A New Account of the Tales of the World

A New Account of the Tales of the World

Liu Yiqing

Chen Zhongju’s words were regarded by scholars as a standard, and his every action was taken by society as an example. Whenever he mounted his carriage and took up the reins, he displayed a grand ambition to bring order to the whole realm.

When he became Governor of Yuzhang and had just arrived to assume office, he immediately asked where Xu Ruzi lived, intending to visit him first. His registrar said, “Everyone hopes that you will first enter the government offices.” Chen replied, “In former times, King Wu of Zhou, wishing to show respect to Shang Rong, did not even wait long enough for his seat to grow warm before going to visit him. What is wrong with my showing respect to a worthy man?”

Zhou Ziju often said, “If I go only a few months without seeing Huang Shudu, all my vulgar and mean thoughts begin to sprout again.”

When Guo Linzong went to Runan, he visited Yuan Fenggao. His carriage did not stop and his horses were not unharnessed. But when he went to Huang Shudu’s home, he stayed for an entire day and spent night after night there. Someone asked him why. Guo Linzong said, “Shudu is like a vast pool stretching ten thousand acres: you cannot clarify it, nor can you muddy it. His capacity is immense and profound, impossible to measure.”

Li Yuanli’s bearing and character were both elegant and stern, qualities of which he himself was very conscious. He always regarded the preservation of moral teaching throughout the realm as his own responsibility. Younger men in intellectual circles who were able to cross his threshold all considered themselves to have “passed through the Dragon Gate.”

Li Yuanli once praised Xun Shu and Zhong Hao, saying, “Master Xun’s outstanding insight is difficult to equal; Master Zhong’s lofty virtue makes him worthy to serve as a model and teacher.”

Chen Hao, who had served as Magistrate of Taiqiu, once went to visit Xun Shu, who had served as Chancellor of Langling. Because the Chen family was poor and had no servants, Chen Hao had his elder son Chen Ji, known as Yuanfang, drive the carriage, while his younger son Chen Chen, known as Jifang, followed behind carrying a staff. His grandson Chen Qun, known as Changwen, was still a child and sat in the carriage. When they reached the Xun household, Xun Shu ordered his son Xun Jing, known as Shuci, to receive them at the gate, while Xun Shuang, known as Ciming, poured wine for the guests. The remaining “Six Dragons”—Xun Shu had eight sons in all, who were known at the time as the “Eight Dragons”—came and went serving food. Xun Shu’s grandson Xun Yu, known as Wenruo, was also still a child and sat on his grandfather’s knee. At that time, the Grand Astrologer submitted a memorial to the court saying, “Virtuous stars have gathered together; Perfect Men are traveling east.”

A guest once asked Chen Jifang, “What achievements and virtues did your honored father, the Lord of Taiqiu, possess that he enjoys such great fame throughout the realm?” Jifang replied, “My father is like a cassia tree growing in a valley of Mount Tai. Above it rise mountains tens of thousands of feet high, and beneath it lies an unfathomable abyss. From above it receives the nourishment of rain and dew, and from below the moisture of springs. Under such conditions, how could the cassia tree know how high Mount Tai is or how deep the waters are? Therefore I do not know whether my father has achievements and virtue or not.”

Chen Yuanfang’s son Changwen was exceptionally talented and learned. He and Jifang’s son Xiaoxian each spoke of the merits and virtues of their respective fathers, but after arguing they could not decide who was superior. So they went to ask their grandfather, the Lord of Taiqiu. He said, “For Yuanfang to have such a younger brother makes it difficult for him to be the elder brother; for Jifang to have such an elder brother makes it difficult for him to be the younger.”

Bian Wenli went to see Yuan Fenggao and behaved somewhat awkwardly. Fenggao said, “In ancient times Emperor Yao invited Xu You to serve, yet Xu You showed no embarrassment on his face. Why, sir, have you put your clothes on backward?” Wenli replied, “Your Excellency has only just taken office and has not yet displayed the virtue of Emperor Yao. That is why I have put my clothes on backward.”

When Xu Ruzi was nine years old, he once played in the moonlight. Someone asked him, “If there were nothing inside the moon, would it not be even brighter?” Xu Ruzi replied, “No. It is like the pupil in a person’s eye. Without it, one would certainly be unable to see clearly.”

When Kong Wenju was ten years old, he accompanied his father to Luoyang. At the time Li Ying was extremely famous and served as Colonel Director of Retainers.

Those who were admitted to visit Li Ying were all men of talent and reputation or relatives connected to him through marriage, and only such people were announced by the doorkeeper. Kong Wenju arrived and said to the gatekeeper, “I am related to Governor Li.” After he was announced and went in to sit down, Li Ying asked him, “How are you related to me?” Kong Wenju replied, “In former generations, my ancestor Confucius and your ancestor Boyang, that is, Laozi Li Er, had the relationship of teacher and student. Thus you and I belong to families that have been linked as teachers and friends for generations.” Li Ying and all the guests present were astonished. Soon afterward, Chen Wei, Grand Master of Remonstrance, entered. Someone repeated to him what Kong Wenju had just said. Chen Wei remarked, “A child may be clever and quick-witted, yet may not amount to much when grown.” Kong Wenju heard this and said, “I imagine, sir, that you must have been very clever and quick-witted when you were young.” Chen Wei was immediately left at a loss.

Kong Wenju had two sons, the elder six and the younger five. While their father was taking an afternoon nap, the younger boy secretly drank wine beside the bed. The elder said to him, “Why do you not kneel and perform the proper salute?” The younger replied, “When stealing food and drink, how can one observe ritual?”

When Kong Rong was arrested, everyone inside and outside the household was terrified. At the time, Kong Rong’s elder son was only nine and the younger eight.

The two brothers were playing a game of polishing nails and showed no sign of fear. Kong Rong said to the men who had come to arrest him, “I hope the guilt can rest with me alone. Can the two children be spared?” His son calmly said to his father, “Have you ever seen an overturned bird’s nest with unbroken eggs beneath it?” Sure enough, not long afterward the men who came to arrest the sons arrived.

The Governor of Yingchuan had Chen Zhonggong’s head shaved and sentenced him to penal labor. A guest asked Chen’s elder son Yuanfang, “What kind of man is the governor?” Yuanfang replied, “An enlightened superior.” The guest then asked, “What kind of man is your honored father?”

He replied, “A loyal minister and filial son.” The guest said, “The Book of Changes says, ‘When two men are of one mind, their sharpness can cut through metal.’ It also says, ‘Words spoken from one heart have a fragrance like orchids.’ How can an enlightened superior punish a loyal minister and filial son?” Yuanfang said, “How mistaken your words are! I do not wish to answer you.” The guest said:

“You are hunching your back and pretending to bow respectfully only because you have no answer to my words.” Yuanfang said, “In ancient times, Gaozong of Yin exiled the filial son Xiaoji; Yin Jifu of Zhou exiled the filial son Boqi; and Dong Zhongshu exiled the filial son Fuqi. Gaozong and the other two were all enlightened rulers, while Xiaoji and the other two were loyal ministers and filial sons. How do you explain that?” The guest departed with a look of shame.