Cui Kuo, whose courtesy name was Shi Xuan, was from Anping, Hebei. His father, Cui Yuan, served as the Sima (governor) of Yanzhou in Northern Qi. Cui Kuo grew up in poverty and hardship, as his mother had a low status and they were not respected by the local elites. Initially working as a low-ranking official in the village, he frequently faced unfair treatment and eventually ran away to the mountains out of frustration. There, he dedicated himself to studying and became highly respected by scholars in the Shandong region. Upon returning to his hometown, he chose not to take up an official position. He was close friends with Li Shiqian from the same county, and they were often referred to as "Cui Li." After Li Shiqian's death, Cui Kuo was deeply saddened and wrote a biography for him, which he kept it to himself. Li Shiqian's widow, Lu Shi, sought advice from Cui Kuo on various matters. Cui Kuo also wrote some articles on law, but most of them did not survive. During the Sui Dynasty, Cui Kuo passed away at the age of 80. He had a son named Cui Ze.
Cui Ze, courtesy name Zu Jun, was able to write essays at the age of seven and had excellent eloquence despite being short in stature. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui, he was recommended by Prince Xiao of Qin and excelled in the examinations. He was summoned by the court to participate in the formulation of rituals and music regulations with other scholars and was appointed as a Xiaoshulang (Junior Compiler). He was soon promoted to Xielulang and was highly regarded by the Minister of Ceremonies, Su Wei. After his mother's death, he demonstrated his filial piety by refraining from food and water for five days. He was later summoned to serve as a reader for the Prince of Henan and the Prince of Yuzhang, traveling back and forth between their residences every day. When the Prince of Henan became the Prince of Jin, Cui Ze was appointed as a Records Officer and no longer served the Prince of Yuzhang. The Prince of Jin held him in high regard and even wrote to him, saying:
Speaking of the Western Capital of the Han Dynasty in those days, the Prince of Liang founded his state there, constructed platforms and the Eastern Garden, drawing many visitors. Ma Qing resigned from his position as a military officer, and Mei Cheng also resigned from his position as the Grand Administrator of Hongnong. Every time I read history books, I have often wondered why they gave up such good official positions and went to the borderlands. Now I understand that their ambitions were truly noble. These two men are exceptional!
You are knowledgeable, have an exceptional memory, and your knowledge is as deep as the ocean. You possess more knowledge than the three chests of books held by the Han ministers, as expansive as traversing the Meng Mountains; more knowledge than the five carts of the Prime Minister of Liang, as broad as swallowing the Yunmeng Marsh. You are principled, value talent, honor your friends, and work tirelessly. You first emulated Guo Kui by constructing a palace to attract talent, often treating guests like Mu Sheng. Now you are expanding your territory again, vowing to protect the land, with a territory spanning seven hundred li, with Qufu included in your domain, over seventy cities, including Linzi, Nanyang also greatly developed, and the East Pavilion has just been built.
I envision you becoming wealthy and distinguished in the future, riding in a luxurious carriage, dressed in flowing robes, sitting at exquisite banquets, wearing precious shoes, reciting verses about the noble laurel trees, and depicting the lushness of the bamboo by the pond. You will be so noble and elegant; it truly is wonderful! I am so happy! What could be happier than this!
Looking up to the capital, missing my ancestors, my abilities pale in comparison to those of the gifted, and I fall short compared to Cao Zhi. This letter cannot capture all my thoughts, so I will leave it at that.
Zeda replied:
A few days ago, I received your letter, and I was truly honored, so excited that I was at a loss for words. The profound insights you discussed in your letter, even someone as well-versed in the I Ching as Guan Lu would probably find it difficult to fully understand; the rich allusions, even someone as knowledgeable about the Classic of Mountains and Seas as Guo Pu might not be able to fully articulate. The vibrant colors and harmonious melodies— even the cry of a phoenix pales in comparison, nor are they enough to be described by the pattern of a dragon. Wu Zha's interpretation of the Zhou Songs may not fully express its subtleties; the music of "Yang Chun" performed by the musicians of Yingdi, who can truly grasp its essence? Your Highness is a noble of the royal family, talented, with outstanding literary talent; your moral integrity far surpasses that of Dongping Wang, and your literary achievements far exceed those of Beihai Wang. In the Han Dynasty, there were Sima Qian and Xiao Wangzhi; in the Jin Dynasty, there were Pei Kai and Zhang Hua— they were all celebrated figures. And I, I am merely an inconspicuous individual; compared to them, it is simply worlds apart. My ancestors were a son-in-law in the south of Yan State, and later traveled to the Hebei region for fun, having never harbored any grand ambitions, let alone talking about emulating Lin Xiangru's loyalty to the country. I have never studied hard like those who study diligently in the cold room; I have read just one passage from the Analects and only a small part of the Zhuangzi. Moreover, now that I am older, living in modest circumstances, with little to show for my studies, I find I have wasted a lot of time. I am like a sparrow wanting to compete in speed with a horse, like Xue Tan wanting to compare musical rhythm with a rooster, overestimating my abilities and foolishly trying to show off. Wanting to move Mount Tai and cross the North Sea to repay your kindness would be an immense challenge; however, filling Kunlun Mountain to repay your kindness would be far too simple.
