure Cangjie, created characters. The sages established norms, thereby giving rise to this script. Seal script has six styles, with the most authentic form being Xiaozhuan. Its form emphasizes subtlety, ingenious craftsmanship, truly indescribable. Some are like patterns on tortoiseshells, neatly arranged, like dragon scales; some stretch their bodies, with elongated tails of varying lengths; some are like drooping ears of grain, some like coiled insects; some like rolling waves, like eagles soaring; some stretch their necks, spread their wings, as if about to fly into the sky. Some strokes are light and subtle, starting small, ending heavy, intermittent; some are like green silk on water droplets, condensed and hanging down; some are like suspended, some like woven; some strokes are thin, long, and curved, neither square nor round; some are like walking, some like flying, light and elegant. From a distance, they look like a flock of geese flying continuously; upon closer observation, the beginnings and endings of strokes are hard to discern. The twists and turns of the strokes are countless, even those skilled in counting mulberry leaves cannot count its twists and turns, even those with excellent vision cannot see its subtleties, even skilled artisans must humbly acknowledge its ingenuity, even scholars well-versed in Zhouwen must respectfully admire its excellence. It is located at the beginning of chapters and books, radiant and worthy of admiration. It is like a gorgeous pattern decorating pure white silk, a paragon of calligraphy. I am delighted for its promotion of literary virtues, yet lament for future generations' inability to surpass it. I contemplate the transformations in characters' postures during writing, and this is roughly where my discussion ends."
Yong's article "Seal Power" continues to say that the beauty of seal script lies in its myriad forms. Some are graceful and fluid, with long tails and bodies of different lengths; some resemble hanging ears of grain, others like coiled snakes; some undulate like waves, like eagles spreading their wings; some stretch their necks and spread their wings, exuding a majestic momentum as if about to soar into the sky. Some strokes are soft and subtle, beginning delicately and ending boldly, seemingly disjointed yet still cohesive; some resemble green silk gently draping from a crystal-clear droplet of water, slowly descending; some are hanging, some are woven; some strokes are elongated and sinuous, neither angular nor perfectly round; some seem to be walking, some seem to be flying, with an ethereal grace. From afar, they appear like a flock of wild geese gliding through the sky, stretching endlessly; up close, it is difficult to discern the beginning and end of the strokes. The countless variations in stroke direction are beyond imagination, even for those skilled in counting, who would struggle to count its twists, even for those with excellent vision, who cannot see its subtleties, even for highly skilled craftsmen who must admire its subtlety, even for scholars proficient in ancient texts who must express admiration for it. It resides at the beginning of the text, radiating brilliance and truly deserving admiration. Like intricate patterns adorning pristine white silk, it is the best example for learning calligraphy. I am delighted by the virtue it embodies and lament that future generations will not surpass it. I reflect on the postures of characters as they are written and will conclude my discussion here.
The Qin Dynasty began using seal script, but there were too many memorials, and seal script was too slow to write. So the clerical staff were asked to help write, which resulted in the creation of clerical script. The Han Dynasty continued to use clerical script, but official documents, including symbols, seals, flags, letters, and inscriptions, continued to use seal script. In simple terms, clerical script is a simplified version of seal script. King Cizhong of Shanggu was the first to create a method of writing regular script. During the reign of Emperor Ling of Han, there were many people who liked calligraphy and many who could write well, but Shi Yiguan took great pride in his talent. His characters could be as wide as a zhang or as small as a square inch. Sometimes, when he was short on cash at a tavern, he would scribble on the tavern walls and ask onlookers to pay him for drinks. Once he had enough cash, he'd wipe away his writing. After each writing session, he'd shave down the wooden board and burn it. Liang Hu, on the other hand, found a clever way. He used wooden boards to buy drinks for Shi Yiguan, and when Shi Yiguan got drunk, he discreetly swiped the wooden boards. Later, Liang Hu, relying on his calligraphy skills, rose to the rank of senior official. Shi Yiguan later became a general under Yuan Shu, and there is a "Geng Qiu Stele" in Julu, which was erected by Yuan Shu and has exceptionally well-written characters, reportedly by Shi Yiguan. Liang Hu fled to Liu Biao's territory, and after Cao Cao captured Jingzhou, he searched for Liang Hu everywhere. When Liang Hu was working in the selection department, Cao Cao wanted him as the magistrate of Luoyang but only offered him the position of North Bureau Captain. Liang Hu was afraid, so he bound himself and went to Cao Cao's camp to turn himself in, and was appointed as a military magistrate. He diligently practiced calligraphy in the Ministry of Personnel to showcase his skills, which led to many of Liang Hu's calligraphy works being preserved. Cao Cao hung Liang Hu's work in his tent, admiring it on the walls, believing they surpassed Shi Yiguan's work. Many of the palace inscriptions today are in seal script, attributed to Liang Hu. Liang Hu excelled at writing large characters, while Handan Chun excelled at writing small characters. Liang Hu said that Handan Chun inherited Wang Cizhong's calligraphy method, but Liang Hu had already mastered his brushwork. Liang Hu's student Mao Hong taught at the Ministry of Personnel, and the popular Eight-Part Essay we know today comes from Mao Hong. In the late Han Dynasty, there was also a calligrapher named Zuo Ziyi, whose calligraphy style differed from both Handan Chun and Liang Hu, yet he was also quite renowned.
Second paragraph:
In conclusion, from the seal script of the Qin Dynasty to the clerical script of the Han Dynasty, and then to the later regular script, calligraphy has continuously developed, giving rise to a succession of calligraphy masters, such as Shi Yiguan, Liang Hu, Handan Chun, Mao Hong, Zuo Ziyi, and others. Each of them had their own style and characteristics, leaving behind valuable calligraphic heritage for future generations. "Shanggu Wang Cizhong began to create regular script," this statement highlights the origin of regular script. Shi Yiguan's bold style and Liang Hu's meticulous pursuit of excellence both reflect the prosperous scene of calligraphy art at that time. The stories between them are like a condensed history of calligraphy, rich in legend. "Now most of the inscriptions in the palace are in Hu's seal script," this highlights how Liang Hu's calligraphic achievements were recognized by the authorities and had a lasting impact. These calligraphers' stories have provided us with a deeper understanding of calligraphy art in the Han Dynasty and have made us admire the talent and perseverance of these calligraphers even more. They were not only calligraphers but also symbols of the cultural spirit of their time.
