Xu Ze, a native of Tan County, Shandong, has been calm and having few desires since childhood. He studied under Zhou Hongzheng, was proficient in the Three Mysteries, excelled in debate, and his reputation echoed throughout the capital. Xu Ze remarked, "Reputation is just a true accessory; do I really want to be its accessory?" So he decided to retreat into seclusion and went to Jinyun Mountain using a cane. Later, hundreds of students pleaded with him to teach them, but he declined them all. He did not marry and wore rough, simple clothing year-round. During the Taijian period of the Chen Dynasty, he was invited to stay at Zhenyuan Temple. A month later, he said his goodbyes and traveled to Mount Tiantai, where he nurtured his mind and spirit in the deep mountains and ancient forests, surviving solely on pine nuts and mountain spring water; even in the biting cold of winter, he refused to wear cotton clothing. Grand Tutor Xu Ling had a stele erected in his honor.
When he was on Jinyun Mountain, Master Xu Jun of Tai Chi once said to him: "At the age of eighty, you will become the teacher of kings, and only then can you attain enlightenment." Prince Jin Guang was stationed in Yangzhou and heard of his reputation. He personally wrote a letter to summon him, writing in the letter: "The Dao contains various profound principles, the methods are natural, encompassing heaven and earth, giving birth to all things. If one can promote the great Dao, the great Dao will not be followed in vain. You, Sir, cultivate your mind and nurture your spirit, revere the profound and mysterious, harmonize with all things, deeply understand the principles, comprehend the methods, have a calm temperament, a clear spirit, subsist on pine nuts, live in seclusion in the mountains, gaze upon the Red City, awaiting the convergence of winds and clouds, travel to the Jade Hall, command the dragons and phoenixes. Even if you hide in famous mountains and rivers, you still resonate throughout the Jianghuai region with your great virtue, making me worry day and night. I have long admired your mastery of the Dao, long held a heart of reverence, wanting to learn from you, dreaming of visiting you. Now the biting cold wind and the chill of the sea breeze are upon us; you should rest in the dense forest, your Dao body should also rest and recuperate. In ancient times, the four high scholars of Shangshan despised the summons of the Han Dynasty, and the eight recluses of Huainan also responded to the summons to the fief. Although ancient and modern times are different, the mountains and valleys still exist. There are precedents for secluding oneself from the court; the sages have set an example, promoting the great Dao and educating the world—there is no one more suited for this than you! So I sent someone to invite you, hoping you will not be troubled and come willingly, without riding in a luxurious carriage, leaving the empty valleys. I hope you will graciously accept my invitation; I look forward to your arrival on the clouds."
Xu Ze said to his students, "I am eighty-one years old this year. Prince Jin came to summon me; this is precisely the fulfillment of Xu Jun's prophecy!" So he went to Yangzhou. Prince Jin wanted to learn the Tao from him, but Xu Ze declined, claiming that the timing was not appropriate. That evening, he instructed the servant to prepare incense and performed the usual rituals. At dawn, he passed away, his body remained soft as if he were still alive, and remained unchanged for several days. Prince Jin wrote a letter saying, "Mr. Xu, the hermit from Donghai, is virtuous, noble, detached from the world, and upright in behavior. He has lived in seclusion in the beautiful mountains for over fifty years, wearing coarse clothes and subsisting on pine nuts and wild fruits. He possesses an extraordinary temperament—elegant and elusive. I admire his Taoist style and virtue, and have sent numerous invitations for him to come, hoping he would condescend to teach me his Tao, forming a good relationship. However, shortly after he arrived, in less than ten days, he transcended to immortality, returning to the immortal abode. His body was soft, his appearance unchanged, just as described in ancient texts about transcendent immortals! Though the teacher-student ceremony was not completed, I have understood his intentions. Although he has passed on, I still feel a profound sense of sorrow. I will handle all the funeral arrangements. He rode a cloud carriage and ascended, leaving behind his coffin and clothes; there is no need for an extravagant burial. Only his cane remains, serving as a symbol of worldly decorum. We should send someone to escort him back to Mount Tiantai for burial."