I didn't expect you to grant me such a great blessing, ensuring my family thrives and my descendants achieve greatness. The true Dragon Emperor is coming down to the mortal realm, so anyone who seeks fame should step forward quickly. Those who merely boast should stop being so full of themselves! Your grace flows like a mighty river, nourishing all things and rendering even the hills small by comparison. If Cao Zhi had listened to your teachings, he wouldn't have died young; if Yang Xiu had been more humble, he wouldn't have met a tragic end. I am immensely grateful, and I write this letter to express my thanks.
Yuzhang sent me a letter, along with fifty stones (a traditional measure) of rice, clothes, and money. At that time, many of the official documents and correspondence from Prince Jin (Yang Guang) were penned by him. Wang Shuwen (Wang Ji) entered the Eastern Palace and became the commander of the Crown Prince's Office; shortly after, he was promoted to be a courtier. After Prince Yuande's death, he returned home because of illness. Later, the court summoned him to be a courtier again.
In the fourth year of Daye, I followed the emperor to Fenyang Palace, then to Heyang Town. Wang Tan, the county magistrate of Lantian, discovered a jade figure on Lantian Mountain, three feet and four inches tall, wearing a large-collared robe and a hat, and presented it to the emperor. The emperor inquired among his courtiers, but no one recognized it. Wang Shuwen replied, "I meticulously reviewed the historical records prior to Emperor Wen of Han, and there is no record of anyone wearing a hat. This jade figure must have appeared after the time of Emperor Wen. I once read a record written by Lu Yuanming, the Grand Minister of Agriculture of Wei State, which described a divine figure made of jade, only a few inches in height, appearing and disappearing at times, and its appearance signifies peace and prosperity for the realm. Your Majesty, by aligning with the will of heaven and bringing peace to the people, you have established stable rule in Songshan, Luoyang, and the mountain deity has revealed its presence. This is a good omen!" After he finished speaking, he bowed once more, and all the officials offered their congratulations. The emperor was greatly pleased and rewarded him with two hundred bolts of silk.
Following the emperor up the Taihang Mountains, the emperor asked Wang Shuwen, "Where is Sheep Intestine Slope?" Wang Shuwen replied, "I consulted the 'Book of Han, Geography' and found it mentioned in Huguan County, Shangdang." The emperor said, "No." Wang Shuwen replied again, "I consulted the 'Book of Lands' written by Huangfu Shian, which records that there is Sheep Intestine Slope ninety miles north of Taiyuan." The emperor said, "Yes, that's it." Then the emperor said to Niu Hong, "Cui Zujun's 'ask one, know two' refers to him!" In the fifth year of Daye, he was ordered to compile the "Atlas of Districts and Territories" of 250 volumes with other scholars and presented it to the emperor. The emperor was dissatisfied with it and ordered Yu Shiji and Xu Shanxin to recompile it, which resulted in a total of six hundred volumes. After his father's death, he resigned from his official position, but was soon reinstated.
During the Liaodong Campaign, he was appointed as the Grand Historian of the Eagle Wing, and the names of the counties in Liaodong were all based on his suggestions. He was also ordered to write the "Eastern Expedition Record." In the ninth year of Daye, he was appointed as the Changshi of Yuewang. At that time, bandits were rampant in Shandong, and the emperor ordered him to pacify Gaoyang and Xiangguo, with more than eight hundred people submitting to his authority. In the twelfth year of Daye, he followed the emperor to Jiangdu. Yuwen Huaji assassinated the emperor, and he was appointed as a writer, but he claimed illness and did not take office. He fell ill on the way and died in Pengcheng at the age of sixty-nine.
Zezhi maintained particularly close relationships with Yuanshan in Luoyang, Liubian in Hedong, Wang Shao in Taiyuan, Yaocha in Wuxing, Zhuge Ying in Langya, Liuchao in Xindu, and Liuxuan in Hejian. Whenever they had the chance, they would gather and chat without end.
He wrote poems, prose, and inscriptions, totaling over one hundred thousand words! He also wrote "Records of Qawen" in seven volumes and "Records of Eight Dynasties and Four Examinations" in thirty volumes, but unfortunately, he never got the chance to use them before the incident in Jiangdu, which were all reduced to ashes, which was truly a pity!
