1
序
Preface
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夫文以化成，惟聖之高義； 行而不遠，前史之格言。 是以溫洛禎圖，綠字元其丕業； 苑山靈篆，金簡成其帝載。 既而書契之道聿興，鐘石之文逾廣，移風俗于王化，崇孝敬于人倫，經緯乾坤，彌綸中外，故知文之時義大哉遠矣！
Writing is what shapes civilization through moral transformation—the supreme teaching of the sages. What fails to spread far will not last—a truth the histories hammer home again and again. Hence the prophetic charts drawn from the Luo and the mystic green script that founded their mighty reign. Spirit-seal writing on Mount Yuan, imperial deeds engraved on golden slips—the lore that crowned their rule. Then came the full flowering of written records; inscriptions on bells and stones multiplied; literature reshaped folkways under royal civilizing influence and upheld filial duty within the bonds of kin; it structured heaven and earth and spanned all within the realm and beyond—so we see how immense, how enduring, is the meaning of letters in their age.
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洎姬曆雲季，歌頌滋繁，荀宋之流，導源自遠，總金羈而齊騖，揚玉軑而並馳，言泉會於九流，交律詣於六變。 自時已降，軌躅同趨，西都賈馬，耀靈蛇于掌握，東漢班張，發雕龍於綈槧，俱標稱首，咸推雄伯。 逮乎當塗基命，文宗鬱起，三祖葉其高韻，七子分其麗則，《翰林》總其菁華，《典論》詳其澡絢，彬蔚之美，競爽當年。 獨彼陳王，思風遒舉，備乎典奧，懸諸日月。
By the twilight of Zhou rule, hymns and praise poetry had grown lush; masters such as Xun Qing and Song Yu carried that tradition from remote antiquity—writers who coursed together like matched teams, whose eloquence poured into every school of thought and whose regulated verse mastered every tonal shift. Afterward writers trod the same path: at Chang'an, Jia Yi and Sima Xiangru wielded prose like the luminous serpent in legend; in Later Han, Ban Gu and Zhang Heng carved draconic brilliance onto their drafts—each claimed the summit of renown and won universal acclaim as a literary lord. Once Wei inherited Heaven's charge, a galaxy of writers arose: its founding rulers set the pitch of high style, the Seven Masters of Jian'an each refined its grace; the Hanlin anthology distilled their essence, Cao Pi's Dianlun anatomized their craft—never had lettered beauty flourished so fiercely in one generation. Only Prince Chen set his genius soaring—fully steeped in the canon, a brilliance that stands beside sun and moon.
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及金行纂極，文雅斯盛，張載擅銘山之美，陸機挺焚研之奇，潘夏連輝，頡頏名輩，並綜采繁縟，杼軸清英，窮廣內之青編，緝平臺之麗曲，嘉聲茂跡，陳諸別傳。 至於吉甫、太沖，江右之才傑； 曹毗、庾闡，中興之時秀。 信乃金相玉潤，林薈川沖，埒美前修，垂裕來葉。 今撰其鴻筆之彥，著之《文苑》云。
Once Jin took the mandate, literature bloomed: Zhang Zai memorialized mountains with unmatched grace; Lu Ji wrung marvels from inkstones half consumed by flame; Pan Yue and Xia Tong matched radiance with the greatest names of their day; each lavishly embroidered yet kept the shuttle bright, mining the imperial stacks for lore and weaving Ping Terrace songs—their fuller stories appear in separate traditions. Consider Ying Zhen (Jifu) and Zuo Si (Taichong)—stars among the writers south of the river; and Cao Pi together with Yu Chan—the finest Eastern Jin had to offer at its revival. They truly combined bronze resonance with polished jade—learning broad as a grove, depth like a river—matching the old masters and leaving an inheritance for ages to come. Here we gather the foremost wielders of the brush and set them down under the heading "Literary Garden."
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應貞
Ying Zhen
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應貞，字吉甫，汝南南頓人，魏侍中璩之子也。 自漢至魏，世以文章顯，軒冕相襲，為郡盛族。 貞善談論，以才學稱。 夏侯玄有盛名，貞詣玄，玄甚重之。 舉高第，頻曆顯位。 武帝為撫軍大將軍，以為參軍。 及踐阼，遷給事中。 帝于華林園宴射，貞賦詩最美。 其辭曰：
Ying Zhen, courtesy name Jifu, came from Nandun in Runan and was the son of Ying Qu, Palace Attendant of Wei. For generations from Han through Wei the family had risen on literary talent; rank followed rank until they stood among the commandery's greatest houses. Ying Zhen excelled at debate and was celebrated for his erudition. Xiahou Xuan's fame was immense; when Ying Zhen called on him, Xuan treated him with marked respect. He ranked at the top of his cohort and rose through a series of prominent posts. While Emperor Wu still held the title General Who Guards the Army, he named Ying Zhen army adjutant. When the emperor took the throne, Ying Zhen became a palace attendant. During an archery banquet at Hualin Garden, Ying Zhen's poem outshone every other. The poem ran:
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初置太子中庶子官，貞與護軍長史孔恂俱為之。 後遷散騎常侍，以儒學與太尉荀顗撰定新禮，未施行。 卒，文集行於世。
When the crown prince's junior mentorate was first established, Ying Zhen and Kong Xun, chief clerk of the Army Guard, were the first to hold the post. He later became a cavalier attendant-in-ordinary and, as a Confucian scholar, helped Grand Commandant Xun Yi draft a new ritual code that never came into force. He died, leaving a literary collection that circulated widely.
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弟純。 純子紹，永嘉中，至黃門郎，為東海王越所害。 純弟秀，秀子詹，自有傳。
His younger brother Ying Chun: Ying Chun's son Ying Shao rose to palace attendant under the Yellow Gates in the Yongjia years and was put to death by Sima Yue, the Prince of Donghai. Ying Chun's brother Ying Xiu and Xiu's son Ying Zhan are biographed elsewhere.
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成公綏
Cheng Gongshui
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成公綏，字子安，東郡白馬人也。 幼而聰敏，博涉經傳。 性寡欲，不營資產，家貧歲饑，常晏如也。 少有俊才，詞賦甚麗，閑默自守，不求聞達。 時有孝烏，每集其廬舍，綏謂有反哺之德，以為祥禽，乃作賦美之，文多不載。 又以「賦者貴能分賦物理，敷演無方，天地之盛，可以致思矣。 曆觀古人未之有賦，豈獨以至麗無文，難以辭贊； 不然，何其闕哉？」 遂為《天地賦》曰：
Cheng Gongshui, courtesy name Zi'an, came from Baima in Dong commandery. He was precocious and devoured the classics and their exegesis. Content with little, he acquired no lands or fortune; even when famine gnawed his household he remained untroubled. Gifted from youth, he wrote rhapsodies of striking polish yet lived in quiet retirement, courting neither renown nor office. A crow famed for filial devotion nested habitually on his roof; Cheng judged it an auspicious creature embodying the virtue of feeding one's parents in old age and wrote a rhapsody in its praise (most of which is omitted here). He argued that "a true fu must dissect the nature of things and expound principle without rigid formula—the grandeur of heaven and earth becomes thinkable through such writing. Since antiquity no one had attempted such a piece—perhaps because beauty too overwhelming defies eloquence; or else why should the tradition have stayed silent?" With that he composed his "Rhapsody on Heaven and Earth," opening:
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綏雅好音律，嘗當暑承風而嘯，泠然成曲，因為《嘯賦》曰：
Cheng loved musical theory; one sweltering day he whistled into the breeze until pure tones shaped themselves into melody—and thus arose his "Rhapsody on Whistling," which begins:
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張華雅重綏，每見其文，歎伏以為絕倫，薦之太常，徵為博士。 曆秘書郎，轉丞，遷中書郎。 每與華受詔並為詩賦，又與賈充等參定法律。 卒，年四十三，所著詩賦雜筆十餘卷行於世。
Zhang Hua admired him deeply; each essay left Zhang convinced no one could rival Cheng, so he nominated him to the Chamberlain for Ceremonials, who appointed him court erudite. He served as palace secretary, moved up to assistant director, then advanced to gentleman of the palace writers. He often drafted verse and rhapsodies alongside Zhang Hua by imperial order and helped Jia Chong and colleagues codify the law. He died at forty-three; over ten fascicles of poetry, rhapsodies, and assorted prose circulated after him.