It is said that in the early Wei Dynasty, there were two families, the Zhong family and the Hu family, who excelled in calligraphy. They both studied under the same teacher, Liu Desheng. Although the calligraphy style of the Zhong family differed slightly from Liu Desheng's, each had their unique strengths, and now their calligraphy is widely recognized and appreciated in society.
The Zhong family also wrote a paper on clerical script titled "The Power of Clerical Script," in which it is stated: "Bird-track script gradually evolved and ultimately formed clerical script. It abandoned the complicated strokes, favoring simplicity and clarity. Its applications are extensive, and its forms follow certain conventions. Some characters shimmer like stars, while others float like clouds; some are as sturdy as tree trunks, and others as slender as hair. It is flexible and diverse, without a fixed pattern. Some characters have strokes that are broad and majestic, while others have strokes that are tightly arranged; some strokes are straight like lines, while others are winding and twisting; some strokes are slanted and sharp, while others are rounded and square. The lengths and shortness of the characters complement each other, and different shapes possess the same writing momentum. The brush flows lightly and swiftly; although the strokes may be separated, yet they remain continuous. Tiny waves and heavy dots are distributed in an orderly manner, like the echo of bells, the mist from garden lanterns, towering peaks, and rolling hills. From a distance, it resembles tall buildings and peaks shrouded in clouds, as if a dragon were soaring in the sky; upon closer inspection, it dazzles the eyes. Its peculiar and varied postures are hard to fully grasp. Even those proficient in the art of calligraphy cannot measure its strokes, and even calligraphers rewarded by emperors cannot describe it in words. How could cursive or seal scripts ever compare? The intricacies of clerical script have yet to be fully uncovered! Is it because its grandeur obscures the whole picture, or because its mysteries are hard to convey? Let’s take a closer look and discuss it in depth!"
During the heyday of the Han Dynasty, cursive script came into being, but it is unknown who invented it. During the reign of Emperor Zhang, Du Du, the Prime Minister of Qi, was reputed to be particularly skilled in cursive script. Later, the brothers Cui Yuan and Cui Shi also became masters of cursive script. Du's writing was steady but thin, while the Cui brothers captured the brushwork of cursive script, albeit a bit loose in structure.
In Hongnong, there was a man named Zhang Boying, who mastered cursive script to a remarkable degree. He would write characters on all the fabrics in his home before weaving them. He practiced by the pond, dying the pond water black. He followed the standards of regular script when writing, claiming he had no time for cursive script. He wouldn't spare any effort, even on a tiny scrap of paper, and as a result, his work is still cherished today, with Wei Zhongjiang calling him the "Cursive Saint." Zhang Boying's younger brother, Zhang Wenshu, was not quite as skilled in calligraphy as his brother.
In addition, Jiang Mengying, Liang Kongda, Tian Yan, and Wei Zhongjiang were all students of Zhang Boying and were somewhat well-known at the time, but their calligraphy skills were not as good as Zhang Wenshu's. Luo Shujing and Zhao Yuansi, contemporaries of Zhang Boying in Xizhou, were well-known, but their excessive focus on technique confused many. Therefore, Zhang Boying remarked, "My calligraphy is not as good as Cui Yuan and Du Du, but better than Luo Shujing and Zhao Yuansi." There was a man named Zhang Chao in Hejian, also famous for calligraphy, though he hailed from the same hometown as the Cui brothers, he failed to master the exquisite calligraphy techniques of Zhang Boying.
Cui Yuan wrote in his "Cursive Writing Style": "Calligraphy originated in the time of the Yellow Emperor, when people imitated bird footprints to record characters. As time went on, there were more and more classics, and officialdom grew increasingly chaotic; government affairs were neglected, and even ordinary writing was overlooked, so the characters were simplified and clerical script appeared. Cursive script, in contrast, is simpler and more efficient than clerical script, able to quickly record information, which saves time and energy. The evolution of cursive script does not necessarily have to adhere to ancient methods. Look at its form; there is a sense of order in its rises and falls. Although not completely square and regular, it possesses a unique unity. Some strokes lean at angles, resembling rugged mountain paths; some strokes look like birds about to take flight, while others resemble fierce beasts about to pounce. Some strokes are connected closely like a string of pearls, yet independent of each other; some strokes seem wild and unrestrained. Some strokes appear cautious, as if walking on a cliff; some strokes perch on tree branches like cicadas. The ending strokes of cursive script are tangled and intertwined, like the marks left by a woodcutter severing branches, or like a serpent entering a cave with its head inside and tail still outside. Therefore, from a distance, it resembles a mountain collapse; up close, each stroke is fixed. The beauty of cursive script lies in its flexibility and adaptability. I have probably introduced these; the rest can only be understood through intuition."
Next, let's talk about Wang Yan's situation. He was framed by the Chu King Sima Wei, and whenever he caught wind of rumors, he would have He Shao—his sister-in-law's father—sneak through a hole in the wall to secretly gather information. He Shao knew the truth but did not tell him. Later, as Wang Yan passed through the kitchen, he encountered the cook preparing food; he was killed there. After his death, the court posthumously appointed him as the Chief Water Supervisor and bestowed him the posthumous title of Zhen Shi Zi of Lanling. He had two sons: Wang Ge and Wang Jie.
Wang Zao, styled Zhongbao, inherited his father's noble title. Later, the King of Donghai, Sima Yue, granted him the fief of Lanling and changed his title to Duke of Jiangxia, which comprised eight thousand five hundred households. After Emperor Huai Sima Chi ascended the throne, Wang Zao became a Gentleman of the Cavalry. In the fifth year of Yongjia, he died at the hands of Liu Chong. Later, Emperor Yuan Sima Rui posthumously recognized the great-grandson of Wang Yan as his heir.
Wei Jie, styled Shubao, was exceptionally handsome and charming at just five years old. His grandfather, Wei Guan, remarked, "This child is different from others; it's a pity I'm too old to see him grow up!" Young Wei Jie, with his little braids, rode into the city on a sheep cart, and everyone who saw him thought he resembled a jade figure, captivating the entire city. The General of Cavalry, Wang Ji, was Wei Jie's uncle, and he was also handsome. Every time he saw Wei Jie, he would sigh and say, "Having such a fine gem beside me makes me seem quite crude." He often told others, "Playing with Wei Jie feels like having a bright pearl nearby, illuminating everything."
