Let's first talk about the topic of writing; its history dates back centuries! From ancient times to the present, the works penned by sages and philosophers are all clear and eloquent. There is a variety of styles and genres, constantly evolving and adapting to the trends of the times. For example, Chunyu Kun in the state of Qi was famous for his unique literary style; Qu Yuan in the state of Chu left behind poems full of sorrow. Chang'an, the capital of the Western Han Dynasty, was renowned for its outstanding literati, led by Sima Xiangru; while the city of Luoyang in the Eastern Han Dynasty was epitomized by the Ban brothers, Ban Gu and Ban Chao. During the Wei and Jin periods, Cao Zhi was the literary leader of the Wei state, while Lu Ji was a literary master of the Jin Dynasty. Though they were contemporaries, each excelled in their own right, achieving extraordinary accomplishments in their respective fields.
However, after the Yongjia period, the nation descended into chaos, as various ethnic groups clashed, and quality works vanished. It wasn't until the reign of Emperor Xiaowen and Emperor Taizu of the Northern Wei Dynasty that the north gradually stabilized, and the court began to attract talent. When Emperor Gaozu ascended the throne, he strongly encouraged literary pursuits, with the aim of surpassing the literary legacy of the Han Dynasty and the talent of Cao Pi. His writings were marked by elegance and originality, and many sought to emulate his literary style. During the reign of Emperor Suzong, the literary scene thrived even more, with countless individuals studying, but few truly found success, as Confucius famously noted: "Talented individuals are indeed a rarity, aren't they?"
Yuan Yue, courtesy name Jingteng, was a native of Chen County and the younger brother of the Minister Yuan Fan. He was knowledgeable, talented, humble, and valued friendship. His brother Yuan Fan often said to others, "Yuan Yue is truly an outstanding talent in our family!" Yuan Yue initially served as a military aide in the Sikong Prefecture, later rising to the position of a military officer in the Ministry of War, and was also appointed as a cavalry attendant. Once during the construction of Ming Hall, Yuan Yue proposed his own suggestions in a memorial, and everyone praised his profound knowledge. Later, when the king of Rouran, Anahuan, fled to Northern Wei after defeat in battle, the court treated him well and sent him back to his country. However, during subsequent tribute missions, Anahuan's attitude was not very respectful. Yuan Yue wrote a letter on behalf of the court to advise him with both reason and emotion, and it was beautifully written. Later, Yuan Yue was promoted to Cavalry General, Grand Tutor, and also served as the literary advisor to Prince Yì of Qinghe, who greatly appreciated him, and Yuan Yue penned many of the prince's memorials. After Yuan Yue's death, he was posthumously appointed as Champion General and an official in the Ministry of Personnel. His writings were compiled and circulated. Since he had no sons, his brother Yuan Fan allowed his son Yuan Yuxiu to carry on his legacy.
Yuan Yuxiu, courtesy name Shude, became orphaned at the age of seven, but he conducted himself like an adult, demonstrating a strong sense of propriety. At the age of nine, he was appointed as the chief scribe of the prefecture. Calm, insightful, and honest, he lived a simple life, never competing with others. His uncle, the Minister Cui Xiu, highly appreciated him. At the age of eighteen, he was appointed as the magistrate of his home prefecture and also served as a military officer in the Ministry of Revenue. After the usurpation of the Qi Dynasty, he was appointed as the Crown Prince's adopted son and also served as the acting magistrate of Boling.