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左思
Zuo Si
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左思，字太沖，齊國臨淄人也。 其先齊之公族有左右公子，因為氏焉。 家世儒學。 父雍，起小吏，以能擢授殿中侍御史。 思小學鐘、胡書及鼓琴，並不成。 雍謂友人曰：「思所曉解，不及我少時。」 思遂感激勤學，兼善陰陽之術。 貌寢，口訥，而辭藻壯麗。 不好交遊，惟以閒居為事。 造《齊都賦》，一年乃成。 復欲賦三都，會妹芬入宮，移家京師，乃詣著作郎張載，訪岷邛之事。 遂構思十年，門庭籓溷，皆著筆紙，遇得一句，即便疏之。 自以所見不博，求為秘書郎。 及賦成，時人未之重。 思自以其作不謝班張，恐以人廢言，安定皇甫謐有高譽，思造而示之。 謐稱善，為其賦序。 張載為注《魏都》，劉逵注《吳》《蜀》而序之曰：「觀中古以來為賦者多矣，相如《子虛》擅名于前，班固《兩都》理勝其辭，張衡《二京》文過其意。 至若此賦，擬議數家，傅辭會義，抑多精緻，非夫研核者不能練其旨，非夫博物者不能統其異。 世咸貴遠而賤近，莫肯用心於明物。 斯文吾有異焉，故聊以餘思為其引詁，亦猶胡廣之於《官箴》，蔡邕之於《典引》也。」 陳留衛權又為思賦作《略解》，序曰：「余觀《三都》之賦，言不苟華，必經典要，品物殊類，稟之圖籍； 辭義瑰瑋，良可貴也。 有晉征士故太子中庶子安定皇甫謐，西州之逸士，耽籍樂道，高尚其事，覽斯文而慷慨，為之都序。 中書著作郎安平張載、中書郎濟南劉逵，並以經學洽博，才章美茂，咸皆悅玩，為之訓詁； 其山川土域，草木鳥獸，奇怪珍異，僉皆研精所由，紛散其義矣。 余嘉其文，不能默已，聊藉二子之遺忘，又為之《略解》，祗增煩重，覽者闕焉。」 自是之後，盛重于時，文多不載。 司空張華見而歎曰：「班張之流也。 使讀之者盡而有餘，久而更新。」 於是豪貴之家競相傳寫，洛陽為之紙貴。 初，陸機入洛，欲為此賦，聞思作之，撫掌而笑，與弟雲書曰：「此間有傖父，欲作《三都賦》，須其成，當以覆酒甕耳。」 及思賦出，機絕歎伏，以為不能加也，遂輟筆焉。
Zuo Si, courtesy name Taichong, hailed from Linzi in the old kingdom of Qi. The clan descended from Qi nobility—the ancient titles "Left and Right Young Lord" supplied their surname. For generations the family had pursued Confucian scholarship. His father Zuo Yong began as a petty clerk and won promotion on merit to palace assistant censor. As a boy Zuo studied calligraphy after Zhong Yao and Hu Zhao and took up the zither—he mastered neither. Zuo Yong told a friend, "The boy grasps less than I did at his age." Stung by those words, Zuo threw himself into study and learned the yin-yang traditions besides. Plain of face and slow of tongue, he nevertheless wrote with towering brilliance. He avoided society and preferred the quiet of home. He drafted a "Rhapsody on the Qi Capital" that took a year to complete. He next planned his "Three Capitals" rhapsody; when his sister Zuo Fen entered the harem the family relocated to Luoyang, and Zuo called on Editorial Director Zhang Zai to gather material on Shu Min and Qiong. He brooded on the work a full decade; brush and paper littered gate, yard, fence, and latrine—every stray couplet was recorded on the spot. Feeling his reading still too narrow, he secured a post as palace secretary for access to the imperial library. When the rhapsody was done, contemporaries still shrugged it off. Zuo believed his work matched Ban Gu and Zhang Heng yet feared dismissal on account of his homely looks, so he brought the manuscript to the renowned Huangfu Mi of Anding. Huangfu praised it and supplied a preface. Zhang Zai glossed the Wei section; Liu Kui annotated Wu and Shu and wrote a preface: "Fu writers crowd the middle ages—Sima Xiangru's 'Sir Vacuous' claimed first glory; Ban Gu's twin capitals privilege argument over diction; Zhang Heng's pair favors ornament over thought. This piece, however, distills many models and weaves diction with doctrine at rare finesse—only a painstaking reader grasps its argument, only a scholar of wide learning commands its diversity. People honor the remote past and scorn the present, unwilling to labor over factual truth. I take a different view of this text, so I lend what wit remains to introduce and gloss it—much as Hu Guang annotated the "Official Admonitions" or Cai Yong the "Canon Preface." Wei Quan of Chenliu also wrote a "Brief Explication" for Zuo's work, opening: "Reading the 'Three Capitals,' one finds no idle flourish—every line rests on canonical authority; each thing catalogued comes straight from the atlases and histories. The language is splendid and the sense monumental—work of real worth. The recluse Huangfu Mi of Anding—once junior mentor to the crown prince—western gentleman lost in books and the Way, lofty in purpose, read these lines with beating heart and supplied the overarching preface. Zhang Zai of Anping and Liu Kui of Jinan—court compilers steeped in the classics, gifted stylists—each delighted in the text and drafted scholarly commentary; every landscape, soil, plant, beast, and curiosity they traced to source, unpacking sense after sense. I admire the piece too deeply to stay mute; picking up where Zhang and Liu left off I added this "Brief Explication"—knowing it only piles dutiful clutter on readers who may skip it." After that the work commanded enormous esteem (most of the prose is omitted here). Minister Zhang Hua exclaimed, "This belongs with Ban Gu and Zhang Heng. Readers finish yet feel there is more; revisit after years and it still feels fresh." Noble households scrambled to copy it until Luoyang ran short of paper—a story still told today. When Lu Ji first reached Luoyang he meant to write his own "Three Capitals"; learning Zuo was at work he laughed aloud and wrote Lu Yun: "Some rustic here thinks he can compose that rhapsody—when he's done we'll line the wine jars with it." Once Zuo's piece appeared, Lu Ji conceded outright that he could not better it and abandoned his own draft.
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秘書監賈謐請講《漢書》，謐誅，退居宜春裏，專意典籍。 齊王冏命為記室督，辭疾，不就。 及張方縱暴都邑，舉家適冀州。 數歲，以疾終。
Jia Mi, director of the palace library, asked him to lecture on the Han History; after Jia's execution Zuo withdrew to Yichun Ward and buried himself in books. Sima Jiong, Prince of Qi, offered him chief recorder; Zuo pleaded illness and refused. When Zhang Fang terrorized the capital the entire family fled north into Ji province. He died of illness a few years later.
