Xing Shao, courtesy name Zicai, was from Meng County, Hebei, and a descendant of the Wei state's Grand Minister Zhen. His father, Xing Qiu, was the Minister of Rites in the Wei state. Xing Shao's childhood nickname was Ji; he was a bit timid as a child, so he rarely used this name. At the age of five, Cui Liang, an official from the Ministry of Personnel in the Wei state and a native of Qinghe, saw him and thought he was remarkable, saying, "This child will surely achieve great things in the future, with high status and fame." By the age of ten, he could already write essays, with elegant prose and great talent, and an exceptional memory, capable of memorizing over ten thousand characters in a single day. His cousin Xing Luan, a person of integrity and insight, said to the young members of their clan, "Our family has produced such an extraordinary child; he is truly remarkable!"
In his youth, Xing Shao was in Luoyang, during a time of peace in the world. He spent his days traveling and enjoying himself with notable people of the time, without taking his studies seriously. One time, during several days of heavy rain, he stayed home to read the "Book of Han," and in five days, he memorized the main contents of the book. Later, after tiring of play, he began to seriously study the classics and historical texts, reading all five classics together. He could read ten lines at a time, remembering everything after one reading, without forgetting a single word. His writings were both ornate and elegant, rich and quickly composed. By the age of twenty, his reputation had spread among high officials and nobles.
On one occasion, he, along with Yang Gu from Youbeiping, Pei Boma from Hedong, his cousin Xing Bi, and Lu Daohui from Henan, went to the home of King Beihai, Sima Xin, to drink and spend the night. They composed dozens of poems together, leaving the drafts with the servants of King Beihai. The next day, when the servant went out on errands, they tried to find the poetry drafts but couldn't. Xing Shao recited all the poems from memory. Some of them couldn't remember certain lines, but when the servant returned and brought out the drafts, they matched perfectly with what Xing Shao had recited. Everyone praised him, saying he was as remarkable as the great poet Wang Can from the Wei and Jin dynasties. Li Shenjun, the Minister of Personnel from Longxi, greatly admired him and formed a friendship with him despite their age difference.
Xing Shao initially served as a minor official under Emperor Wei Xuanwu, and later he was promoted to the position of Assistant Minister to the Literary Official. He had a close relationship with the powerful general Yuan Cha at that time. Once, when Yuan Cha was newly appointed as the Minister of Personnel, he dined with Yuan Fan of Chen Jun and others, and asked Xing Shao to write a thank-you note right then and there. Xing Shao wrote quickly and well, finishing it immediately and showing it to the guests. Xing Shao said, "This thank-you note I wrote could make Lord Yuan's face turn pale!" During the reign of Emperor Xiaochang, he and the Palace Attendant Li Yan were in charge of court ceremonies. After Emperor Xiaoming, the literary scene thrived, and Xing Shao's literary talent was unmatched back then; every time he wrote an article, paper was flying off the shelves in Luoyang, and the articles quickly spread everywhere.
At that time, Yuan Fan and Zu Ying were both prominent figures with excellent writing skills, and everyone praised their outstanding literary talent. However, they were very jealous of Xing Shao's talent, feeling that his articles were both elaborate and meaningful. Many high-ranking officials in Luoyang who were promoted asked Xing Shao to help write thank-you notes. Once, when a high-ranking official was promoted and held a grand banquet to celebrate, both Yuan Fan and Xing Shao were present. Yuan Fan was hoping the host would ask him to write a thank-you note, so he let Xing Shao do it. Yuan Fan was very displeased and went around telling others, "That kid Xing Shao helps others write articles, and even buys good yellow paper to write and deliver them himself!" Xing Shao, fearing that Yuan Fan might retaliate against him, pretended to be ill and declined. Later, when the Minister of Personnel Yuan Luo went to Qingzhou to serve as the governor, Xing Shao followed him to Qingzhou as a Sima. While in Qingzhou, he had a great time every day, soaking in the mountain life.
