BOOK XXVII. 80. Chap. I. Ting-hsien. The nature of the Worthies is defined. Examples are adduced of what they are not. No exceptional talents are required, but a certain amount of intelligence and honesty. Worthies belong to the same class as Saints or Sages, but are somewhat inferior. BOOK XXVIII. *81. Chap. I. Cheng-shuo E (Statements Corrected). This chapter contains critical remarks on the composition and the history of the Shuking, the Shiking, the Chun-ch'iu, the Yiking, the Liki, and the Analects. The meaning of the dynastic names of Tang, Yü, the Hsia, Yin, and Chou dynasties is explained, and some hints as to how the Canons are to be interpreted are added. 書解 82. Chap. II. Shu-chieh · The chapter deals with learning and erudition, with literary composition, and with the various kinds of men of letters. BOOK XXIX. *83. Chap. I. An-shu (Critical Remarks on Various Books). Wang Chung criticises the famous authors of his time and their works, beginning with some writers of the Chou epoch. He finds fault with Mê Ti, the sophist Kung Sun Lung, and the speculative philosopher Tsou Yen, and commends Tso Chiu Ming, the author of the Tso-chuan and the Kuo-yü. He speaks with great respect of the historians Sse Ma Chien and Pan Ku, the philosopher Yang Tse Yün, and Liu Hsiang, and in the highest terms of Lu Chia, who published the Chun-chiu-fan-lu, and of Huan Chin Shan and Huan Kuan, the authors of the Hsin-lun and the Yen-tieh-lun. *84. Chap. II. Tui-tso (Replies in Self-Defence). 對作 Wang Chung gives the reasons, why he wrote his principal works, the Lun-heng and the Chêng-wu, a treatise on government. In the Lun-hêng he wishes to explain common errors, to point out the exaggerations and inventions in literature, and thus deliver mankind of its prejudices. The Lun-hêng weighs the words and holds up a balance for truth and falsehood. Wang Chung shows the advantage which might be derived from different chapters, and meets the objections which his opponents would perhaps raise. BOOK XXX. *85. Chap. I. Tse-chi (Autobiography). Wang Chung is a native of Shang-yü-hsien in Chekiang. His family originally lived in Chihli. He was born in A.D. 27, and already as a boy was very fond of study. In his official career he was not very successful. The highest post which he held about A.d. 86 was that of a sub-prefect. The equanimity of a philosopher helped him over many disappointments. His ideal was to possess an extensive knowledge, a keen intellect, and a noble mind. Besides his chief work the Lun-heng, he wrote 12 chapters on common morals in a plain and easy style, and a treatise "Macrobiotics" in A.D. 91. He defends the style, the voluminousness, and the contents of the Lun-hêng against the attacks directed against it. 64 Lun-Hêng. Selected Essays of the Philosopher Wang Ch'ung. CHAPTER I. Autobiography (Tse-chi). Wang Ch'ung is a native of Shang-yü-hsien' in Kuei-chi 2. His style is Chung Jên. His family hails from Yuan-ch eng3 in the Wei1 circuit. One of his clan, Sun-yi, served his whole life as a soldier, and distinguished himself so much, that he was appointed warden of the southern part of Kuei-chi, but, when one year a disturbance broke out, which disorganised the State, he continued to reside there, and became a farmer and cultivator of mulberry-trees. His great grand-father was very bold and violent, and, when in a passion, cared for nobody. In a year of dearth he behaved like a ruffian, and wounded and killed people. Those whom he had wronged, and who were waiting for an opportunity to wreak their vengeance, were very numerous. As in Kuei-chi revolts were of constant occurrence, and there was danger that his enemies would seize upon him, the grand-father Fan removed his family and his household from Kuei-chi, and settled in Chien-tang-hsien,5 where he lived as a merchant. He had two sons, the elder was called Mêng, the younger Sung. Sung is the father of Wang Chung. The grand-father had a violent temper, which in his sons, Meng and Sung, became so intense, that many people in Chien-t'ang had to suffer from their vehemence. At last they became involved again in a feud with Ting Po and other influential families, in consequence of which they emigrated with their families to Shang-yü. In the third year of Chien-wu, Wang Chung was born. When playing with his companions, he disliked all frivolous games. His comrades would entrap birds, catch cicadas, play for money, and gambol on stilts. Wang Ch'ung alone declined to take part in their games to the great amazement of his father. 1 In Shao-hsing-fu (Chekiang). 2 Under the Han dynasty K'uei-chi comprises Chekiang, the South of Anhui, and the North of Fukien. 3 In Ta-ming-fu (Chili). 4 A circuit comprising parts of Chili and Honan. 5 In the Hang-chou prefecture of Chekiang. 