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趙至
Zhao Zhi
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趙至，字景真，代郡人也。 寓居洛陽。 緱氏令初到官，至年十三，與母同觀。 母曰：「汝先世本非微賤，世亂流離，遂為士伍耳。 爾後能如此不？」 至感母言，詣師受業。 聞父耕叱牛聲，投書而泣。 師怪問之，至曰：「我小未能榮養，使老父不免勤苦。」 師甚異之。 年十四，詣洛陽，遊太學，遇嵇康于學寫石經，徘徊視之，不能去，而請問姓名。 康曰：「年少何以問邪？」 曰：「觀君風器非常，所以問耳。」 康異而告之。 後乃亡到山陽，求康不得而還。 又將遠學，母禁之，至遂陽狂，走三五里，輒追得之。 年十六，遊鄴，復與康相遇，隨康還山陽，改名浚，字允元。 康每曰：「卿頭小而銳，童子白黑分明，有白起之風矣。」 及康卒，至詣魏興見太守張嗣宗，甚被優遇。 嗣宗遷江夏相，隨到溳川，欲因入吳，而嗣宗卒，乃向遼西而占戶焉。
Zhao Zhi, courtesy name Jingzhen, was a native of Dai commandery. His family had settled in Luoyang. When the new magistrate of Goushi took office, thirteen-year-old Zhao went with his mother to watch the procession. His mother said, "Our forebears were never humble folk; war uprooted the clan until they sank into the ranks—that is all. Will you rise above this life or not?" Moved deeply, Zhao sought out a tutor. Whenever he heard his father shouting at the ox in the field he dropped his primer and wept. His teacher asked why; Zhao answered, "I am too young to earn honor or keep my parents fed—the old man still toils because of me." The instructor marveled at him. At fourteen he entered the capital and the Imperial Academy, where he found Ji Kang transcribing the stone classics; Zhao circled, unable to tear himself away, and begged the stranger's name. Ji Kang said, "What is a boy like you doing asking?" "Your bearing is like no other—that is why I asked." Ji Kang, intrigued, told him who he was. He later ran away to Shanyang hoping to find Ji Kang but failed and trudged home. When he tried to leave for distant study his mother forbade it, so he feigned madness and bolted a few miles—each time she ran him down. At sixteen he wandered to Ye, met Ji Kang again, followed him home to Shanyang, and adopted the name Zhao Jun, courtesy name Yuanyuan. Ji Kang used to tell him, "That sharp little head of yours, those bright eyes even as a boy—you have something of Bai Qi about you." After Ji Kang's execution Zhao traveled to Wei Xing and called on Prefect Zhang Sizong, who treated him with exceptional kindness. When Zhang rose to governor of Jiangxia, Zhao followed him to the Yun basin hoping to cross into Wu; Zhang died before they could go, so Zhao drifted to Liaoxi and settled his household register there.
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初，至與康兄子蕃友善，及將遠適，乃與蕃書敘離，並陳其志曰：
He had long befriended Ji Kang's nephew Ji Fan; before leaving for good he sent Fan a farewell letter laying bare his purpose:
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至身長七尺四寸，論議精辯，有從橫才氣。 遼西舉郡計吏，到洛，與父相遇。 時母已亡，父欲令其宦立，弗之告，仍戒以不歸，至乃還遼西。 幽州三辟部從事，斷九獄，見稱精審。 太康中，以良吏赴洛，方知母亡。 初，至自恥士伍，欲以宦學立名，期於榮養。 既而其志不就，號憤慟哭，歐血而卒，時年三十七。
Zhao stood seven feet four inches tall; his speech was sharp and incisive in the manner of a wandering strategist. Liaoxi recommended him as chief clerk for fiscal reporting; in Luoyang he unexpectedly met his father. His mother had died without his knowledge—his father hid the news so Zhao could establish a career and forbade him to come home; Zhao therefore turned back toward Liaoxi. Youzhou repeatedly appointed him section aide; he closed nine criminal cases and earned praise for meticulous judgment. During Taikang he qualified as an exemplary official and was summoned to court—only then did he learn his mother was gone. Once ashamed of his commoner's station, he had hoped office and scholarship would win honor enough to support his parents in style. When that dream collapsed he howled and wept until blood burst from his throat; he died at thirty-seven.
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鄒湛
Zou Zhan
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鄒湛，字潤甫，南陽新野人也。 父軌，魏左將軍。 湛少以才學知名，仕魏曆通事郎、太學博士。 泰始初，轉尚書郎、廷尉平、征南從事中郎，深為羊祜所器重。 入為太子中庶子。 太康中，拜散騎常侍，出補渤海太守，轉太傅楊駿長史，遷侍中。 駿誅，以僚佐免官。 尋起為散騎常侍、國子祭酒，轉少府。 元康末卒，所著詩及論事議二十五首，為時所重。
Zou Zhan, courtesy name Runfu, hailed from Xinye in Nanyang commandery. His father Zou Gui had served Wei as Left General. Celebrated young for breadth of learning, he served Wei as communicator gentleman and erudite at the Imperial Academy. Early in Taishi he moved through masters-of-writing posts, justice reviewer, and aide on the southern campaign—Yang Hu esteemed him greatly. He was then called in as junior mentor to the crown prince. Under Taikang he became cavalier attendant-in-ordinary, then governor of Bohai, later chief secretary to Grand Tutor Yang Jun, and finally palace attendant. Yang Jun's fall cost him his post as a member of the discredited staff. He was soon reinstated as cavalier attendant and libationer of the Imperial College, then moved to head the Lesser Treasury. He died near the close of Yuankang; twenty-five poems and policy essays won wide respect.
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初，湛嘗夢見一人，自稱甄舒仲，餘無所言，如此非一。 久之，乃悟曰：「吾宅西有積土敗瓦，其中必有死人。 甄舒仲者，予舍西土瓦中人也。」 檢之，果然，厚加斂葬。 葬畢，遂夢此人來謝。
Zou repeatedly dreamed of a figure calling himself Zhen Shuzhong who said nothing more—the dream returned again and again. At length he understood: "West of my house lie rubble piles—someone lies buried beneath them. Zhen Shuzhong" is the restless soul beneath the rubble west of my gate." They dug and found him, then laid the bones to rest with full ceremony. That night the figure visited his dreams to give thanks.
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子捷，字太應，亦有文才。 永康中，為散騎侍郎。 及趙王倫篡逆，捷與陸機等俱作禪文。 倫誅，坐下廷尉，遇赦免。 後為太傅參軍。 永嘉末，卒。
His son Zou Jie, courtesy name Taiying, inherited literary gifts. During Yongkang he served as gentleman of cavalier attendance. When Prince Zhao Lun seized the throne, Zou Jie joined Lu Ji and others in drafting the forced abdication edict. Lun's execution landed him before the commandant of justice; an amnesty spared him. He later served as adjutant on the grand tutor's staff. He died in the final years of Yongjia.
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棗據
Zao Ju
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棗據，字道彥，潁川長社人也。 本姓棘，其先避仇改焉。 父叔禕，魏钜鹿太守。 據美容貌，善文辭。 弱冠，辟大將軍府，出為山陽令，有政績。 遷尚書郎，轉右丞。 賈充伐吳，請為從事中郎。 軍還，徙黃門侍郎、冀州刺史、太子中庶子。 太康中卒，時年五十餘。 所著詩賦論四十五首，遇亂多亡失。
Zao Ju, courtesy name Daoyan, came from Changshe in Yingchuan. The clan originally bore the surname Ji but changed it generations ago to escape a vendetta. His father Zao Shuwei governed Julu under Wei. Handsome and eloquent, he cut a striking figure at court. At twenty he entered the grand general's bureau, then governed Shanyang county with a solid record. He rose to gentleman of the masters of writing and then assistant director on the right. Jia Chong drafted him as middle staff officer for the Wu campaign. After the troops came home he served successively as gentleman at the Yellow Gates, Ji provincial inspector, and junior mentor to the heir apparent. He died during Taikang in his early fifties. Forty-five poems, rhapsodies, and essays bore his name; most vanished in the wars.
26
子腆，字玄方，亦以文章顯。 永嘉中為襄城太守。 弟嵩，字台產，才藝尤美，為太子中庶子、散騎常侍，為石勒所殺。
His son Zao Tian, courtesy name Xuanfang, likewise won fame as a writer. During Yongjia he governed Xiangcheng commandery. His brother Zao Song, courtesy name Taichan, combined literary and artistic gifts; he served as junior mentor and cavalier attendant-in-ordinary until Shi Le had him executed.