As Wei Jie grew up, he enjoyed discussing profound philosophical ideas. However, he often fell ill and was physically weak, so his mother often discouraged him from speaking. Only on good days would friends and family ask him to say a few words, and listeners were always left in awe, finding his words very profound. Wang Cheng of Langye was well-known and rarely admired others in his youth, yet he was so moved that he even fainted every time he heard Wei Jie speak. Thus, people at that time said, "Wei Jie's reasoning can make Wang Cheng of Langye faint." Wang Cheng, Wang Xuan, and Wang Ji were all well-known figures, but none could compare to Wei Jie; people said, "The three sons of the Wang family pale in comparison to a single child of the Wei family." Wei Jie's father-in-law, Le Guang, had a high reputation nationwide, and people said, "The father-in-law is as clear as crystal, while the son-in-law is as radiant as jade."
The court summoned him multiple times to take up an official position, but he never agreed. After a long time, he became the Western Pavilion's ceremonial official at the Grand Tutor's residence, and later served as the groom of the prince's horses. His brother Wei Zao became a cavalry attendant, serving the emperor in the palace. Later, when chaos engulfed the land, Wei Jie wanted to move his family south. His mother said, "I cannot leave Zhongbao (Wei Jie) behind!" Wei Jie earnestly persuaded his mother, and for the long-term consideration of the family, she reluctantly agreed with tears in her eyes. As they were about to leave, Wei Jie said to his brother, "The bond between brothers is the most valuable thing in life. Now is the time for us to make our mark; brother, you must work hard!" Then, Wei Jie supported his mother, and they made their way to Jiangxia.
Wei Jie’s wife died. The General of the South, Shan Jian, upon hearing this, respected him greatly. Shan Jian said, "In the past, when Dai Shuluan gave his daughter in marriage to someone, he only considered whether the other party was virtuous, not their wealth. Moreover, the Wei family is a powerful and prestigious family with a high reputation!" Thus, he gave his daughter in marriage to Wei Jie. Later, Wei Jie was promoted to an official role in Yuzhang, where General Wang Dun was stationed. The Chancellor Xie Kun had greatly admired Wei Jie, and they happily chatted for a long time after meeting. Wang Dun said to Xie Kun, "In the past, Wang Fusi spoke eloquently in the court, and now Wei Jie is also exceptionally talented in Jiangdong. This elegant discourse, once interrupted, has now resumed. I never expected that even at the end of the Yongjia period, we could still hear the style of the Zhengshi years. If Ping Shu (referring to Ji Kang) were still alive, he would surely be impressed by Wei Jie." Wei Jie interacted with others in a way that if they fell short, he would forgive them with understanding and compassion; if something did not concern him, he would explain it with logic, thus he never revealed his emotions of joy or anger throughout his life.
Wang Dun was a man of great generosity and unconventionality, but he liked to be in control of others. Wei Jie was concerned that he was not a loyal minister to the state, so he requested to be reassigned back to Jianye (present-day Nanjing). People in the capital heard that Wei Jie was handsome, and the crowd that came to see him was as thick as a wall. Wei Jie became ill due to overexertion and passed away in the sixth year of Yongjia at the age of twenty-seven. People at that time said that he was literally watched to death. He was buried in Nanchang. Xie Kun wept bitterly, and when someone asked him, "What worries you so much that you are so sad?" Xie Kun replied, "How can I not be sad when the pillar of the community has been broken?" During the Xianhe era, Wei Jie's grave was moved to Jiangning. Prime Minister Wang Dao ordered, "Wei Xima should be reburied. This gentleman is a man of great charm admired throughout the land, and a modest burial would be fitting to honor his memory." Later, Liu Tan and Xie Shang commented on the prominent figures of the court, and someone asked, "Can Du Yi be compared to Wei Xima?" Xie Shang said, "How can they be compared? There's no comparison; they’re in a league of their own." Liu Tan added, "Du Yi has a handsome appearance, while Wei Shubao (Wei Jie’s courtesy name) has an elegant demeanor." Wei Jie was thus esteemed by knowledgeable individuals. Among the renowned figures of the time, only Wang Cheng and Wei Jie were ranked equally at the top.
Wei Jie's cousin, Wei Zhan, courtesy name Daoshu, had served as a Shangshu Lang and Governor of Nanyang. During the Yongjia period, he served as the Inspector of Jiangzhou and later was promoted to the Minister of Justice under the Jin Dynasty. The court once ordered that a son must confirm his father's crimes, even resorting to whipping parents to make the son disclose his location. Wei Zhan believed this would damage moral standards, so he petitioned to abolish this practice. After the restoration, he served as the Minister of Rites and submitted a memorial suggesting the restoration of corporal punishment, which was recorded in the "Criminal Law Records." After Wei Zhan passed away, he was posthumously awarded the title of Grand Minister of Grace.
Zhang Hua, with the courtesy name Maoxian, was from Fangcheng in Fanyang. His father, Zhang Ping, was once the governor of Yuyang County during the Wei dynasty. Zhang Hua grew up in hardship and poverty, earning a living by tending sheep. Lu Qin, a fellow resident of the county, recognized his talent when he first saw him. A local named Liu Fang also recognized his abilities and gave his daughter in marriage to him.
Zhang Hua was well-read, with elegant and fluent writing, and a broad knowledge base and had read nearly every book on astronomy, geography, fortune-telling, and various skills. From a young age, he was strict with himself and always polite. He was courageous, willing to die for justice and eager to help others with their troubles. His insights were deep, and he had an open mind; few people could truly grasp his thoughts back then. At first, he was not well-known and wrote an essay titled "The Wren" to express his ambitions. The essay stated:
“Its words say: ” (This part is a direct quote and will not be translated)
Ah, how the world changes, and everything is so different! Take that small wren, for example; although it is tiny, it also lives, breathing in the air around it. It is inconspicuous, without a body of gold or jade; its feathers cannot be used for decoration, and its flesh is not edible. When eagles and vultures fly overhead, it remains unafraid, not to mention the bird-catching nets. It lives among the trees and shrubs, doesn't fly high and doesn't flock with others. Its dwelling is simple, and finding food is easy; it just needs a single branch for a nest and a few grains for a meal. It has no fixed roosting place, flying here and there without any destination, not bothered by thorns or orchids. It flaps its wings gently and flies away, able to settle anywhere. It follows the natural course and is uncontentious with the world. Even though this little bird might not understand much, it seems to live wisely. It doesn't chase after treasures to avoid trouble; it does not adorn itself to avoid problems. It quietly maintains its nature, never shows off and acts cautiously, simply, and casually. It lives naturally and isn't fooled by the material world.