Pei Jingxian, courtesy name Xiaoyu, was from Wenxi, Hedong. He was the second son of the Yizhou governor Pei Xuan. From a young age, he was ambitious and of good character, knowledgeable and talented, and took special care of his younger brothers, dedicating himself to studying. He was disinterested in fame and fortune and had an elegant temperament. When summoned to serve in a government position in the county, he declined, as he did with other appointments in various government offices, always giving the opportunity to his younger brothers. People praised him highly. The Governor of Sizhou and Prince Gaoyang recommended him for his scholarly talents, and he excelled in the exams, being appointed as a Doctor of the Imperial Academy. He was gentle in nature and never lost his temper with others. He excelled in official and cursive script, understood music theory, and his five-character poems were unique at the time, earning him great renown and respect from future generations. When the Prince of Zhongshan was leaving his jurisdiction, the court officials all bid him farewell by the river, with Pei Jingxian's farewell poem being recognized as the best. Although his writings were not extravagant, they were elegant and refined. He suffered from a respiratory illness from a young age and passed away at the age of thirty-three, leaving many with a sense of loss. Pei Jingxian did many good deeds in his hometown throughout his life and was deeply loved by his neighbors. During the Xiaochang period, the bandits in Shu burned, killed, and looted, but when they arrived at Pei Jingxian's home, they restrained themselves from setting it on fire, demonstrating his outstanding character. In the third year of Yongxing, the court posthumously appointed him as a Minister of the Central Secretariat and granted him the posthumous title "Wen."
Lu Guan, courtesy name Boju, was from Zhuo County, Fanyang. He loved learning from a young age, was talented, passed the scholar exam with flying colors, and was appointed as a Doctor of the Imperial Academy and an assistant in the Imperial Secretariat. He, along with Minister of Ceremonies Li Shenjun and Grand Master of Splendor Wang Song, participated in formulating court rituals in the Ministry of Rites, later being appointed as a Deputy Director in the Ministry of Rites. He passed away in the first year of the Xiaochang era.
Feng Su, also known by his courtesy name Yuanyong, was from Bohai and the nephew of Minister Hui of Works. He demonstrated literary talent from a young age, who read widely in classical texts and historical records, and was held in high regard by Grand Tutor Cui Guang. He later became a Doctor at the Imperial Academy, tasked with compiling the "Records of Daily Affairs," while concurrently serving as the Chief of the Court of Judicial Review. He wrote an essay titled "Return to the Garden," noted for its excellent prose. During the Zhengguang era, when the Prince of Jingzhao led a campaign to the west, he served as a Langzhong in the Grand Chancellor's office, handling document work. Upon his return, he was appointed Langzhong of the Left Middle Army in the Ministry of Personnel, but he later passed away. Feng Su was known for his respectful and frugal nature, who did not casually make friends, and he maintained a close relationship with Cui Li and Cui Li's cousin, Cui Hong. Most of his writings have been lost, leaving only a little over ten volumes remaining.
Xing Zang, styled Ziliang, was from Hejian and the grandson of Qiu, a minor official in the Ministry of Rites. He lost both parents at a young age but developed a noble character and was well-educated and talented, with remarkable literary talent. At the age of twenty-one, during the Divine Turtle era, he participated in the xiucai examination, answered five policy questions, passed the examination, and later became a Doctor of the Imperial Academy. During the Zhengguang period, the court discussed the construction of the Ming Hall, and Xing Zang offered differing opinions from those of Pei Wei. Although his suggestions were ultimately not accepted, people at the time praised his broad insights. Later, he was appointed to a local government position and was deeply cherished by the local people. In the early years of Yong'an, the court summoned him to be a minister in the Ministry of Gold, but he did not take up the position due to illness and was subsequently appointed as the governor of Dongmu. At that time, the times were turbulent, and many officials were corrupt, but only Xing Zang was known for his integrity and prudence, upholding the law and earning the people's deep affection. Li Yanshi from Longxi, who was the uncle of Emperor Zhuang, was serving as the Grand Tutor at that time and was sent to Qingzhou, where he recommended Xing Zang as his subordinate, appointing him as the Prefect of Le'an. Xing Zang accomplished many good deeds there. He was later appointed as the governor of Puyang and was soon promoted to General of the East. Xing Zang was upright and trustworthy, exuding the qualities of a wise elder, and was greatly respected by his contemporaries. He wrote a "Biographical Sketch" for the special envoy Zhen Chen, which received widespread acclaim for its quality. He had a good relationship with the brothers Pei Jingxian and Lu Guan, and they once studied the "Collection of Palindromes" as a group, with only Xing Zang understanding it first. He also authored a book titled "Literary Spectrum," which documented ancient writings and detailed the authors' family histories, but sadly, it remained unfinished due to his illness, and many learned individuals mourned his loss. He wrote more than one hundred articles. Following his death, he was posthumously honored with the title of General of the Northern Pacification and Governor of Dingzhou and was posthumously given the name "Wen." His son, Xing Shu, was also highly knowledgeable and perceptive.