27
褚陶
Chu Tao
28
褚陶，字季雅，吳郡錢塘人也。 弱不好弄，少而聰慧，清淡閑默，以墳典自娛。 年十三，作《鷗鳥》、《水磑》二賦，見者奇之。 陶嘗謂所親曰：「聖賢備在黃卷中，舍此何求！」 州郡辟，不就。 吳平，召補尚書郎。 張華見之，謂陸機曰：「君兄弟龍躍雲津，顧彥先鳳鳴朝陽，謂東南之寶已盡，不意復見褚生。」 機曰：「公但未睹不鳴不躍者耳。」 華曰：「故知延州之德不孤，川嶽之寶不匱矣。」 遷九真太守，轉中尉。 年五十五卒。
Chu Tao, courtesy name Jiya, came from Qiantang in Wu commandery. Even as a boy he shunned rough games; precocious and reflective, he preferred quiet study of the classical corpus. At thirteen he wrote the rhapsodies "Gulls" and "The Water Mill," astonishing everyone who read them. He told friends, "Everything worth knowing sits between yellow covers—what else is there to chase?" Provincial posts came calling; he declined them all. After Wu surrendered he was appointed gentleman of the masters of writing. Zhang Hua told Lu Ji, "Your clan springs like dragons across the cloudy ford; Gu Yanxian sings like the phoenix at dawn—I assumed the southeast had spent every jewel of talent, then Chu Tao appeared." Lu Ji replied, "You simply have not met everyone who keeps silent and still." Zhang Hua answered, "So virtue like Ji Zha's need not stand alone; every river and peak still hides treasure." Chu later governed Jiuzhen before becoming metropolitan commandant. He died at fifty-five.
29
王沉
Wang Chen
30
王沉，字彥伯，高平人也。 少有俊才，出於寒素，不能隨俗沈浮，為時豪所抑。 仕郡文學掾，鬱鬱不得志，乃作《釋時論》，其辭曰：
Wang Chen, courtesy name Yanbo, came from Gaoping. Gifted but from an obscure house, he refused to curry favor with great families and paid for it in obscurity. He held only the minor post of instructor to his commandery and, bitterly frustrated, wrote "On Explaining Our Times," which opens:
31
是時王政陵遲，官才失實，君子多退而窮處，遂終於里閭。
Royal government had slackened; offices went to mediocrities; men of worth withdrew to rustic lanes and died unheard.
32
元康初，松滋令吳郡蔡洪字叔開，有才名，作《孤奮論》，與《釋時》意同，讀之者莫不歎息焉。
Early in Yuankang Cai Hong of Wu—magistrate of Songzi, courtesy name Shukai—won fame for "Discourse on Relentless Effort," echoing Wang's themes and drawing sighs from every reader.
33
張翰
Zhang Han
34
張翰，字季鷹，吳郡吳人也。 父儼，吳大鴻臚。 翰有清才，善屬文，而縱任不拘，時人號為「江東步兵。」 會稽賀循赴命入洛，經吳閶門，於船中彈琴。 翰初不相識，乃就循言譚，便大相欽悅。 問循，知其入洛，翰曰：「吾亦有事北京。」 便同載即去，而不告家人。 齊王冏辟為大司馬東曹掾。 冏時執權，翰謂同郡顧榮曰：「天下紛紛，禍難未已。 夫有四海之名者，求退良難。 吾本山林間人，無望于時。 子善以明防前，以智慮後。」 榮執其手，愴然曰：「吾亦與子采南山蕨，飲三江水耳。」 翰因見秋風起，乃思吳中菰菜、蓴羹、鱸魚膾，曰：「人生貴得適志，何能羈宦數千里以要名爵乎！」 遂命駕而歸。 著《首丘賦》，文多不載。 俄而冏敗，人皆謂之見機。 然府以其輒去，除吏名。 翰任心自適，不求當世。 或謂之曰：「卿乃可縱適一時，獨不為身後名邪？」 答曰：「使我有身後名，不如即時一杯酒。」 時人貴其曠達。 性至孝，遭母憂，哀毀過禮。 年五十七卒。 其文筆數十篇行於世。
Zhang Han, courtesy name Jiying, came from Wu county in Wu commandery. His father Zhang Yan had served Wu as grand herald. His prose was lucid and his habits bohemian; contemporaries nicknamed him "Wu Kingdom's Infantry Captain" —alluding to Ruan Ji. One day He Xun of Kuaiji traveled to Luoyang under summons; mooring at Wu's Chang Gate he played his lute on board. Zhang did not know him at first but stepped aboard to talk and found an instant soulmate. Learning that He was bound for the capital, Zhang said, "I have errands in the north as well." They shared a carriage and vanished without a word to kin. Sima Jiong, Prince of Qi, appointed him clerk in the grand marshal's eastern bureau. While Sima Jiong dominated court, Zhang warned fellow Wu native Gu Rong, "The realm boils and the killing is not over. Renown across the empire makes retreat almost impossible. I belong among hills and streams, not this court. You read trouble coming and plan what follows—skills I lack." Gu seized his hand and said sadly, "I would gladly pick ferns on South Mountain with you and drink only river water." When autumn wind rose he craved Wu water-shield soup, wild rice, and sliced perch. "Life is too short to chain yourself a thousand miles from home for a hollow title!" He ordered his carriage and rode east that same day. He wrote "Rhapsody on the Hill of Home" (largely omitted here). When Sima Jiong fell soon afterward everyone called Zhang prescient. The ministry nevertheless struck him from the rolls for desertion. He followed his mood and cared nothing for reputation among his peers. Someone asked, "You indulge the moment—have you no thought for how posterity will judge you?" "I'd trade any posthumous fame for another cup of wine tonight." His candor passed for profundity in that cynical age. Deeply filial, he mourned his mother past what ritual allowed. He died at fifty-seven. Several dozen essays and poems survived him.
35
庾闡
Yu Chan
36
庾闡，字仲初，潁川鄢陵人也。 祖輝，安北長史。 父東，以勇力聞。 武帝時，有西域健胡趫捷無敵，晉人莫敢與校。 帝募勇士，惟東應選，遂撲殺之，名震殊俗。 闡好學，九歲能屬文。 少隨舅孫氏過江。 母隨兄肇為樂安長史，在項城。 永嘉末，為石勒所陷，闡母亦沒。 闡不櫛沐，不婚宦，絕酒肉，垂二十年，鄉親稱之。 州舉秀才，元帝為晉王，辟之，皆不行。 後為太宰、西陽王羕掾，累遷尚書郎。 蘇峻之難，闡出奔郗鑒，為司空參軍。 峻平，以功賜爵吉陽縣男，拜彭城內史。 鑒復請為從事中郎。 尋召為散騎侍郎，領大著作。 頃之，出補零陵太守，入湘川，吊賈誼。 其辭曰：
Yu Chan, courtesy name Zhongchu, hailed from Yanling in Yingchuan. His grandfather Yu Hui had served as chief clerk on the staff of the general who guards the north. His father Yu Dong was famed for raw strength. Under Emperor Wu a Western Regions wrestler appeared whom no Jin challenger could best. The throne sought brawlers; Yu Dong alone volunteered and threw the man dead—his fame echoed beyond the frontier. Yu Chan loved books and composed polished essays at nine. As a youth he crossed the Yangzi with his mother's Sun kin. His mother lived with her brother in Xiangcheng while he served as chief clerk in Le'an. When Shi Le stormed the city at the close of Yongjia, Yu's mother died in the sack. For nearly twenty years he neither groomed nor married, touched neither meat nor wine—neighbors admired his devotion. The province ranked him as elite scholar and Prince Yuan-di twice offered posts—Yu refused each summons. He later joined the staff of Sima Yi, Prince of Xiyang and grand marshal, and rose to gentleman of the masters of writing. When Su Jun seized the capital Yu fled to Xi Jian and served as adjutant on the minister of works' staff. After Su Jun fell Yu earned a barony at Jiyang and appointment as governor of Pengcheng. Xi Jian again named him middle staff officer. Soon he became cavalier gentleman-attendant and headed the imperial editorial office. He then posted out as prefect of Lingling and traveled the Xiang lands to mourn Jia Yi. The piece begins:
37
後以疾，徵拜給事中，復領著作。 吳國內史虞潭為太伯立碑，闡制其文。 又作《揚都賦》，為世所重。 年五十四卒，諡曰貞，所著詩賦銘頌十卷行於世。
Ill health later brought him back to court as palace attendant while he again directed the history office. When Yu Tan, interior governor of Wu, raised a monument to Taibo, Yu Chan drafted the inscription. His "Rhapsody on the Yang Capital" enjoyed enormous esteem. He died at fifty-four with the posthumous epithet "Steadfast"; ten fascicles of verse, rhapsodies, and commemorative prose survive.