During the Yong'an era, Xing Shao was promoted to the position of Deputy Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, and the edicts he drafted were elegantly written. Later, when Er Zhu Rong invaded Luoyang, chaos erupted in the capital, and Xing Shao fled to Mount Song with Yang Yin to take refuge. During the Putai era, he rose to the position of Deputy Minister of the Yellow Gate and later became a Regular Attendant. In the Taichang era, the emperor ordered him to remain permanently in the Internal Ministry, overseeing meals, and to review the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Rites; any appointments of high officials had to be approved by him before they could be executed. Later, he was promoted to General of the Guard and the Grand Scholar of the Imperial Academy. Because his parents were elderly, he returned to his hometown to enjoy his old age. The emperor specially assigned him five soldiers for protection and allowed him to enter the capital once a year, ready to await the emperor's consultations. After his mother passed away, he was overwhelmed with grief, mourning in excess of what was customary.
Later, Yang Yin, Wei Shou, and Xing Shao submitted a petition requesting the establishment of schools and the construction of a Ming Hall. The petition stated:
Indeed, our Ming Hall has been around since the Zhou and Xia dynasties, and those schools flourished during the Yu and Yin dynasties. Therefore, worshiping the heavens showcases the utmost solemnity of our state; announcing this rule to the world is to highlight the adherence to the heavenly way. Cultivating those esteemed elders and educating the younger generation is the way to ensure long-term peace and stability for the country, leaving a lasting legacy.
However, after the fall of the Qin dynasty, they changed their previous practices, executing Confucian scholars, eradicating knowledge, and misleading the common people. As a result, chaos ensued, and the Qin dynasty perished after just two generations. After the rise of the Han dynasty, Confucianism was once again valued. Thus, there were six schools in the western capital and three main ones in the east, all of them prestigious academies. During the Wei and Jin periods, although wars continued, the schools continued to operate.
Our great ancestor, Emperor Xiaowen, was indeed a wise ruler. His governance approaches are rare both in ancient and modern times. He established schools everywhere and promoted poetry, literature, rites, and music. Unfortunately, just as he began this work, wars broke out, and he had to put it on hold. During the reign of Emperor Shizong, he continued his father's initiatives, and in the Yongping years, he undertook large construction projects to build the Mingtang. However, he faced floods, droughts, and wars once more. Despite ongoing efforts, it still fell short. Now, the rites and music system at the Mingtang has fallen into neglect, now overrun with thorns; the very foundation for nurturing talent has been taken over by shepherd boys; the city walls may be strong and significant, but they are missing bricks and stones; the grand buildings that ought to inspire awe now stand shabby and dilapidated. With the added erosion from wind and rain, it has become utterly ruined, not befitting the grandeur of our great nation.
I heard that the court intends to follow in the footsteps of Emperor Gaozu and build the Mingtang to worship Heaven. But now, the foundation isn’t even properly laid; it looks just like ordinary farmland. Even if Emperor Gaozu's spirit were to visit, it would come off as shabby, and the sacrificial ceremony would not be genuine. This leaves us ministers feeling uneasy, while the common people are eagerly waiting!
I also heard that the court is giving officials tasks to ensure they have work to do, and once the work is completed, they should be paid. This way, those in power won’t claim that officials are slacking off, and those below won’t say that officials take money without doing anything. Although the Guozijian has the title of academic officials, no one is actually teaching, which is no different from worthless weeds.
In the past, Liu Xiang said that the Son of Heaven should establish the Biyong and hold rites and music ceremonies to educate the world. Rites and music serve to educate people, while laws exist to punish them. Yet now, those officials eagerly draft laws, but when it comes to rites and music, they claim they dare not implement them. Doesn't this suggest that they are bold enough to kill but too timid to educate?
Now that the world is at peace and the country is strong, the construction of the Ming Tang, such an important matter, should be prioritized. If we delay further, the words of Liu Xiang will come to fruition. Of course, things cannot be done all at once; there must be a prioritization of tasks. In my view, we should first suspend those extravagant projects, such as the extravagant structures of Shangfang, the civil engineering of Yongning Palace, the tiles of Yaoguang Palace, the sculpting of those stone caves, and other non-urgent matters, utilizing idle farming time to complete them in three batches.
This way, the rituals of the Bi Yong can be restored, the sound of students reading can once again fill the air, and the beautiful buildings can stand tall and majestic, with the palaces shining brilliantly.