Pei Bomei, a native of Hedong, was the second son of Sikong Zhonglang, Shuyi. He was graceful and well-respected from a young age, well-read and wrote many excellent articles. He initially served as a minor official at court. Later, when the Grand General and King of Jingzhao led a campaign to the west, he was appointed as a military officer. Subsequently, when Chen Shuangchi led a campaign to quell the rebellions in Jiangzhou and Shuzhou, he was brought along by Chief Sun Chengye to serve as a lieutenant in the government office. After Chief Sun Chengye returned to the capital, he continued to be in charge of government affairs. For his role in quelling the rebellions led by Xue Fengxian and others, he was granted the title of Count of Pingyang. He was later promoted twice to become an Attendant Cavalier, charged with recording the emperor's words and actions. In the early years of the Taichang period, he became the Minister of the Central Secretariat. During the Yongxi period, the emperor's brother, King Guangping, appointed him as a literary official among selected officials, later granting him the title of Grand General of the Central Army.
Pei Bomei enjoyed drinking, had a somewhat aloof personality, and was not very sociable, which contributed to his slow rise through the ranks. He also wrote a work titled "Huoxing Fu," in which he stated in the preface: "I have poor health and have taken a lot of medicine. From spring to summer, I suffered from severe illness three times. Even though I used the best medicine, it sometimes worked, but it was ultimately herbal medicine, which had limited effectiveness, which left me feeling troubled. Later, I repeatedly studied the book of Zhuangzi and understood the idea of the unity of all things, achieving a state of forgetting the distinctions between self and others, right and wrong, which reflects the state of a sage. This is what I strive to learn. So I wrote this piece to express my thoughts and convey my emotions." In the early years of the Tianping period, he relocated to Ye City and wrote another piece called "Qian Du Fu," but I won't delve into the specifics.
After two years, at a court banquet, Pei Boma was quite disrespectful to the officials at court, and Prince Zhangwu Jingzhe reported to the emperor, saying: "Pei Boma disregards his status and behaves as if he were a common jailer; he knocked a pear against the table, staining his clothes; he even allows people to tug at his clothes in the imperial palace." The emperor referred the matter to the appropriate authorities, but ultimately, no one held him responsible. Pei Boma left home ahead of his brothers and lived apart from his brother Jingrong. Jingrong was poor, but Pei Boma did not help him at all, and even ignored him when they met on the road, leading others to scorn him. He died at the age of thirty-nine, and those who knew him felt sorry for him. In his later years, Pei Boma developed a fondness for drinking, which took a toll on his health and led to frequent mistakes. Just days before his death, he suddenly said, "I received a secret letter; I am going to be arrested!" After saying this, he escaped west with his wife in a carriage. Later, he looked back and pointed at the wall, claiming that the soldiers were closing in, and his wife realized he was seriously unwell, both physically and mentally. After Pei Boma's death, he was buried in the garden at home. His friends, Chang Jing, Li Hun, Wang Yuanjing, Lu Yuanming, Wei Jijing, Li Qian, and others, held a feast beside the grave, weeping and drinking, pouring a sip onto the ground with each toast, saying: "Oh, the soul of Minister Pei, if your spirit lingers in heaven, know that your friends have gathered to honor you." Then, one by one, they each composed a poem. Li Qian knew that Wei Shou was also a friend of Pei Boma, so he sent these poems to Wei Shou. Wei Shou, who was in Jinyang at the time, also penned a poem in response, reflecting on Pei Boma. In his poem, he wrote ten words: "Contemplating the mysteries of the wind, reflecting on public glory over wine." Contemporaries viewed Pei Boma as arrogant, believing that Wei Shou's poem captured his character perfectly.