38
子肅之，亦有文藻著稱，歷給事中、相府記室、湘東太守。 太元中卒。
His son Yu Suzhi inherited literary fame, serving as palace attendant, chief recorder on the minister's staff, and governor of Xiangdong. He died during the Taiyuan reign.
39
曹毗
Cao Pi
40
曹毗，字輔佐，譙國人也。 高祖休，魏大司馬。 父識，右軍將軍。 毗少好文籍，善屬詞賦。 郡察孝廉，除郎中，蔡謨舉為佐著作郎。 父憂去職。 服闋，遷句章令，徵拜太學博士。 時桂陽張碩為神女杜蘭香所降，毗因以二篇詩嘲之，並續蘭香歌詩十篇，甚有文彩。 又著《揚都賦》，亞於庾闡。 累遷尚書郎、鎮軍大將軍從事中郎、下邳太守。 以名位不至，著《對儒》以自釋。 其辭曰：
Cao Pi, courtesy name Fuzuo, came from Qiao commandery. His ancestor Cao Xiu had been Wei grand marshal. His father Cao Shi commanded the right army. Youthful bookworm and polished rhapsodist, he excelled at verse. His commandery nominated him as filial and honest; after appointment as court gentleman Cai Mo sponsored him as assistant compiler. He resigned to mourn his father. After the mourning period he governed Gouzhang county and was summoned as erudite of the Imperial Academy. When Zhang Shuo of Guiyang claimed trysts with the goddess Du Lanxiang, Cao answered with two satirical poems and ten sequels to her songs—all dazzlingly wrought. His "Rhapsody on the Yang Capital" ranked just below Yu Chan's celebrated version. He rose through gentleman of the masters of writing, staff officer to the garrisoning general, and governor of Xiapi. Frustrated at stalled promotion he wrote "Reply to the Scholars" to justify his choices. It opens:
41
累遷至光祿勳，卒。 凡所著文筆十五卷，傳於世。
He rose to minister of the imperial household and died in office. Fifteen fascicles of prose and verse circulated after him.
42
李充
Li Chong
43
李充，字弘度，江夏人。 父矩，江州刺史。 充少孤，其父墓中柏樹嘗為盜賊所斫，充手刃之，由是知名。 善楷書，妙參鐘索，世咸重之。 辟丞相王導掾，轉記室參軍。 幼好刑名之學，深抑虛浮之士，嘗著《學箴》，稱：
Li Chong, courtesy name Hongdu, was a native of Jiangxia. His father Li Ju governed Jiang province as inspector. Orphaned young, he tracked down the bandits who had vandalized his father's tomb and slew them with his own blade—news that spread his reputation. His regular script rivaled Zhong Yao and Suo Jing—calligraphers everywhere prized his hand. Wang Dao brought him onto the chancellor's staff; he then became recorder-adjutant. From youth he studied legalist doctrine and scorned fashionable emptiness; his "Admonition on Learning" declares:
44
征北將軍褚裒又引為參軍，充以家貧，苦求外出，裒將許之為縣，試問之，充曰：「窮猿投林，豈暇擇木！」 乃除縣令，遭母憂。 服闋，為大著作郎。
Chu Pou of the northern expedition force tried to keep him as adjutant; desperate household finances drove Li to beg a provincial post. When Chu offered a county and asked which he preferred, Li replied, "A hunted ape dives into the forest—there is no leisure to pick the tree!" Chu named him county magistrate; his mother died soon after. After mourning he directed the imperial library as chief compiler.
45
于時典籍混亂，充刪除煩重，以類相從，分作四部，甚有條貫，秘閣以為永制。 累遷中書侍郎，卒官。 充注《尚書》及《周易旨》六篇、《釋莊論》上下二篇、詩賦表頌等雜文二百四十首，行於世。
Court archives were chaos until Li pruned duplicates, grouped texts by subject, and established the four divisions still used in the palace library. He rose to gentleman of the palace secretariat and died in harness. His corpus includes commentary on the Documents, six essays on the Changes, two treatises on Zhuangzi, and two hundred forty poems, rhapsodies, and state papers.
46
子顒，亦有文義，多所述作，郡舉孝廉。
His son Li Yong inherited literary gifts and won nomination as filial and honest.
47
充從兄式，以平隱著稱，善楷隸。 中興初，仕至侍中。
His cousin Li Shi was noted for quiet integrity and mastery of clerical calligraphy. Early in the Eastern Jin revival he rose to palace attendant.
48
袁宏
Yuan Hong
49
袁宏，字彥伯，侍中猷之孫也。 父勖，臨汝令。 宏有逸才，文章絕美，曾為詠史詩，是其風情所寄。 少孤貧，以運租自業。 謝尚時鎮牛渚，秋夜乘月，率爾與左右微服泛江。 會宏在舫中諷詠，聲既清會，辭又藻拔，遂駐聽久之，遣問焉。 答云：「是袁臨汝郎誦詩。」 即其詠史之作也。 尚傾率有勝致，即迎升舟，與之譚論，申旦不寐，自此名譽日茂。 尚為安西將軍、豫州刺史，引宏參其軍事。 累遷大司馬桓溫府記室。 溫重其文筆，專綜書記。 後為《東征賦》，賦末列稱過江諸名德，而獨不載桓彝。 時伏滔先在溫府，又與宏善，苦諫之。 宏笑而不答。 溫知之甚忿，而憚宏一時文宗，不欲令人顯問。 後游青山飲歸，命宏同載，眾為之懼。 行數里，問宏云：「聞君作《東征賦》，多稱先賢，何故不及家君？」 宏答曰：「尊公稱謂非下官敢專，既未遑啟，不敢顯之耳。」 溫疑不實，乃曰：「君欲為何辭？」 宏即答云：「風鑒散朗，或搜或引，身雖可亡，道不可隕，宣城之節，信義為允也。」 溫泫然而止。 宏賦又不及陶侃，侃子胡奴嘗于曲室抽刃問宏曰：「家君勳跡如此，君賦云何相忽？」 宏窘急，答曰：「我已盛述尊公，何乃言無？」 因曰：「精金百汰，在割能斷，功以濟時，職思靜亂，長沙之勳，為史所贊。」 胡奴乃止。
Yuan Hong, courtesy name Yanbo, was grandson of the palace attendant Yuan You. His father Yuan Xu governed Linru county. Brilliant and restless, his prose gleamed; his poems on historical themes caught his deepest moods. Orphaned and destitute, he earned his rice ferrying tax grain. While Xie Shang commanded Niuzhu he slipped onto the river one moonlit autumn night with a handful of companions in disguise. Yuan Hong's boat drifted past; his voice rang clear and his lines gleamed—Xie ordered the boat stopped and sent men to learn who sang. They answered, "The magistrate of Linru's son is chanting verse." Those were his poems on history. Delighted by Yuan's spontaneity, Xie invited him aboard and talked until dawn—overnight Yuan's reputation bloomed. When Xie became general who pacifies the west and inspector of Yu he named Yuan military adviser. He rose to chief recorder on Grand Marshal Huan Wen's staff. Huan prized his pen and gave him sole charge of correspondence. His "Rhapsody on the Eastern Expedition" praised every eminent migrant minister—but omitted Huan Yi. Fu Tao, already on Huan's staff and friendly with Yuan, pleaded with him to add Huan Yi. Yuan smiled and said nothing. Huan seethed yet hesitated to confront the era's literary arbiter openly. Later, riding home drunk from Green Mountain, Huan insisted Yuan share his carriage—onlookers trembled for him. After a few miles Huan asked, "Your rhapsody praises every worthy—why omit my father?" Yuan answered, "Addressing so exalted a patronage is not mine to decide lightly—without your instruction I dared not presume." Unconvinced, Huan snapped, "Supply the line now." Yuan improvised: "Far-sighted and forthright, now recruiting now guiding—life may end yet principle endures; Xuancheng's steadfast honor rings true as justice." Huan's eyes filled; he said no more. The rhapsody also snubbed Tao Kan—whose son Hunu cornered Yuan in a side room with a knife: "My father's deeds tower—why erase him?" Flustered, Yuan protested, "I praised him lavishly—how can you say he is missing?" He extemporized: "Metal refined through countless heats cuts clean—his service steadied the age and stilled rebellion; historians hymn the Duke of Changsha's feats." Hunu lowered the blade.