Look at those birds, sharp beaks and claws; swans and herons, soaring in the clouds; kūn jī (鹍鸡) hiding in dark and treacherous places; peacocks living in remote and secluded areas; as well as wild ducks and geese, also spreading their wings high and flying fast. Their feathers are beautiful, their bodies strong, but in the end, they all face death; even if they hide with reeds to avoid arrows, they cannot escape their fate of being killed. Fierce eagles are captured, smart parrots are kept in cages; they have to submit to humans, being kept in grand palaces and courtyards. To please their masters, they change their songs and even lose their ability to fly. Oh, how they longed for the forests of Zhongshan and Daiyue! Even if they survive today, they can’t compare to the freedom they once enjoyed.
Seabirds fly from afar to escape the storm; giant birds from the distant Western Regions fly over the mountains; they fly thousands of miles, shaking all the way, full of fear. They are huge in size, easy to attract trouble, and beautiful, making them easy prey. Between heaven and earth, all things are different in size and type. The tiny wren can build its nest on the eyelashes of a mosquito, while the giant roc can fly to the edge of the sky; isn’t this what they mean by "insufficiency above, excess below"? Looking at the world, observing carefully, how can I judge which is better or worse in size? "The wren nests on the mosquito's eyelashes, the roc soars in the corner of the sky," does it really matter?
Ruan Ji met Zhang Hua and exclaimed, "This is a great talent to serve emperors!" Since then, Zhang Hua's reputation began to flourish. The prefect Xian Yu Si recommended him to be a Doctor of the Imperial Academy. Lu Qin also mentioned him to Emperor Wen, and Zhang Hua was appointed as the Deputy Intendant of Henan, then later reassigned as an Assistant Master of Writing before he officially took office. Not long after, he was promoted to Chief Historian and concurrently served as a Gentleman-in-Attendance at the Palace Library. His opinions were often adopted in court discussions and memorials, so he formally assumed this position. After the establishment of the Western Jin Dynasty, he was appointed as the Minister of the Yellow Gate and granted the title of Marquis of the Interior.
Zhang Hua had an exceptional memory, and he seemed to have a handle on all major events in the world. Emperor Wu once asked him about the system of the Han Dynasty's palaces and the scale of the Jianzhang Palace. Zhang Hua answered fluently, and everyone listened attentively. He even drew pictures on the ground to explain, leaving everyone spellbound. Emperor Wu greatly admired him, and people at that time compared him to the famous minister Zichan from the Spring and Autumn period. Several years later, he was appointed as the Prefect of the Palace Library, and later added as a Cavalier In Regular Attendance. After his mother's death, he was consumed by grief, surpassing the mourning regulations. The court issued a decree to offer him comfort and encouragement, urging him to continue handling state affairs.
Initially, Emperor Wu secretly discussed with Yang Hu about attacking the Kingdom of Wu, but many ministers thought it was not feasible; only Zhang Hua supported this plan. Later, when Yang Hu fell seriously ill, Emperor Wu sent Zhang Hua to visit him, inquiring about the strategy to attack the Kingdom of Wu; this incident is recorded in the 'Biography of Yang Hu'. When it was time for a major offensive, Emperor Wu appointed Zhang Hua as the Minister of Revenue, responsible for planning military logistics and deciding on the battle plan. After the army embarked on their campaign, they failed to achieve victory for an extended period, and Jia Chong and others submitted a memorial requesting Zhang Hua to be executed to quell public outrage. Emperor Wu said, "This was my decision; Zhang Hua merely concurred." Many ministers at the time believed they should exercise caution, but only Zhang Hua insisted they would definitely win. After the Kingdom of Wu fell, the court issued a decree declaring, "Zhang Hua, Minister and Marquis of Guannei, in collaboration with the late Grand Tutor Yang Hu, formulated a great strategic plan, then took charge of military affairs, deployed various troops, weighed the pros and cons, strategized and decided victory from a thousand miles away, and achieved remarkable accomplishments. He was specially enfeoffed as the Marquis of Guangwu County, with an additional fiefdom of ten thousand households, and his son was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Ting, with a fiefdom of one thousand five hundred households, and bestowed with ten thousand bolts of silk." Zhang Hua enjoyed an exceptional reputation throughout his life, and everyone respected him. The historical books and the ceremonial systems of the Jin Dynasty often referenced his insights and even implemented changes. Many of the imperial edicts at that time were drafted by him, and his reputation continued to grow, leading everyone to believe he could become a prime minister in the future. However, Xun Xu, from a prestigious family himself and favored by the emperor, harbored jealousy towards Zhang Hua and sought opportunities to reassign him to a distant post. One day, the emperor asked Zhang Hua, "Who do you think can be entrusted with my affairs after my passing?" Zhang Hua replied, "In terms of noble character and close relationship, there is no one more suitable than Prince Qi, Sima You." This was not the response the emperor wished to hear, somewhat at odds with the emperor's wishes; Xun Xu seized this opportunity and began to act. Consequently, Zhang Hua was reassigned, with the titles of Commissioner, Commander of Military Affairs in Youzhou, Commandant of the Wuhuan, and General of Peace in the North.
Hua Xin arrived in Youzhou and effectively calmed both the local residents and newcomers; he was highly respected by all ethnic groups. The Eastern Yi states of Ma Han and Xinmi are located over four thousand li from Youzhou. Many states had not submitted to the court for generations, but now they have sent envoys to pay their respects. As a result, the border regions have become very stable, there's no threat from any direction, the weather has been favorable for several years, the people are living in peace and working happily, and the military has also grown stronger.