Later, the court posthumously awarded Pei Boma the titles of Gentleman of the Imperial Guard, Wei General, Minister of Finance, and Governor of Yongzhou, and also posthumously conferred upon him the title of Minister of Personnel, with the posthumous title of "Wen." During his lifetime, Pei Boma had written the "Book of Jin," but he was unable to complete it. Since he had no sons, his brother Pei Jingrong adopted his second son, Pei Xiaocai, to continue the family line.
Xing Xin, whose courtesy name was Ziming, was from Hejian. His father was Wei, the younger brother of Minister Shan. He lost his father at a young age; fortunately, his grandmother, Li, was very fond of him, allowing him to grow up well. He had a passion for learning from a young age and showed early signs of talent. Later, when Xiao Baoyin became the Grand General of the Chariots and Cavalry and fought in Guanzhong, he appointed Xing Xin's son as the Scholar of the Eastern Pavilion, responsible for handling official documents. Xing Xin himself rose through the military ranks and eventually became the Assistant Minister of War. Minister of Personnel Li Shenjun also recommended Xing Xin to write the "Chronicles of Daily Life."
At the beginning of the Tai Chang era, Xing Xin was appointed as the Deputy Minister of the Central Secretariat and was additionally granted the titles of General of the Eastern Pacification and Grand Master of Ceremonies. However, some people said that he was promoted too quickly and allegedly did so through improper means, which led to him being reported by a junior officer and subsequently losing his position. He then wrote an essay titled "Reflections on My Feelings" to express his emotions. Not long after, he received an imperial order to work with the Secretary Supervisor Chang Jing to manage ceremonial affairs. The emperor wanted to hold a sacrificial ceremony, and Xing Xin, along with the editor Pei Boma and others, drafted the relevant records and explanations. Towards the end of the Yongxi era, Xing Xin returned to the court to serve as a Reader and was responsible for drafting edicts alongside Wen Zisheng and Wei Shou. Later, when the court relocated to Yecheng, he returned to his hometown of Hejian.
During the Tianping era, he and his cousins Cai and Wei Jijing, along with Wei Shou, were summoned to the capital by the court. He returned to his hometown shortly after. After some time, he was summoned again by the court. At that time, Xiao Yan sent envoys, including Liu Xiaoyi, to present tribute, and the court appointed Xing Xin to serve as a Zhengyuan Lang (a court title) to welcome them at the border. Sun Teng, the Minister of Works, valued his talent and appointed him as a Zhonglang (an official title). Shortly after, he was appointed as a Palace Attendant (an official title) and also promoted to General of the Central Army. Xing Xin not only had talent but also strong administrative skills. Since the Xiaochang period, the world had fallen into chaos, and everyone was busy trying to climb the ranks by any means necessary, leading to a decline in literature. Song Youdao, an official in Sizhou, was recognized for his fair administration, and he had a good relationship with Xing Xin, often joking with one another. Once, Xing Xin remarked to Song Youdao, "Apart from literature, everything else in this world is the same." Song Youdao felt a sense of shame upon hearing this. During the Xinghe period, Xing Xin, in his official capacity, accompanied Li Xiang on a diplomatic mission to Xiao Yan. Xing Xin was straightforward and liked to confront people, earning him the nickname "the Bull." This time, on the mission, people joked that it was a "bull versus elephant" fight in Jiangnan. King Qi Wenxiang intended to select talents and hoped to appoint Xing Xin as the Right Chief Historian of the Minister of Works, but before he could make his recommendation, Xing Xin fell ill and passed away, which left his friends deeply saddened. The court posthumously honored him with the titles of Chariot and Cavalry General, Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, and Governor of Jizhou, and bestowed upon him the posthumous title of "Wen." His writings were later gathered and compiled into a collection. Wen Zisheng, also known as Pengju, claimed to be from Taiyuan and was a descendant of the Jin Dynasty General Wang Dao. His family had resided in the Jiangzuo region for generations. His grandfather, Wen Gongzhi, served as a household officer under Prince Pengcheng Liu Yikang during Liu Yilong's reign and returned to his hometown of Jiying Yuanju to seek refuge, thus becoming a local resident. His family had lived in poverty for generations. His father, Wen Hui, served as the Chief Historian in the Left General's Office of Yanzhou and had previously acted on behalf of Jiying County.