6 27 A.D. At the age of six, he received his first instruction, and learned to behave with politeness, honesty, benevolence, obedience, propriety, and reverence. He was grave, earnest, and very quiet, and had the will of a great man. His father never flogged him, his mother never gave him a harsh word, and the neighbours never scolded him. When he was eight years old, he went to school. There were over one hundred small boys in this school. As a punishment for faults committed they used to be stripped, or were whipped for bad writing. Wang Ch'ung made daily progress, and never committed any offence. When he could write sentences, his teacher explained to him the Analects and the Shuking, of which he daily read a thousand characters. When he knew the Classics, and his virtue had thus been developed, he left his teacher, and devoted his private studies to writing and composing so, that every one was astonished, and the extent of his reading widened day by day. But he did not make bad use of his talents, and though he possessed great dialectical skill, he was not fond of disputations. Unless he found the proper audience, he did not speak the whole day. His speech was quaint and not like that of others, but those who listened to him to the end, agreed with him. Such were also the productions of his pen, and so were his conduct, and his behaviour towards his superiors. 1 In a district he rose to the rank of a secretary, and held the same office in the department of a military governor. In a prefecture he was one of the five chief secretaries, and in a department he was appointed assistant-magistrate. He did not strive for fame, and did not regulate his conduct in accordance with his personal profits. He always spoke of people's merits and seldom of their faults. Those who had not yet got on in their career, were specially recommended by him, and he exposed only the faults of those who had secured a position. When he thought anything wrong, he did not praise it, and when a fault was not done away with, he did not again condemn the man. He could pardon the great faults of a man, and also pitied his minor mistakes. His desire was to be unimpeachable himself, but he did not wish to shine. He endeavoured to base his claims on recognition upon his actions, and was ashamed to presume upon his talents. 1 A prefecture or a circuit-of which there were 36 during the Han epoch-was devided into 5 regions:-the centre and four quarters. Each region was superintended by a chief secretary of the prefect, who had the jurisdiction over his region. Lun - Hêng. 5 In public meetings he did not speak, unless he was asked, and in the presence of princes and generals he only replied, when he was addressed. In the country he attempted to follow the example of Chi Po Yü, and in the court he wished to imitate Shih Tse Yü.2 When insulted, he did not white-wash himself, and, when in his career he was not promoted, he did not feel grieved. Although he was poor and had not an acre to dwell upon, his mind was freer than that of kings and dukes, and though he had no emoluments counted by pecks and piculs, he felt, as if he had ten thousand chung3 to live upon. Obtaining an appointment, he was not overjoyed, and losing it, he did not feel distressed. He enjoyed a tranquil happiness, but his desires did not run riot, and though he was living in a state of poverty, his energy was not broken. The study of ancient literature was his debauchery, and strange stories his relish. In the current books and common sayings he found much, in which he could not aquiesce. A recluse in his solitary retirement, he tried to find truth and falsehood. He made Wang Chung had a pure and sterling character. friends wherever he went, but did not contract these friendships carelessly. The position of his friends might be ever so low, and in years they might be ever so young, provided only that they rose above common-place mediocrity, he would seek their friendship. He had a great admiration for superior men, and liked to associate with distinguished people, but would not lightly become intimate with men of common gifts. In case these latter slandered him for a slight fault or any insignificant mistake, he would not clear himself of these accusations, nor did he bear any grudge against them. 1 A disciple of Confucius, whom the master esteemed very much. 2 Shih Tse Yü Shih Yü, a high officer in Wei. When Duke Ling of Wei (533-492) did not employ Chü Po Yü, Shih Tse Yü remonstrated with the duke, but in vain. Soon afterwards he fell sick. Feeling his end coming, he told his son to place his corpse under the window, without performing the usual funeral rites, because he did not deserve them, not having been able to convince the duke of what was right. When the duke paid his condolence, the son informed him of what his father had said. The duke repented, and then appointed Chü Po Yü. When Confucius heard of this, he exclaimed:-"How upright was Shih Tse Yü, who still as a corpse admonished his sovereign." Chü Po Yü was of a different turn of mind. Confucius said of him that, when bad government prevailed, he could roll his principles up, and keep them in his breast. (Analects XV, 6.) 3 One chung = 4 pecks. |