Xu Ze, from Tan County, Shandong, has been calm and reserved since childhood. He studied under Zhou Hongzheng, excelling in the Three Profound Mysteries, mastering debate, and gaining widespread fame in the capital. Xu Ze himself sighed, "Fame is the true foundation. Do I have to become its follower?" So he contemplated retirement, leaning on a cane as he went to Jinyun Mountain. Later, hundreds of students implored him for instruction, but he turned them all down. He never married and always wore coarse clothes. During the Taijian period of the Chen Dynasty, he was summoned by the court and spent some time at Zhizhen Guan. A month later, he resigned and retreated to Tiantai Mountain for seclusion and practice, living solely on pine nuts and mountain spring water. Even in the severe cold of winter, he refused to wear cotton clothing. Grand Tutor Xu Ling even had a stone tablet specially carved in his honor.
When he was on Jinyun Mountain, Taiji True Man Xu Jun once said to him, "When you are eighty years old, you will become the teacher of emperors, and then you can achieve realization." Prince Jin Guang, stationed in Yangzhou, heard of Xu Ze's reputation and wrote to invite him. In the letter, he wrote, "The Tao embodies various profound truths, the Dharma is inherent, encompassing all things in the world and giving rise to all things in the world. If a person can promote the Great Way, the Great Way will not be in vain. Sir, you cultivate your character and embrace the profound mysteries, unite all things into one, understand the principles deeply, and comprehend the Dharma. Your temperament is gentle, your spirit is clear, you subsist on pine nuts and practice your arts, and you dwell in the misty mountains. You look forward to climbing Chicheng Mountain, waiting for the changes of wind and clouds, exploring the Jade Hall, riding dragons and phoenixes. Even if you live in seclusion in famous mountains and rivers, your virtue resonates throughout the Jianghuai region, and your merits are commendable, causing us to think of you constantly. I have long admired your virtue, with deep respect, and dream of visiting you in your retreat. Now the frosty wind bites, and the sea air chills, you rest in the dense forest, allowing your Tao to rejuvenate."
In the past, the Four Haos of Shangshan held the Han court in disdain, and the Eight Lords of Huainan arrived at the residence. Although ancient and modern times are different, the mountains and valleys still exist, hidden away from the bustling marketplaces. The sages of old have long spoken, promoting the great way and educating the people; none is more suited than you, Master! So I sent someone to sincerely invite you, hoping you need not ride in a lavish carriage, leaving behind the empty and quiet mountain valleys. I hope you will honor us with your presence, and I look forward to you coming through the clouds." Xu Ze addressed his students, "I am eighty-one years old this year; the Prince of Jin has summoned me; this is indeed Xu Jun's intent." So he went to Yangzhou. The Prince of Jin wanted to learn Daoism from him, but Xu Ze declined, citing that the timing was not appropriate. That evening, he had his attendants prepare incense and light the fire, bowing as usual. By dawn, he had passed away, his body remained undisturbed for several months, showing no change in appearance. The Prince of Jin wrote a letter saying, "The hermit of Mount Tiantai, Mr. Xu of the East Sea, is quiet and content, cultivating virtue, transcending the world, and behaving upright. He wears coarse clothes, eats pine nuts, drinks artesians, and has lived in the beautiful mountains for over fifty years. He possesses extraordinary talent and an ethereal demeanor, and his virtue is profound and unfathomable. I have long admired the master's Daoist style and his profound virtue. I have sent people to invite you many times, hoping you can condescend to come, so that I can sincerely learn your magic and form a good relationship. However, you have only just arrived, not even ten days, and you are already tired of the world, ascending to immortality and returning to the immortal mansion. Your body is soft, your appearance unchanged, just as the ancient books say 'the corpse becomes an immortal'! Indeed, the ceremony between master and disciple has not yet taken place, but your intentions are already in my heart. Although you have ascended, I remain sorrowful and will take care of all the funeral arrangements. You have gone on a cloud, leaving behind only the coffin and clothes, so why should there be a grave? Simply leave your cane as a token of worldly etiquette, and it should be returned to Tiantai for burial."