We must grasp the lessons of history more clearly than ever, cherish the traditional village drinking ceremonies, strive to learn the knowledge in the county school, and diligently study the classics. This way, Yuan Kai can achieve top honors, and You Xia can reach the level of the lower states; wouldn't that be wonderful!
This means that we should study hard and improve every day! By earnestly studying history, observing rituals, and diligently researching knowledge, we can achieve good results and stand out in the future. Just think, if everyone worked this hard, how great it would be!
The Empress Dowager ordered: "The grand ceremony of ancestor worship is a cornerstone of the state. Previously, due to continuous border wars, we could not focus on repairing the worship sites. Now that peace reigns in all directions, we should order the relevant departments to discuss and commence construction."
Mr. Shao steadily ascended the ranks, reaching the position of Minister of Rites, and he also served as the Deputy Director of the Imperial Secretariat. At that time, most court ministers held a single official position, with very few concurrently holding two; yet Mr. Shao held three important positions at the same time and was also a leading figure in literature, earning great respect from people of his time. On the way to Jinyang, Emperor Wenxuan frequently encountered auspicious signs of sweet dew, and the court officials wrote the "Ode to Sweet Dew," with Secretary Shao writing a preface for it. After Emperor Wenxuan passed away, there were many details regarding the funeral rites that needed to be investigated and verified, so the court assigned him with writing the eulogy. Later, he was awarded the honorary title of Special Assistant, and he eventually passed away.
Xing Shao was a simple man, living frugally and treating others kindly, maintaining harmonious relationships with his brothers and sisters-in-law. He was well-read and knowledgeable in many fields, and in his later years, he focused particularly on the chapters and verses of the "Five Classics," delving deeply into their essence. Whether it was the rituals for both good and bad occasions or consultations and reports on public and private matters, he could answer questions and offer guidance. Whenever the court ministers held meetings that involved references, Xing Shao could quickly write down relevant quotations and examples, citing them appropriately. He could also draft imperial edicts promptly. His literary talent was both grand and profound, making him a standout figure of his time. He was often mentioned alongside Wen Zisheng from Jiyin as the leaders of the literary world, and people referred to them as "Wen and Xing." Wei Shou from Julu, though exceptionally talented, was younger than them, so after Wen Zisheng's death, people began to refer to them as "Xing and Wei."
Although Xing Shao held a prominent position, he was humble about his talents. He dressed casually, did not pay much attention to his appearance, and his carriages, clothing, and utensils were just enough for his needs. He did not have a dedicated study and would sit and sleep in a small room. He sometimes kept dried fruits and snacks on the beams, and when guests came over, he would take them down to share. He was open-minded and indifferent to societal norms, treating both high officials and common people equally. Sometimes, when receiving guests, he would take off his clothes to check for lice while engaging them in lively conversation. He had a vast collection of books but did not often proofread them. When he saw others proofreading books, he would often laugh and say, "That's just silly! There are so many books out there that you could never read them all in a lifetime; why spend time proofreading them?" His brother-in-law, Li Jijie, who was also knowledgeable, said to Xing Shao, "Most people don't realize that proofreading can hold up reading." Xing Shao replied, "If proofreading gets in the way of reading, it's better not to read at all."
He and his wife have a relatively distant relationship, sleeping in the same bed but keeping their distance. He once mentioned that during the day, he went into the inner room and was startled by a dog barking, and then he clapped his hands and laughed heartily. He enjoys discussing and appreciating things and cannot enjoy solitude; after retiring from public service, he always needs the company of guests. He is very cautious in caring for his widowed sister-in-law and deeply cares for the orphan, Xing Shu. When he was in Yanzhou, he heard that his adopted son Xing Shu was ill and grew increasingly anxious, losing his appetite and becoming haggard. After Xing Shu's death, people felt sorrow for him; although he was utterly heartbroken, he did not cry again, and when guests came to offer condolences, he simply wiped away his tears. His noble character and exceptional insight can alleviate the troubles and burdens of the world; since the days of Wu Qi at the East Gate, no one has been able to compare with him. He left behind thirty volumes of works that have been passed down through the ages. His son Xing Dabao also has a way with words. However, his two illegitimate sons, Xing Dade and Xing Dadao, are nearly illiterate.