The court wanted to appoint Hua Xin as chancellor and also intended to elevate his rank, granting him the title of Yitong Sanqi. It is said that Hua Xin had previously accused the imperial scholar Feng Hui before the emperor, and the emperor's favorite courtier, Zhen, is Feng Hui's brother, deeply trusted by the emperor. Once, Zhen served the emperor and casually discussed the history of the Wei and Jin dynasties. Suddenly he said, "I believe part of the blame for Zhong Hui's rebellion rests with the founding emperor." The emperor's expression changed upon hearing this and asked, "What do you mean by that?" Zhen quickly took off his hat and admitted his mistake, "I am ignorant and have spoken foolishly, deserving of a thousand deaths! However, I do have a thought I wish to share with you." The emperor inquired, "What else do you wish to say?"
Dong explained, "I believe that those skilled at driving a horse-drawn carriage must know how to manage the reins effectively; those who are good at governing a country must understand how to control the officials. For example, Confucius' disciple Ran Qiu was valued for his humility; while Zi Lu, because of his strong character, was suppressed; Han Gaozu's eight brothers were wiped out because of their excessive favoritism; the generals under Emperor Guangwu achieved success and fame through appropriate restraint. This difference is not a result of the kindness or cruelty of those in power, nor the intelligence or foolishness of those beneath them, but rather due to the suppression and promotion by the ruler. Zhong Hui had limited abilities, yet the Emperor excessively praised him, commended his strategies, elevated his reputation, and gave him important positions and a powerful army, leading him to become arrogant and ultimately rebel. Had the Emperor merely recognized his minor achievements, restrained him with formal ceremonies, and kept him in check with power, he would not have harbored rebellious thoughts or caused a rebellion." The Emperor said, "You are right." Dong bowed and thanked him, "Since Your Majesty agrees with my words, you should learn from this lesson, remain vigilant, and ensure that individuals like Zhong Hui never bring about the country's downfall again." The Emperor asked, "Are there still people like Zhong Hui now?" Dong replied, "Dongfang Shuo once remarked, 'It's easier said than done,' and the Book of Changes also states: 'If a subordinate is not cautious, he will lose his life.'" The Emperor then dismissed the attendants and said, "You may speak freely." Dong continued, "The ministers who assist you have made significant contributions to the country, and this is well-known; those great ministers who control local armies are also under Your Majesty's control." The Emperor fell silent for a moment. Shortly after, the Emperor appointed Hua Xin as the Grand Minister. Later, when the roof beams of the ancestral temple were damaged, Hua Xin was dismissed. Thus, throughout the Emperor's reign, Hua Xin continued to meet with him in his capacity as a marquis.
When Emperor Hui ascended to the throne, he appointed Hua Xin as the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor. Like Wang Rong, Pei Kai, and He Qiao, he was respected for his virtue and reputation, which led to their exclusion from political affairs due to Yang Jun's envy. After Yang Jun was killed, some people wanted to remove the Empress Dowager, and a meeting was held in the court to discuss the matter. Most people sided with the Emperor, saying that just as recorded in the "Spring and Autumn Annals," she should be removed like Lady Wen Jiang, since the Empress Dowager had strained her ties with the ancestral temple and should be deposed. Only Hua Xin opposed this, saying, "In family matters, a father cannot control his son, nor can a son control his father. The Empress Dowager has not offended the late Emperor; it is only because she favors her relatives and fails to be a good mother in this enlightened era. We should follow the Han Dynasty's example of deposing Empress Zhao and naming her Empress Xiaocheng, reducing her title and renaming her Empress Wu, allowing her to live in another palace. This way, we can preserve her dignity while also showing the royal family's grace." However, no one listened to him, and in the end, the Empress Dowager was deposed and demoted to commoner status.
King Sima Wei of Chu secretly received a secret edict to kill the Grand Chancellor Wang Liang of Runan and Grand Guardian Wei Guan, causing chaos among the troops inside and outside the palace. The court was in a panic and didn't know what to do. Hua Xin advised the Emperor, saying, "Sima Wei has falsely transmitted the imperial edict to kill the two ministers. The soldiers, in a moment of impulse, thought this was the court's intention, which is why they followed him. We can now send envoys bearing the Zouyu flag, a symbol of peace, to ask the outside troops to cease fighting; they will surely comply." The Emperor accepted his suggestion, and indeed, Sima Wei's army was defeated. After Sima Wei was killed, Hua Xin, the key figure in restoring order, was awarded the title of Right Minister of Rites, granted the rank of Grand Administrator equivalent to three officials, served as Palace Attendant, and became Supervisor of the Central Secretariat, along with receiving a gold medal and purple sash. However, he turned down the position of Grand Administrator.
Jia Mi and Empress Jia conspired, believing that Hua Xin, of humble origin, was refined and strategic, and his promotion would not arouse the emperor's suspicion. Moreover, his stepping back would also garner him the support of everyone, so they wanted him to take control of state affairs and sought his counsel on state affairs. Jia Mi felt some hesitation and went to ask Pei Wei. Pei Wei had always valued Hua Xin and strongly supported this matter. Thus, Hua Xin devoted himself to assisting the emperor, rectifying the deficiencies in governance. Although it was an era of a foolish emperor and a cruel empress, the realm remained at peace, owing to Hua Xin's contributions. Worried about the increasing influence of the Jia family, Hua Xin wrote the "Admonitions for Women" to satirize them. Despite being fierce and jealous, Empress Jia also respected Hua Xin. After a considerable period, people deliberated on Hua Xin's past loyalty and merits, seeking to bestow upon him the title of Duke of Zhuangwu. Hua Xin declined more than ten times, and only after the emperor issued several edicts persuading him did he finally accept. Several years later, he succeeded Sima Huang, the Prince of Xiapi, as Minister of Works, concurrently serving as a Gentleman of the Imperial Academy.
Empress Jia wanted to depose the crown prince, who was held in high regard by Liu Bian, the Left Guard Commander, who always attended the crown prince's banquets. Liu Bian noticed Jia Mi's arrogance several times, which the crown prince openly detested, and Jia Mi also looked down on the crown prince. Liu Bian privately asked Hua Lin (Jia Chong) how to address this issue, but Hua Lin replied, "I don't know." Liu Bian said, "I, Liu Bian, come from a humble background, starting as a minor official in Xuchang and gradually rising to today. As a minister, I should repay the kindness of being favored; why do you still doubt me?" Hua Lin asked, "Even if this is true, what course of action do you intend to take?" Liu Bian replied, "The Eastern Palace is teeming with talent, and the four guards have at least ten thousand elite soldiers. You occupy a high position and wield significant power; if we receive your command, we can have the crown prince seize the opportunity during court to handle the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel, then depose Empress Jia and confine her in Jin Yong City. This can be accomplished with just two palace attendants."
