Qin and Han · Hermit and Scholar

Feng Meng 逢萌

Páng Méng

Attested AD 9 - AD 25

Passages: 10
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

The translated histories identify Feng Meng as a hermit and scholar. This record brings together 10 passages from 1 chapter across 1 history, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Feng Meng	逢萌	Páng Méng
Personal name	Feng Meng	逢萌	Páng Méng
Courtesy name	Zikang	子康	Zǐkāng

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · houhanshu:094:s0048

Roles

Hermit
Scholar

Life and dates

Death

Manner: natural lifespan
Explicit · houhanshu:094:s0066

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 光武即位 · Western Year: AD 25
Explicit · houhanshu:094:s0057
Source Date: Text: 王莽杀其子宇 · Western Year: AD 9
Explicit · houhanshu:094:s0052

Family

Kinship Role: household/family dependents · Count: 2 · Unknown Count: true
Explicit · houhanshu:094:s0054

Career and standing

Label: village headman / 亭长 · Action: held
Explicit · houhanshu:094:s0049

Places and affiliations

Place: Duchang in Beihai / 北海都昌
Explicit · houhanshu:094:s0048
Place: Liaodong / 辽东 · Relation: sojourned-in
Explicit · houhanshu:094:s0054
Place: Mount Lao in Langye / 琅邪劳山 · Relation: resided-at
Explicit · houhanshu:094:s0057

Events and relationships

Relation: friend-of · Person Id: Li Ziyun (李子云)
Explicit · houhanshu:094:s0067
Relation: friend-of · Person Id: Xu Fang (徐房)
Explicit · houhanshu:094:s0067
Relation: friend-of · Person Id: Wang Jungong (王君公)
Explicit · houhanshu:094:s0067

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 94Volume 83: Biographies of Hermits · 10 passages

若薛方、逢萌，聘而不肯至； Xue Fang and Feng Meng were called but would not appear;

逢萌字子康，北海都昌人也。 Feng Meng, styled Zikang, was a native of Duchang in Beihai.

时尉行过亭，萌候迎拜谒，既而掷楯叹曰：“大丈夫安能为人役哉！” When the commandant passed his post, Feng greeted him, then hurled down his station shield and cried, "A grown man cannot be another man's hireling!"

时王莽杀其子宇，萌谓友人曰：“三纲绝矣！ When Wang Mang murdered his own son Yu, Feng told a friend, "The three cardinal ties are cut!

萌素明阴阳，知莽将败，有顷，乃首戴瓦盎，哭于市曰：“新乎新乎！” Feng read the omens: seeing Mang's fall, he soon walked the market with an earthen bowl on his head, wailing, "New! New!"

及光武即位，乃之琅邪劳山，养志修道，人皆化其德。 When Guangwu rose, Feng withdrew to Mount Lao in Langye, nursed his purpose, and won every neighbor by his virtue.

北海太守素闻其高，遣吏奉谒致礼，萌不答。 The Beihai prefect, hearing of his fame, sent a clerk with gifts; Feng never replied.

吏叩头曰：“子康大贤，天下共闻，所在之处，人敬如父，往必不获，只自毁辱。” The clerk kowtowed: "All the world honors Zikang as a father—send us and we fail, only earning shame."

行至劳山，人果相率以兵弩捍御。 At Mount Lao the villagers ringed Feng with bows to shield him.

初，萌与同郡徐房、平原李子云、王君公相友善，并晓阴阳，怀德秽行。 Feng had been close to Xu Fang, Li Ziyun, and Wang Jungong—fellow students of yin-yang who prized virtue over reputation.