50
後為《三國名臣頌》曰：
He later compiled "Eulogies for Three Kingdoms Ministers," opening:
51
從桓溫北征，作《北征賦》，皆其文之高者。 嘗與王珣、伏滔同在溫坐，溫令滔讀其《北征賦》，至「聞所傳于相傳，雲獲麟於此野，誕靈物以瑞德，奚授體于虞者！ 疚尼父之洞泣，似實慟而非假。 豈一性之足傷，乃致傷於天下」，其本至此便改韻。 珣云：「此賦方傳千載，無容率耳。 今於'天下'之後，移韻徙事，然於寫送之致，似為未盡。」 滔云：「得益寫韻一句，或為小勝。」 溫曰：「卿思益之。」 宏應聲答曰：「感不絕于餘心，愬流風而獨寫。」 珣誦味久之，謂滔曰：「當今文章之美，故當共推此生。」
His northern campaign with Huan Wen produced the "Northern Expedition Rhapsody"—among his loftiest pieces. Once Wang Xun, Fu Tao, and Yuan joined Huan Wen; Huan had Fu read the "Northern Expedition" aloud until the passage: "Tradition upon tradition tells how the unicorn was taken in this field—the spirit beast appeared as an omen of virtue—why should Heaven lend its form to the house of Yu? Confucius wept from the marrow—it was grief unfeigned, not theater. Not one man's fate alone was mourned—Heaven itself seemed to grieve"; at that turn Yuan shifted rhyme." Wang Xun said, "This piece must endure centuries—you cannot shift rhyme carelessly. Moving the rhyme after 'All under Heaven' breaks the emotional arc—the closure still feels abrupt." Fu Tao added, "One extra bridging couplet might salvage the transition." Huan said, "Then improve it." Yuan shot back, "Gratitude lingers in the heart—I chase that lingering breeze and set it down alone." Wang savored the new lines and told Fu Tao, "Among living stylists we must rank him first."
52
性強正亮直，雖被溫禮遇，至於辯論，每不阿屈，故榮任不至。 與伏滔同在溫府，府中呼為「袁伏」。 宏心恥之，每歎曰：「公之厚恩未優國士，而與滔比肩，何辱之甚。」
Blunt and upright, he never flattered Huan in debate—so he never won high office. Staff paired him with Fu Tao as "Yuan and Fu." Yuan burned with shame: "Huan honors me no higher than a confidant yet pairs me with Fu Tao—insufferable."
53
謝安常賞其機對辯速。 後安為揚州刺史，宏自吏部郎出為東陽郡，乃祖道於冶亭。 時賢皆集，安欲以卒迫試之，臨別執其手，顧就左右取一扇而授之曰：「聊以贈行。」 宏應聲答曰：「輒當奉揚仁風，慰彼黎庶。」 時人歎其率而能要焉。
Xie An loved his quick wit in debate. When Xie An governed Yangzhou, Yuan left the personnel ministry for Dongyang; friends saw him off at the Smelting Pavilion. Notables gathered; Xie meant to test Yuan under pressure—at farewell he pressed a fan into Yuan's hand as a parting gift." Yuan answered instantly, "I shall fan benevolent breeze over the common folk." Listeners marveled that wit so quick could stay apt.
54
宏見漢時傅毅作《顯宗頌》，辭甚典雅，乃作頌九章，頌簡文之德，上之于孝武。
Recalling Fu Yi's stately "Hymn for Emperor Ming," Yuan composed nine chapters honoring Emperor Jianwen and presented them to Xiaowu.
55
太元初，卒于東陽，時年四十九。 撰《後漢紀》三十卷及《竹林名士傳》三卷、詩賦誄表等雜文凡三百首，傳於世。
He died at Dongyang early in Taiyuan, aged forty-nine. He left thirty rolls of Later Han annals, three of Bamboo Grove worthies, and three hundred assorted poems, rhapsodies, and state papers.
56
三子：長超子，次成子，次明子。 明子有父風，最知名，官至臨賀太守。
His sons were Yuan Chaozi, Yuan Chengzi, and Yuan Mingzi. Yuan Mingzi alone matched his father's fame, rising to governor of Linhe.
57
伏滔
Fu Tao
58
伏滔，字玄度，平昌安丘人也。 有才學，少知名。 州舉秀才，辟別駕，皆不就。 大司馬桓溫引為參軍，深加禮接，每宴集之所，必命滔同遊。 從溫伐袁真，至壽陽，以淮南屢叛，著論二篇，名曰《正淮》。 其上篇曰：
Fu Tao, courtesy name Xuandu, came from Anqiu in Pingchang. Gifted and learned, he won notice while young. The province ranked him as elite scholar and summoned him as adjunct administrator—he declined both offers. Grand Marshal Huan Wen named him adjutant and showered him with favor—every banquet required Fu Tao at his side. During the expedition against Yuan Zhen he penned two essays called "Setting Huainan Right" after repeated rebellion south of the Huai. The upper essay opens:
59
其下篇曰：
The lower essay opens:
60
壽陽平，以功封聞喜縣侯，除永世令。 溫薨，征西將軍桓豁引為參軍，領華容令。 太元中，拜著作郎，專掌國史，領本州大中正。 孝武帝嘗會於西堂，滔豫坐，還，下車先呼子系之謂曰：「百人高會，天子先問伏滔在坐不，此故未易得。 為人作父如此，定何如也？」 遷遊擊將軍，著作如故。 卒官。
After Shouyang fell he earned the Wenxi county marquisate and magistracy of Yongshi. Huan Wen's death transferred him to General Huan Huo's western headquarters as adjutant and concurrent magistrate of Huarong. Under Taiyuan he became gentleman compiler in charge of national history while ranking officials for his native province. Once Emperor Xiaowu held court in the western hall; Fu Tao attended. Home again he shouted for his son Xizhi: "A banquet of a hundred lords—and the emperor asks first whether Fu Tao came: few fathers earn such pride. What father could wish for more?" He became general of agile strikes while keeping his compiler's duties. He died in office.
61
子系之，亦有文才，歷黃門郎、侍中、尚書、光祿大夫。
Fu Xizhi inherited literary gifts, rising through gentleman at the Yellow Gates, palace attendant, minister of the masters of writing, and household grandee.