Hualin said, "The emperor is currently in power, and the crown prince is, after all, someone else's son. I haven't received your orders; if I act suddenly, it would be disloyal and unfilial behavior, and the world would laugh at us. Even if it works out, I would still be blamed; moreover, there are powerful nobles everywhere in the court, and power is fragmented. Can this be stable?" Later, the emperor summoned the ministers in the Shiqian Hall and showed them a handwritten letter from the crown prince. No one dared to speak. Only Hualin advised, "This is a huge disaster for the country! Since Emperor Wu of Han, every time the legitimate crown prince has been deposed, the country has never known peace. Furthermore, our country has only recently unified; Your Majesty must consider this carefully!" Pei Wei, the Left Minister of Personnel, suggested first investigating the messenger and verifying the authenticity of the crown prince's letter; otherwise, someone might be forging it. Jia Hou then produced over ten letters the crown prince had written to her before, and everyone compared them carefully, but no one dared to claim they were wrong. They debated until sunset but reached no conclusion. Seeing Hualin and the others' resolve, Jia Hou requested to be demoted to commoner status, and the emperor approved it.
Initially, Zhao Wang Lun was appointed General of the West, and he created chaos in Guanzhong, leading to the revolt of the Di and Qiang tribes. Therefore, the court sent Liang Wang Rong to replace him. Someone advised Hua Xin, "Zhao Wang is greedy and foolish, only trusting Sun Xiu, causing destruction wherever he goes, while Sun Xiu was treacherous and cunning, the leader among traitors. We could send Liang Wang to eliminate Sun Xiu, weakening Zhao Wang's power by half, and thus apologize to the people of Guanzhong. Wouldn't that be great?" Hua Xin agreed with this suggestion, and Liang Wang Rong also consented. However, Xin Ran, a friend of Sun Xiu, hurried in from the west and told Liang Wang, "The Di and Qiang tribes' rebellion wasn't instigated by Sun Xiu." Thus, Sun Xiu escaped death.
Zhao Wanglun later returned to Luoyang, flattering Empress Jia, and took the opportunity to request the position of Minister of State. Later, he also wanted to become the Minister of State. Hua Xin and Pei Wei strongly opposed this, thus offending Zhao Wanglun and Sun Xiu, who both harbored a deep hatred for Hua Xin. Later, a fire broke out in the armory, and Hua Xin, fearing chaos would ensue, mobilized troops for a strict defense, ultimately extinguishing the fire. As a result, treasures collected over generations, including the sword of Han Gaozu that killed the White Serpent, Wang Mang's head, Confucius's shoes, and so on, were all burned to ashes. At that moment, Hua Xin saw a sword fly out through the roof, but no one knew where it went.
At first, Hua Xin was appointed as the governor of Zhuangwu County, where a mulberry tree turned into a cypress tree, which was considered an ominous sign by those who understood such matters. Moreover, strange occurrences often took place at Hua Xin's residence and the Supervisory Ministry. Hua Xin's youngest son, Hua Wei, advised him to resign after noticing cracks in the Central Platform Star. Hua Xin did not heed this advice, saying, "The ways of heaven are deep and hard to understand; only by cultivating virtue can one align with heavenly intentions. It's better to quietly watch and wait for what fate has in store." When Zhao Wanglun and Sun Xiu planned to depose Empress Jia, Sun Xiu sent Sima Ya at night to inform Hua Xin, saying, "The state is in imminent danger; Zhao Wang wants to join you to save the court and achieve great undertakings." Hua Xin knew that Sun Xiu and the others would certainly usurp power, so he refused. Sima Ya angrily said, "A knife is already at your throat, and you still talk like that!" After saying this, he left without looking back. One day, while Hua Xin was napping, he suddenly dreamed that his house collapsed, and upon waking, he felt it was a bad omen.
That night, Hua Xin couldn't sleep, so he pretended that the court had summoned him by edict, and thus he and Pei Wei were arrested together. When Hua Xin was about to be executed, he said to Zhang Lin, "Are you trying to harm a loyal minister?" Zhang Lin read the edict and questioned him, "As the Chancellor, responsible for the country's major affairs, the Crown Prince has been deposed; why won't you sacrifice yourself for the nation?" Hua Xin replied, "I have submitted my memorials regarding the deposition of the Crown Prince, and they are all on record; I have not failed to offer advice." Zhang Lin said, "Since your advice was useless, why didn't you resign?" Hua Xin was left speechless. After a while, the messenger arrived and said, "The edict orders the execution of Lord Hua." Hua Xin said, "I am an old minister of the late emperor, devoted and loyal. I am not afraid of death, but I worry that the royal family will suffer disaster, and the calamity is hard to foresee!" Thus, Hua Xin was executed on the south side of the horse path in the front hall, and three generations of his family were implicated. Everyone in the court and among the common people mourned for him. He died at the age of sixty-nine.
Mr. Hua had a particular fondness for associating with talented individuals and was very earnest. No matter how impoverished or humble their backgrounds, he would praise them for any small virtue and help them gain recognition. He especially loved reading, and when he passed away, there wasn’t a penny left in his home—just a room full of books. Once, when moving, it took thirty carts just to move the books! Even the court's Secretary General, Zhi Yu, often referred to Mr. Hua's collection to proofread official texts! Mr. Hua's collection contained nearly every rare and peculiar item imaginable. Therefore, it is said that his knowledge was profound and unmatched.
During the reign of Emperor Hui, someone found a three-zhang-long bird feather and showed it to Mr. Hua. After looking at it, Mr. Hua's expression turned grim and he said, "Its appearance means that great chaos is about to unfold!" Lu Ji once gave him some pickled fish, and at that time, the house was full of guests. Mr. Hua picked it up and exclaimed, "This is dragon meat!" Everyone was skeptical, but Mr. Hua insisted, "Wash it with bitter wine, and you'll definitely notice something different." After washing it, it indeed revealed a colorful glow! Lu Ji went back to ask the person who had given him the fish, and that person said, "This is a white fish I found under a pile of straw in the garden; it looks very special and is particularly delicious when pickled, so I brought it as a gift." The defenses of the arsenal were extremely strict, yet one day, the sound of a wild chicken was heard coming from inside. Mr. Hua said, "This must be a chicken that transformed from a snake!" Upon opening it, there was indeed a snake's shed skin next to the wild chicken! The riverbank in Linping, Wu County, caved in, revealing a stone drum, but it didn’t make a sound when struck. The emperor asked Mr. Hua what was going on, and Mr. Hua said, "You can use the paulownia wood from Shu to carve it into the shape of a fish, and it’ll make a sound when you hit it." Following his advice, it indeed produced a sound that carried for miles!