Wen Zisheng initially studied with Cui Ling'en and Liu Lan, studying diligently day and night without feeling tired at all. As he grew older, he read widely and wrote articles with a graceful and elegant style. He served as a junior assistant to Wang Guangyang Liu Yuan, teaching the servants' children at the stable to read. He wrote an inscription for the Hou Mountain ancestral hall, which Chang Jing admired, so he specially visited Liu Yuan to thank him. Chang Jing said, “I just saw Wen Sheng.” Liu Yuan curiously asked what was going on, and Chang Jing said, “Wen Sheng is a very talented person.” Because of this, Liu Yuan came to appreciate him.
At the beginning of the Xiping era, Lieutenant Liu Kuangbo, the King of Dongping, recruited talent to reinforce the Censorate. At that time, over eight hundred people participated in the examination, and Wen Zisheng, along with Lu Zhongxuan, Sun Qian, and others, was one of the twenty-four who achieved top scores. Those who were pre-selected competed to be the first to take office, so Liu Kuangbo let Wen Zisheng handle the matter, and he rejected all of them, earning their respect and acceptance. Sun Qian told others, “Those who were running around in the court this morning were all sent away by Wen Zisheng.” Thus, Wen Zisheng was appointed as a Censor at the age of twenty-two. He drafted all the documents in the Censorate. Later, due to the death of a family member, he resigned from his position. After the mourning period ended, he returned to the court as a Court Gentleman. Later, Li Shenjun acted as the agent for Jingzhou affairs and recommended him as a Registrar. The court called him back to the capital, and Li Shenjun submitted a request to keep him, but Li Jiang, the Minister of Personnel, turned down this request, noting that "Previously, Lu Su refused to stay, which left Wang Lang disappointed; we should bring him back quickly and not repeat the mistakes of Yan Yun." As a result, Wen Zisheng returned to the capital.
During the Zhengguang period of the Northern Wei, when Prince Yuan Yuan of Guangyang was in charge of the Northeast Circuit, he summoned me to serve as a physician. At that time, I drafted documents for both the military and the court, which significantly boosted my reputation. A palace attendant named Xu He was known for his swift handling of petitions from various places, but he held me in high regard, reflecting, "Ah, this Physician Wen truly possesses genuine talent and knowledge; his abilities are quite intimidating." Later, after the Gaoju people were defeated and fled, the confiscated wealth accumulated in heaps, and I took forty rolls of silk. Subsequently, Yuan Yuan was killed by Ge Rong, and I was captured as well. Luo Xing, a general under Ge Rong who knew me from before, secretly sent dozens of cavalry to escort me to Jizhou. Upon my return to the capital, Li Kai shook my hand and said, "You have narrowly escaped this disaster, a feat that would make even Xie An feel embarrassed!" From then on, I stopped seeking official positions and devoted myself to studying diligently, never allowing myself to become complacent.
During the Jianyi period, I was appointed as the Southern Guest Minister, tasked with compiling the daily records. One time, I failed to show up for work, and Wang Tianmu, who was acting as the Minister of Personnel at the time, wanted to punish me severely. I was so frightened that I hastily fled. Tianmu was furious and petitioned the emperor for my dismissal. Emperor Zhuang said, "There are few talented individuals in the world today; how can we dismiss him for such a trivial reason?" Thus, he rejected Tianmu's petition. Later, when Tianmu planned to campaign against Xing Gao, he requested my presence, but I hesitated to agree. Tianmu told others, "I wish to utilize his talents, not to harbor any past grudges. Now that he is not coming, he can only run south to Jiangnan or north to the minority regions!" I had no choice but to meet with him. He promoted me to General Fubo, appointed me as a physician for the circuit, and held me in high regard.