62
羅含
Luo Han
63
羅含，字君章，桂陽耒陽人也。 曾祖彥，臨海太守。 父綏，滎陽太守。 含幼孤，為叔母硃氏所養。 少有志尚，嘗晝臥，夢一鳥文彩異常，飛入口中，因驚起說之。 硃氏曰：「鳥有文彩，汝後必有文章。」 自此後藻思日新。 弱冠，州三辟，不就。 含父嘗宰新淦，新淦人楊羨後為含州將，引含為主簿，含傲然不顧，羨招致不已，辭不獲而就焉。 及羨去職，含送之到縣。 新淦人以含舊宰之子，咸致賂遺，含難違而受之。 及歸，悉封置而去。 由是遠近推服焉。 後為郡功曹，刺史庾亮以為部江夏從事。 太守謝尚與含為方外之好，乃稱曰：「羅君章可謂湘中之琳琅。」 尋轉州主簿。 後桓溫臨州，又補征西參軍。 溫嘗使含詣尚，有所檢劾。 含至，不問郡事，與尚累日酣飲而還。 溫問所劾事，含曰：「公謂尚何如人？」 溫曰：「勝我也。」 含曰：「豈有勝公而行非邪！ 故一無所問。」 溫奇其意而不責焉。 轉州別駕。 以廨舍喧擾，于城西池小洲上立茅屋，伐木為材，織葦為席而居，布衣蔬食，晏如也。 溫嘗與僚屬宴會，含後至。 溫問眾坐曰：「此何如人？」 或曰：「可謂荊楚之材。」 溫曰：「此自江左之秀，豈惟荊楚而已。」 徵為尚書郎。 溫雅重其才，又表轉征西戶曹參軍。 俄遷宜都太守。 及溫封南郡公，引為郎中令。 尋征正員郎，累遷散騎常侍、侍中，仍轉廷尉、長沙相。 年老致仕，加中散大夫，門施行馬。 初，含在官舍，有一白雀棲集堂宇，及致仕還家，階庭忽蘭菊叢生，以為德行之感焉。 年七十七卒，所著文章行於世。
Luo Han, courtesy name Junzhang, came from Leiyang in Guiyang commandery. His great-grandfather had governed Linhai. His father Luo Sui governed Xingyang. Orphaned young, he was raised by his aunt surnamed Zhu. Ambitious even as a boy, he dreamed a brilliant bird flew into his mouth—he woke breathless and told his aunt. She said, "Colored feathers mean you will write brilliantly." From that day his lines grew steadily finer. At twenty the provincial office summoned him thrice; he refused. His father had governed Xin'gan; when local commander Yang Xian pressed him into chief clerk, Luo refused until persistence left him no graceful exit. When Yang left office Luo escorted him clear to the county seat. Locals showered the former prefect's son with gifts; Luo reluctantly accepted. On returning home he resealed every parcel untouched. Neighbors far and wide applauded his integrity. He served as merit clerk until Inspector Yu Liang named him aide for Jiangxia affairs. Prefect Xie Shang, fast friends beyond ceremony, called him "the brightest jewel south of the Xiang." Soon he advanced to provincial chief clerk. When Huan Wen took the province Luo joined his western headquarters as adjutant. Huan once dispatched Luo to audit Xie Shang. Luo ignored paperwork and spent days drinking with Xie before heading home. Huan demanded findings; Luo asked, "What do you think of Xie Shang?" "He surpasses me," said Huan." "Would your better deserve impeachment? So I filed nothing." Huan admired the wit and dropped the matter. He became provincial adjunct administrator. Office bustle drove him to a reed hut on an islet west of town—timber frame, woven mats, coarse clothes and greens—yet utterly content. Once Huan Wen feasted his staff; Luo arrived late. Huan asked the table, "What manner of man is this?" Someone answered, "Among Jing-Chu's best." Huan replied, "He stands among the finest east of the Yangzi—not merely Chu." The court summoned him as gentleman of the masters of writing. Huan Wen respected his gifts and transferred him to revenue adjutant on the western staff. Soon he governed Yidu commandery. When Huan became Duke of Nanjun Luo served as his palace majordomo. He moved up through regular gentleman, cavalier attendant-in-ordinary, palace attendant, minister of justice, and finally chief minister to the Prince of Changsha. Retiring with age, he received the grand master of palace leisure title and the honor of carriage stakes before his gate. A white finch once nested on his office eaves; after retirement orchids and chrysanthemums sprouted unbidden in his courtyard—omens of virtue, people said. He died at seventy-seven; his essays stayed in circulation.
64
顧愷之
Gu Kaizhi
65
顧愷之，字長康，晉陵無錫人也。 父悅之，尚書左丞。 愷之博學有才氣，嘗為《箏賦》成，謂人曰：「吾賦之比嵇康琴，不賞者必以後出相遺，深識者亦當以高奇見貴。」 桓溫引為大司馬參軍，甚見親昵。 溫薨後，愷之拜溫墓，賦詩云：「山崩溟海竭，魚鳥將何依！」 或問之曰：「卿憑重桓公乃爾，哭狀其可見乎？」 答曰：「聲如震雷破山，淚如傾河注海。」 愷之好諧謔，人多愛狎之。 後為殷仲堪參軍，亦深被眷接。 仲堪在荊州，愷之嘗因假還，仲堪特以布帆借之，至破塚，遭風大敗。 愷之與仲堪箋曰：「地名破塚，真破塚而出。 行人安穩，布帆無恙。」 還至荊州，人問以會稽山川之狀。 愷之云：「千岩競秀，萬壑爭流。 草木蒙籠，若雲興霞蔚。」 桓玄時與愷之同在仲堪坐，共作了語。 愷之先曰：「火燒平原無遺燎。」 玄曰：「白布纏根樹旒旐。」 仲堪曰：「投魚深泉放飛鳥。」 復作危語。 玄曰：「矛頭淅米劍頭炊。」 仲堪曰：「百歲老翁攀枯枝。」 有一參軍云：「盲人騎瞎馬臨深池。」 仲堪眇目，驚曰：「此太逼人！」 因罷。 愷之每食甘蔗，恆自尾至本。 人或怪之，云：「漸入佳境。」
Gu Kaizhi, courtesy name Changkang, came from Wuxi in Jinling commandery. His father Gu Yuezhi served as left aide to the masters of writing. Learned and spirited, he finished his "Rhapsody on the Zither" and declared, "Critics will dismiss it as derivative next to Ji Kang's qin pieces; true judges will prize its strangeness and height." Huan Wen named him grand marshal adjutant and treated him almost as family. At Huan Wen's tomb he mourned in verse: "Mountains fall and seas run dry—where shall fish and birds turn?" Someone asked whether grief for Huan Wen showed on his face." "Thunder splitting cliffs and a river pouring into the sea," he said." Fond of wit, he was everyone's favorite companion. Later Yin Zhongkan prized him equally as military adviser. While Yin governed Jingzhou Gu borrowed cloth sails for leave home; at Broken Tomb a gale shredded them. He wrote Yin, "The place lives up to its name—we smashed through the grave mound. Travelers are safe and your sails intact." Back in Jingzhou friends asked him to describe Kuaiji's scenery. He answered, "Cliffs beyond counting vie in splendor; streams without number race downhill. Mists braid the foliage like clouds lifting into sunset glow." Once Huan Xuan joined Gu and Yin Zhongkan in a word game of perilous lines. Gu opened: "Wildfire sweeps the plain—nothing left but ash." Huan Xuan answered, "White hemp wraps the roots—mourning banners flutter." Yin said, "Fish tossed into deep pools; birds loosed to the sky." They turned to deadly riddles. Huan said, "Rinse rice on a spearpoint; boil stew on a sword edge." Yin answered, "A hundred-year-old climbs a rotten limb." An aide added, "A blind man on a blind stallion above a deep pool." Yin—half blind—cried, "That cuts too close!" The game ended. Gu always ate sugarcane from the thin tip toward the thick root. Asked why, he smiled, "So sweetness deepens—" entering a finer realm step by step.
66
尤善丹青，圖寫特妙，謝安深重之，以為有蒼生以來未之有也。 愷之每畫人成，或數年不點目精。 人問其故，答曰：「四體妍蚩，本無闕少於妙處，傳神寫照，正在阿堵中。」 嘗悅一鄰女，挑之弗從，乃圖其形於壁，以棘針釘其心，女遂患心痛。 愷之因致其情，女從之，遂密去針而愈。 愷之每重嵇康四言詩，因為之圖，恆云：「手揮五弦易，目送歸鴻難。」 每寫起人形，妙絕于時。 嘗圖裴楷象，頰上加三毛，觀者覺神明殊勝。 又為謝鯤象，在石岩裏，云：「此子宜置丘壑中。」 欲圖殷仲堪，仲堪有目病，固辭。 愷之曰：「明府正為眼耳，若明點瞳子，飛白拂上，使如輕雲之蔽月，豈不美乎！」 仲堪乃從之。 愷之嘗以一廚畫糊題其前，寄桓玄，皆其深所珍惜者。 玄乃發其廚後，竊取畫，而緘閉如舊以還之，紿雲未開。 愷之見封題如初，但失其畫，直雲妙畫通靈，變化而去，亦猶人之登仙，了無怪色。
His brushwork was supreme; Xie An deemed him unmatched since civilization began. Often he left faces unfinished for years—especially the eyes. Asked why, he said, "Limbs matter little for likeness; capturing spirit—that lives in those dots we call eyes." Spurned by a neighbor girl, he painted her on a wall and drove thorns into the breast—she doubled over with chest pain. When he confessed and she yielded, he pulled out the thorns and she healed. He illustrated Ji Kang's quatrains, sighing, "Strumming the five strings is easy—painting the gaze that follows the wild goose is hard." Portraits from his brush had no peer in his day. Three extra hairs on Pei Kai's cheeks brought the likeness eerily alive. He set Xie Kun among cliff rocks, noting, "This man belongs in wild hills." Yin Zhongkan, ashamed of his eyes, refused to sit. Gu insisted, "Precisely those eyes—I'll dot the pupils and veil them with dry strokes like thin clouds crossing the moon." Yin relented. He sealed a chest of his dearest paintings and sent them to Huan Xuan. Huan slit the back, stole the scrolls, resealed the chest, and returned it untouched—or so he claimed. Finding seals intact but paintings gone, Gu declared spirits had spirited them away—as mortals ascend to immortality—without blinking.