At the beginning, when the state of Wu was still intact, there was often purple qi between the stars of the Taurus constellation. Those who understood divination believed that the power of the state of Wu was strong, and they could not plot against it for the time being, but Zhang Hua thought otherwise. After the state of Wu perished, the purple qi actually grew even brighter. Zhang Hua heard that Lei Huan, a man from Yuzhang who was proficient in astronomy and astrology, invited him to stay at his place, and then, avoiding others, he said, "Let's observe the celestial phenomena together and see what the future holds for us." So they climbed a tall tower together and looked up at the sky. Lei Huan said, "I have been observing for a long time, and there are some strange signs between the stars of the Taurus constellation." Zhang Hua asked, "What does this mean?" Lei Huan said, "This is the spirit of a sword, rising straight up to the sky!" Zhang Hua said, "You are right. When I was young, a fortune teller told me that when I was sixty years old, I would become a high-ranking official, and I would also receive a sword to wear. Could this really happen?" So Zhang Hua asked, "Where can we find the sword?" Lei Huan said, "It's in Fengcheng in Yuzhang." Zhang Hua said, "I’d like you to be the magistrate of Fengcheng, and we will secretly search for the sword together, how does that sound to you?" Lei Huan agreed. Zhang Hua was overjoyed and quickly made Lei Huan the magistrate of Fengcheng.
Lei Huan arrived in Fengcheng, dug up the foundation of the prison, and dug over four zhang deep underground, discovering a stone box. The light inside was blinding, and there were two swords in the box, both inscribed with the names "Dragon Spring" and "Tai'a." That night, the purple aura between the constellations of the Big Dipper vanished. Lei Huan wiped the swords with soil from the northern cliffs of Xishan in Nanchang, making their brilliance even more radiant. He filled a basin with water, placed the swords on the surface, and anyone who gazed upon them was blinded by their brilliance. Lei Huan sent one sword and soil to Zhang Hua, keeping one for himself. Someone said to Lei Huan, "You got two swords but only sent one to Zhang Gong—are you trying to deceive him?" Lei Huan replied, "There will be a great turmoil in the court, and Zhang Gong will suffer as a result. This sword should have originally belonged to the tomb of Xu Jun. Supernatural objects will eventually disappear and will not be owned by people forever." After Zhang Hua received the sword, he cherished it and always kept it next to his seat. Zhang Hua felt that the soil of Nanchang isn't as good as the red clay of Huayin, so he wrote to Lei Huan saying, "Carefully observe the inscriptions on the sword. It is the Ganjiang Sword; why is the Moye Sword not appearing together? However, natural divine objects will eventually come together." So Zhang Hua sent a pound of Huayin soil to Lei Huan. Lei Huan used the Huayin soil to wipe the sword, making the sword's brilliance even more radiant. Later, Zhang Hua was killed, and the sword's whereabouts became a mystery. After Lei Huan's death, his son Lei Hua worked in the state, carrying the sword through Yanping Ferry. The sword suddenly leapt from his waist and plunged into the water. He sent someone to dive and retrieve it, but they found no sign of the sword, only two dragons, each several feet long, coiling around with beautiful patterns on their bodies. The divers were afraid and came back up. Shortly after, the water's surface shimmered, waves surged, and the sword had vanished. Lei Hua sighed, "My father said the sword would eventually disappear, and Zhang Gong also believed this. Is this the fulfillment of his prophecy?" Zhang Hua was well-versed, and there were many such occurrences, but they won’t all be recounted here.
Hou Lun and Xiu were assassinated, and Prince Qi Jiong began his rule. Zhi Yu wrote a letter to Jiong, saying, "I happened to come across the memorial that Zhang Hua submitted to the Emperor after Zhang Hua's death while organizing the documents in the Ministry of Personnel Affairs. The late Emperor asked Zhang Hua who could assist in governing the state and handle future affairs. Zhang Hua replied, 'There is no one more suitable than the late king, with noble character and intimate connections. He should be left to guard the state.' Zhang Hua's loyal strategy and sincere words were even recognized in the afterlife, only to be acknowledged posthumously, incomparable to those who seek mere comfort. Some criticize Zhang Hua for not standing up and defending himself during the Crown Prince's mourning incident. However, at that time, anyone who offered advice would have faced execution. The teachings of the ancient sages advise against compelling others to undertake actions that are known to be futile and deadly. Thus, Yan Ying, the chief minister of Qi, survived the chaos instigated by Cui Zhu; Ji Zha, a minister of Wu, did not engage in arguments about right and wrong either. When principles cannot be put into practice, the teachings of the sages do not assign blame."
After listening to this, he reported to the emperor, "I have heard that the rise of a weak state inheriting a broken royal lineage is the hallmark of a sage king's governance; condemning evil and praising goodness, these noble principles are recorded in the 'Spring and Autumn Annals'. Therefore, King Wu rewarded the tomb of Bi Gan and praised the neighborhood of Shang Rong, which indicates that there is indeed a connection between the realm of the dead and the living. Sun Xiu rebelled, destroyed the country that assisted the court, killed upright and outspoken ministers, and devastated the royal family; he was cruel and ruthless, and many loyal subjects were exterminated. Zhang Hua and Pei Wei were killed for offending the powerful, and the Jie brothers were slaughtered like lambs, while Ouyang Jian and others died innocently, and the people felt great sympathy for them. Now Your Majesty has renewed the radiance of the sun and moon and issued new decrees, yet these families have not received any favor. In the past, the Luan and Xi clans were demoted to servitude, and the 'Spring and Autumn Annals' also recorded their faults; King You abandoned the descendants of the heroes and sages, and poets even composed verses to mock this. I hold this position to offer my loyal counsel. If it is in line with Your Majesty's intentions, Your Majesty may command the ministers to deliberate together."