After Yuan Hao attacked Luoyang, Tian Mu called me and asked, "Do you want to go to the capital now, or cross the Yellow River with me to the north?" I replied, "The emperor has come to this predicament because of the loss at Hulao Pass. Yuan Hao has just entered Luoyang, and the people are still uneasy. If we go to attack him now, we could certainly achieve victory without engaging in battle. If Your Majesty can reclaim the capital and welcome the emperor back to the palace, it would be a monumental achievement, akin to that of Huan Wen! I would feel regret if Your Majesty were to miss this opportunity to head north!" Tian Mu appreciated my opinion, but ultimately did not take my advice. He had me return to Luoyang, where Yuan Hao appointed me as a secretary to the court. After Emperor Zhuang returned to the palace, most of Yuan Hao's appointees were dismissed, yet I still served as a secretary. Tian Mu often remarked, "I really regret not taking your advice back then!" Later, I was granted the position of a regular official while still serving as a secretary.
After the emperor executed Er Zhu Rong, Zi Sheng had already been involved in the planning. At that time, the court issued a pardon, which had been drafted by Zi Sheng. When Er Zhu Rong entered the palace, he encountered Zi Sheng and asked him what that document was. Zi Sheng remained composed and simply replied, "It's a decree." Er Zhu Rong did not scrutinize it closely. Later, when Er Zhu Zhao attacked Luoyang, Zi Sheng, fearing retaliation, fled. During the Yongxi years, he served as a reading attendant and secretary, General of the South, and a high-ranking official of the Jin Zi Guanglu. He was later promoted to a regular attendant, General of the Central Army, and eventually appointed as the Chief of the Province.
Xiao Yan exclaimed, "Cao Zhi and Lu Ji have been resurrected in the north! Unfortunately, my literati cannot compare to him in talent!" Fu Biao, the Prefect of Yangxia, went to Tu Yu Hun and found several scrolls of books written by Zi Sheng next to the king's bed. King Huiye of Jiying once said, "In Jiangnan during the Song Dynasty, notable figures included Yan Yanzhi and Xie Lingyun, and during the Liang Dynasty, there were Shen Yue and Ren Fang. In the north, Zi Sheng's talent surpasses Yan Yanzhi and Xie Lingyun, and is on par with Shen Yue and Ren Fang!" Yang Zunyan wrote "On Virtue," believing that most literati of the past and present are talented but lack moral integrity, being frivolous, cunning, and jealous. Only Xing Zicai, Wang Yuanjing, and Wen Zisheng have noble character and humility. King Wenxiang of Qi appointed Zi Sheng as an advisory official in the Grand General's Office. Zi Sheng used to be a Gentleman of the Palace, frequently visiting Xiao Yan's inn to receive imperial edicts, but he felt he was not properly dressed. He once said to others, "Writing poetry and essays is easy, but it is difficult to conduct oneself." King Wenxiang's guest Yuan Jin said, "All you gentlemen should congratulate the emperor." He then nominated Zi Sheng to write the congratulatory message. Zi Sheng declined for a long time before recommending Lu Cao. Later, Yuan Jin, Liu Siyi, Xun Ji, and others rebelled, and King Wenxiang suspected Zi Sheng of being involved in their conspiracy. He ha
Historians say that those in ancient times who pursued lasting fame did so because they valued having their words passed down, and because of their inherent talent, they were able to achieve fame in later generations, and this was only natural. As for me, I was once of lowly status and unknown; even if I stayed in the court, what difference would it make? I couldn't make a name for myself. However, once my writing flowed like a spirit snake, breaking through all constraints, my works were included in the canon and recognized among scholars. Even if my status is humble and my life can be easily taken away, a thousand years later, what does it matter whether one is rich or poor? If I had not taken this path, who could say they achieved such success? Shouldn't all scholars strive to pursue this? This means that the ancients valued being remembered through the ages because their words could be passed down, and their inherent talent made their fame prominent, which is quite normal. As for me, I was once of lowly status, remaining unknown even in the court, with no achievements. But later, my writing improved, my fame grew, and my works were included in the official histories. Even if my status is lowly, and I may even die, a thousand years later, my reputation still exists, just like that of the high officials and nobility. If it were not for this, how could one achieve such success? Dear scholars, shouldn't you work hard and seek recognition?