At that time, on the road from Jiangdu to Tiantai, people often saw Xu Ze walking on foot, saying he had returned. Back at his old residence, he took out Daoist texts and teachings, distributed them among his disciples, and asked them to clean a room, saying, "If guests come, they should be invited to this room." Then he crossed the stone bridge and disappeared without a trace. Before long, his coffin arrived, and people only then knew that he had ascended to immortality. He was eighty-two years old at the time. Upon hearing this, King Jin was even more astonished, sending a thousand pieces of cloth as a gift, commissioning a painter to create his portrait, and asking Liu Bian to write a eulogy for him: "The way that can be expressed is not the eternal Way; the name that can be named is not the eternal name. The highest virtue is not virtuous, and that is the essence of true virtue. A profound breeze stirs, heralding the presence of a sage. Early in his practice of refining the golden elixir, his spirit is clear as jade. The essence of the stone has softened, and the cloud pill is about to form. He speaks of pursuing the innocent vine, and will be a companion to the thatched hut. Our king, though distant, feels the sincerity of the spirits. The seal is temporarily opened under the pillar, and the river sinks with concentration. Leaving symbols to convey the message, transforming his staff into a sound that soars. Forever pondering the spiritual traces, why should one suppress their feelings? At times, revealing a simple painting, as if standing before the Red City."
Zhang Wenxu was well-versed in a wide range of books, especially proficient in the Three Rites, the Book of Changes, the Book of Songs, the Book of Documents, and the Spring and Autumn Annals. He particularly enjoyed Zheng Xuan's annotations, considering them a model of comprehensive knowledge. He carefully studied the different interpretations of other Confucian scholars as well. The Emperor recruited renowned Confucian scholars from all over the country, such as Fang Huiyuan, Zhang Zhongrang, and Kong Long, all of whom were appointed as scholars. At that time, Zhang Wenxu was studying at the Imperial College, and they all greatly admired him. The entire Imperial College praised him as a role model for learning. Many students came to him for advice on difficult questions, and Zhang Wenxu was always able to provide detailed explanations, citing sources and focusing on key points.
The Imperial Censor Huangfu Dan, a highly respected minister at the time, treated him with great respect and as a disciple. Once, when Huangfu Dan was on official business at the Southern Terrace, he dressed up his horse and invited Zhang Wenxu to join him. Zhang Wenxu always walked beside the horse, not wanting to gain any benefits from associating with the powerful. The Minister of Works Su Wei, upon hearing about his reputation, summoned him for a conversation and was very pleased, urging him to take up an official position. However, Zhang Wenxu was not interested in a career in government and firmly declined. During the Ren Shou era, the Imperial College was closed, and Zhang Wenxu returned home with a cane, making a living by growing vegetables. Although he was repeatedly summoned by local authorities, he refused each time. He was renowned for his filial piety towards his mother and used his own morality to influence the people in his village, leading to changes in local customs.
Once, someone tried to steal his wheat in the middle of the night. When Zhang Wenxu caught the thief, the person was scared and ran away, leaving the wheat behind. Moved by Zhang Wenxu's kindness, the thief left the wheat and fled. Zhang Wenxu comforted him, swore not to tell anyone, and even let him take the wheat. Several years later, the thief confessed to the villagers, and the story became known. Feeling that it was unfair for his neighbor to build a wall, Zhang Wenxu voluntarily tore down his old wall to accommodate the neighbor.
Zhang Wenxu once suffered from back pain. By chance, a doctor claimed to specialize in treating such ailments, so Zhang Wenxu let him treat it. As a result, he was injured by the doctor's scalpel and was in such pain that he couldn't get out of bed. The doctor knelt and begged for mercy, but Zhang Wenxu sent him away and even covered up for him, telling his wife, "I felt dizzy yesterday and fell into a pit." He always covered up the faults of others. When the local authorities noticed his family's poverty and sought to offer assistance, he refused.
Whenever he had a moment to spare, he would sigh and say, "I am getting older day by day, worried that my reputation won't endure beyond my time!" He would tap a ruyi against the table, making a clear rhythm. People likened him to Min Ziqian and Yuan Xian. He eventually passed away at the age of forty at home. The villagers erected a monument in his honor, referring to him as Mr. Zhang.
Historians say: those reclusive figures in ancient times neither hid from others nor remained silent, nor did they conceal their wisdom. In truth, they were calm and untroubled at heart, not confused or blinded, content with the present, going with the flow, and holding a fair and selfless attitude towards people and things.
Individuals like Shi Qian dismissed official positions and wealth, yearning instead for a pastoral life, secluding themselves while upholding filial piety, maintaining integrity without being far from the secular world, not actively teaching others yet still serving as a cautionary example. Though they appeared inactive on the surface, they actually gained much. They treated the people like parents and friends like relatives. Who could accomplish this without an inherently pure and noble character? However, Shi Qian did not take pleasure in praise, Wenxu did not get angry when hurt, and Xu Zhe's aspiration was to live in seclusion, treating everyone equally, regardless of their connections or status. They were all people with a simple and sincere heart!
Cui Kuo became renowned for his reclusive lifestyle after experiencing humiliation, while Zu Jun inherited his ancestors' literary talent and carried on their literary tradition. Although the father and son led different lifestyles—one being active and the other reclusive—they both ultimately found success and earned recognition. That's truly remarkable!