Everyone had their own opinions, but most believed that those who were executed were deeply wronged. Zhuo Dao, a minister of the Zhuangwu Kingdom, went to see the King of Changsha again, requesting the restoration of Zhang Hua's title, but this matter has lingered for quite some time without resolution.
In the year 275 AD, the emperor issued a decree saying: "Love and hatred have always been in conflict, with treachery opposing integrity. The Minister of Works and Duke of Guangwu, Hua Zhong, has always been loyal and devoted, assisting in state affairs. His strategies and contributions are crucial to the state. Previously, due to the contributions of Hua Bi, he should have been granted a higher title. However, he repeatedly declined, stressing that the country's system must remain unchanged. He warned that any attempt to change it forcefully would lead to failure and shame. His refusal was heartfelt and sincere, serving as a warning to all. Hua's genuine loyalty is evident to all. Despite being granted a title for pacifying the Wu state, further elevation would violate the state's principles and would overshadow his previous significant rewards. Hua was wrongfully accused of treason and murdered by malicious individuals. I hereby restore Hua's titles of Chamberlain, Director of the Palace Library, Minister of Works, and Duke of Guangwu, along with his confiscated assets, seals, and insignias. I will also send envoys to pay tribute to him."
The brothers Lu Ji were ambitious and of noble character. They held no disdain for the people of the Central Plains when they arrived in Luoyang. When they met Hua, they treated him like an old friend, admiring his character and abilities, affording him great respect. After Hua's death, Lu Ji wrote a eulogy and crafted a poem in his memory. "Hua authored ten volumes of 'Records of Natural History' and other works, which have been passed down through generations. He had two sons: Hua Yi and Hua Wei."
Hua Yi, also known as Yanzhong, was studious, humble, and respectful, inheriting his father's excellent virtues, eventually rising to the position of Imperial Attendant. Hua Wei was well-versed in astronomy and served as a Gentleman of the Yellow Gate. Both brothers met the same fate. Hua Yi's son, Hua Yu, known as Gong'an, inherited Hua's titles. To evade the turmoil of war, he crossed the Yangtze River and served as a Chief Clerk and an assistant to the Crown Prince.
Liu Bian, also known as Shulong, hails from Xuchang, Shandong. His family has been in the military for generations; he is a straightforward person and speaks little. When he was young, he held a low-ranking official position in the county. One night, the clerk in charge of document work got drunk and needed to use the restroom. He asked Liu Bian to hold a lantern for him, but Liu Bian refused. The clerk held a grudge against him and found an excuse to reassign him to the pavilion.
Later, a scholar named Zuxiu was writing official documents in the pavilion for the magistrate, but he couldn't finish it after a long time. Liu Bian offered him some advice and helped him organize his thoughts, which helped him produce a clear and well-organized document. Zuxiu went to the county magistrate and said, "Liu Bian is capable of being a high-ranking official in the prefecture. Why did you assign him to work in the pavilion?" Upon hearing this, the magistrate quickly appointed Liu Bian as his aide. While Liu Bian's approach was clear and concise, it often lacked attention to detail. The magistrate asked him, "Can you study?" Liu Bian replied, "I am willing to learn." So the magistrate allowed him to study.
Not long after, Liu Bian's brother became a guard at the palace, but sadly passed away. As per the regulations, someone had to fill his brother's position, and the clerk suggested Liu Bian. The magistrate said, "Zuxiu mentioned that Liu Bian is very talented." Thus, he declined the clerk's suggestion. Eventually, Liu Bian followed the magistrate to Luoyang, entered the Imperial College, passed his exams, and was appointed a fourth-rank official by the court. Once, someone requested the magistrate's assistance in writing a letter on premium yellow paper. Liu Bian said, "I’m not the kind of person who writes letters on yellow paper!" The person got angry and reported him to the superior official, which led to Liu Bian's demotion to a subordinate role under the Minister of Justice.
Someone said to Liu Bian, "Your talent is suitable for big things, not for small things. Why not go and be a small official guarding the warehouse?" Liu Bian listened to his advice and did as he was told. Later, he was promoted to the historian of the Ministry of Personnel, then became the Chief Clerk for Prince Qi, Wang You, and then served as the Minister of Rites, the Left Western Clerk of the Ministry of Works, and the Gentleman of the Ministry of Personnel. He excelled in all these roles. He was promoted step by step and eventually became the Attendant of the Cavalry, then was appointed as the Inspector of Bingzhou, and later returned to the court as the Left Guard. He learned about Empress Jia's plot to depose the crown prince and was very worried. He tried to advise Zhang Hua, but Zhang Hua did not take his advice, which made Liu Bian even more dissatisfied. Empress Jia sent a trusted confidant to secretly investigate, and upon hearing that Liu Bian had said these things, she transferred him to a remote place to serve as the General of Light Chariots and the Inspector of Yongzhou. Liu Bian knew that his words had been leaked and was afraid of being killed by Empress Jia, so he committed suicide by poison.
When Liu Bian took office in Bingzhou, more than ten colleagues who had previously worked with him as low-ranking officials in Xuchang came to see him off. One of them looked down on Liu Bian, so Liu Bian had him sent away. This incident led others to look down on Liu Bian.
Historians say: Loyalty is the best virtue, learning is the glory of the country. Just as all stars need ritual and righteousness to regulate, human relationships also need dignity and solemnity. Wei Guan held Emperor Wu's bed, Zhang Hua resisted Zhao Lun's orders, constantly remonstrated like Boyu, who was known for his wise counsel, and performed excellently in critical situations like Mao Xian. They are truly admirable! They walked a dangerous path, but the reason can be explained: when the country is in chaos at the beginning, the development of things deviates from the right track. Like pine and bamboo, they are steadfast and unyielding. Even in death, their value surpasses that of living. They already had the determination to die, so they were not afraid of failure. In the end, they all fell into the trap of treacherous ministers, were tragically killed, and the country declined as a result. This is truly heartbreaking!
"The virtuous are entrusted, the path mirrors the chill of the grave. The fates of the virtuous are in ruins; my life is not at ease. Wei was destroyed by Jia, and Zhang was executed due to Zhao. This poem praises Wei Guan and Zhang Hua, lamenting the difficulty of remaining steadfast in chaos. They chose to sacrifice themselves for the nation's peace, and this spirit deserves to be remembered for eternity."