67
愷之矜伐過實，少年因相稱譽以為戲弄。 又為吟詠，自謂得先賢風制。 或請其作洛生詠，答曰：「何至作老婢聲！」 義熙初，為散騎常侍，與謝瞻連省，夜於月下長詠，瞻每遙贊之，愷之彌自力忘倦。 瞻將眠，令人代己，愷之不覺有異，遂申旦而止。 尤信小術，以為求之必得。 桓玄嘗以一柳葉紿之曰：「此蟬所翳葉也，取以自蔽，人不見己。」 愷之喜，引葉自蔽，玄就溺焉，愷之信其不見己也，甚以珍之。
Youths mocked his boastfulness by showering him with fake praise. His poems aped ancient masters—or so he believed. Asked to chant in the Luoyang accent he sneered, "I won't croak like some Luoyang hag!" Early in Yixi he served as cavalier attendant-in-ordinary alongside Xie Zhan; moonlit nights he declaimed while Xie cheered from afar until dawn unaware of fatigue. When Xie slipped off to bed he left a stand-in applauding; Gu never noticed and kept reciting until sunrise. He dabbled in petty magic and trusted every charm. Huan Xuan once handed him a willow leaf: "Cicadas hide beneath this—hold it and vanish from sight." Gu hid his eyes with it while Huan relieved himself; Gu believed no one could see him and prized the leaf.
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初，愷之在桓溫府，常云：「愷之體中癡黠各半，合而論之，正得平耳。」 故俗傳愷之有三絕：才絕，畫絕，癡絕。 年六十二，卒於官，所著文集及《啟䑃記》行於世。
Serving Huan Wen he used to say, "Half my nature is foolish, half clever—average them and you get mediocrity." Hence people say Gu Kaizhi had three supreme gifts—genius, brushwork, and glorious folly. He died in office at sixty-two; his literary collection and "Notes on Awakening the Veil" circulated widely.
69
郭澄之
Guo Chengshi
70
郭澄之，字仲靜，太原陽曲人也。 少有才思，機敏兼人。 調補尚書郎，出為南康相。 值盧循作逆，流離僅得還都。 劉裕引為相國參軍。 從裕北伐，既克長安，裕意更欲西伐，集僚屬議之，多不同。 次問澄之，澄之不答，西向誦王粲詩曰：「南登霸陵岸，回首望長安。」 裕便意定，謂澄之曰：「當與卿共登霸陵岸耳。」 因還。
Guo Chengshi, courtesy name Zhongjing, hailed from Yangqu in Taiyuan. Quick-witted from youth, he outpaced peers. He transferred to gentleman of the masters of writing, then became chief minister to the Prince of Nankang. Lu Xun's rebellion uprooted him; he barely escaped back to the capital. Liu Yu enlisted him as adjutant to the minister of state. On Liu Yu's northern campaign, after Chang'an fell Liu wished to push west; his staff mostly demurred. Asked next, Guo remained silent, then faced west and recited Wang Can: "Climbing Baling southward I turned toward Chang'an." Liu Yu understood: "Then we climb Baling together—no farther west." He abandoned the western march.
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澄之位至裕相國從事中郎，封南豐侯，卒於官，所著文集行於世。
He rose to middle staff officer under Liu Yu's ministerate, received the Nanfeng marquisate, died in harness, and left a literary collection.
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史評
Historians' Appraisal
73
史臣曰：夫賞好生於情，剛柔本於性，情之所適，發乎詠歌，而感召無象，風律殊制。 至於應貞宴射之文，極形言之美，華林群藻罕或疇之。 子安幼標明敏，少蓄清思，懷天地之寥廓，賦辭人之所遺，特構新情，豈常均之所企！ 太沖含豪曆載，以賦《三都》，士安見而稱善，平原睹而韜翰，匪惟高步當年，故以騰華終古。 鄒湛之持論，棗據之緣情，實南陽之人傑，蓋潁川之時秀。 季雅摛屬遒邁，夙備成德，稱為泉岱之珍，固其然矣。 彥伯未能混跡光塵，而屈乎卑位，《釋時》宏論，亦足見其志耳。 季鷹縱誕一時，不邀名爵，《黃花》之什，浚發神府。 仲初之文，風流可尚，擢秀士林，《揚都》之美，尤重時彥。 曹毗沈研秘笈，踠足下僚，綺靡降神之歌，朗暢《對儒》之論。 李充之《學箴》，信清壯也。 袁宏《東征》、《名臣》之作，抑潘陸之亞。 玄度學藝優瞻，筆削擅奇，降帝問於西堂，故其榮觀也。 君章耀湘中之寶，挺荊楚之材，夢鳥發乎精誠，豈獨日者之蛟鳳！ 長康矜能過實，譚諧取容，而才多逸氣，故有三絕之目。 仲靜機思通敏，延譽清流，德輿西伐之計，取定於微指者矣。
The historians write: Taste springs from disposition, tone from temperament; feeling seeks outlet in song, yet resonance follows no fixed image and prosody admits endless forms. Ying Zhen's verses from the Hualin archery banquet exhaust the splendor of language—few poems from that grove rival them. Cheng Gongshui showed brilliance young; brooding on cosmos-wide themes he reclaimed what lesser poets discarded—inventions beyond ordinary ambition. Zuo Si nursed his "Three Capitals" for ages; Huangfu Mi praised it and Lu Ji laid down his brush—not merely foremost in his day but luminous for all time. Zou Zhan's essays and Zao Ju's lyric passion crown Nanyang and Yingchuan alike. Chu Tao's prose strides boldly; ripened early in virtue, hailed as treasure beside sacred springs and Taishan—deservedly so. Wang Chen never blended with the powerful yet languished lowly; his "Discourse on Our Times" reveals his mind. Zhang Han frolicked outside convention, spurning titles; his "Yellow Blossom" poems unlock the soul. Yu Chan's polished prose lifts him among writers; his "Yang Capital" rhapsody drew especial praise from contemporaries. Cao Pi plumbed arcane lore despite humble posts; his goddess songs shimmer and his "Reply to the Scholars" rings clear. Li Chong's "Admonition on Learning" is taut and forceful indeed. Yuan Hong's Eastern Expedition and famed-minister eulogies rank beside Pan Yue and Lu Ji. Fu Tao's erudition and editorial genius drew the emperor's queries in the western hall—signal honor. Luo Han gleams as pearl of the Xiang lands; his bird dream sprang from utter sincerity—not mere augury of dragons and phoenixes. Gu Kaizhi overstated his gifts yet charmed every circle; genius and eccentricity earned him the "three supremacies." Guo Chengshi's agile counsel won renown among purists; his subtle quotation decided Liu Yu's western campaign.
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贊曰：爻彖垂法，宮征流音。 美哉群彥，揚蕤翰林。 俱諧振玉，各擅鏘金。 子安、太沖，遒文綺爛。 袁、庾、充、愷，縟藻霞煥。 架彼辭人，共超清貫。
Encomium: The Changes set patterns; pentatonic scales carry tone. How fair these masters, flourishing in literature's grove. Each voice rings like jade, each stroke clangs like bronze. Cheng Gongshui and Zuo Si wield blazing, muscular prose. Yuan, Yu, Li, and Gu weave iridescent, sunset-rich lines. Beside earlier masters they ascend toward lucid perfection.