On the way from Yangzhou to Tiantai, many people saw Xu Ze walking on foot and said he had been set free. Upon returning to his old home, he took out Taoist scriptures and texts, distributed them to his disciples, and asked them to clean a room, saying, "If any guests arrive, please show them to this room." He then crossed the stone bridge and walked away, leaving his whereabouts unknown. After a while, the coffin arrived, and only then did people know that he had ascended to immortality. He was eighty-two years old that year. When Prince Jin learned of this, he was even more astonished, sending a thousand bolts of cloth as a tribute and having a painter draw his portrait. He also asked Liu Bian to write a eulogy for him: "The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao; the eternal Tao is nameless. The nameless is the beginning of heaven and earth; the named is the mother of myriad things. Thus, constantly without desire, one observes its essence; constantly with desire, one observes its manifestations. These two emerge together but differ in name; the unity is said to be the mystery. The mystery of mysteries, the gateway to all wonders!"
The founding emperor recruited renowned Confucian scholars from across the realm, such as Fang Huiyuan, Zhang Zhongrang, and Kong Long, who were all appointed as scholars of philosophy. Zhang Wenxu was studying at the Imperial Academy at the time, and Huiyuan and others admired him greatly, with the entire academy showing him great respect. Many students came to him for advice on difficult questions, and Zhang Wenxu was always able to cite classics and explain them in a very articulate manner. Huang Fudan, a highly esteemed minister in the court, showed him great respect as well. Once, Huang Fudan went to the Southern Terrace for official business and specially dressed his horse to invite Zhang Wenxu to accompany him. Zhang Wenxu always walked alongside the horse, as he wanted to avoid gaining favors from the powerful.
The Right Deputy Supervisor Su Wei heard of his reputation and summoned him for a conversation, after which he was very pleased and advised him to take up an official position. However, Zhang Wenxu refused to become an official. During the reign of Ren Shou, the Imperial Academy closed down, and Zhang Wenxu returned home with a cane, earning a living by farming vegetables. He repeatedly declined offers from local authorities to take up official positions. He was renowned for his filial piety towards his mother. He consistently inspired others through his moral example, which led to an improvement in the local customs. Once, someone was caught stealing his wheat at night, and when the thief, frightened, fled, Zhang Wenxu comforted him, swore to keep it a secret, and even let him take the wheat. Years later, the thief confessed to the villagers, revealing what had happened.
When a neighbor built a wall that he deemed unfair, Zhang Wenxu voluntarily tore down his own old wall to accommodate the neighbor. Once, he suffered from back pain and sought the help of a self-proclaimed skilled doctor. However, the doctor accidentally cut him, leaving him bedridden. The doctor apologized, and Zhang Wenxu quickly sent him away, concealing the incident by telling his wife, "I fainted yesterday and fell into a pit." He always concealed the faults of others. The local authorities sought to offer him assistance due to his financial hardships, but he refused all offers.
He often sighed in his spare time, saying, "I am getting older, worried that I won't be able to build a good reputation!" He tapped a ruyi on the table, always with a steady rhythm, and people at that time compared him to Min Ziqian and Yuan Xian. He eventually passed away at home at the age of forty. The villagers erected a monument in his honor, praising him as Mr. Zhang.
Historical records say that the recluses of ancient times didn't hide away from the world, didn't remain silent, and didn't conceal their intelligence. In fact, they were all very calm and at peace, not easily confused or misled, content with the present situation, adapting to the times, and having no selfish motives towards anyone or anything.
People like Shi Qian looked down on official positions and titles, only wanting to return to the countryside, living in seclusion while upholding their integrity and still engaging with the world. They did not actively educate others, yet they influenced others in subtle ways, appearing to do nothing, yet actually reaping great rewards. They loved the people as if they were their own parents, treated their neighbors as relatives; who else could achieve such a thing without these simple yet noble virtues? Furthermore, Shi Qian wasn't pleased by praise, Wen Xu didn't get angry when wronged, and Xu Ze only wanted to return to seclusion, keeping a distance from everyone; no one could elevate or diminish them; they were all very simple people.
Cui Kuo became well-known for retreating from society after being wronged; Zu Jun had the literary talent to carry on his family's legacy. Even though the father and son held different roles, both ultimately found success. Isn't that wonderful?
