Ancient China · Hermit

Xu You 許由

Legendary antiquity

Passages: 1
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Xu You was a Hermit.

Life and dates

Attested activity

legendary antiquity
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 126, passage 190

Assessments and attributes

Assessment model recluse looked up to by later scholars · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Dongfang Shuo (東方朔)
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 126, passage 190

Source notes

Value legendary
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 126, passage 190

References in the histories

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 126Biographies of Jesters · 1 passage

今世之處士，時雖不用，崛然獨立，塊然獨處，上觀許由，下察接輿，策同范蠡，忠合子胥，天下和平，與義相扶，寡偶少徒，固其常也。 The recluse scholars of our age, though the times have no use for them, stand tall and solitary, dwelling apart in their grandeur. They look upward to Xu You for inspiration and downward to Jie Yu; their stratagems rival those of Fan Li, and their loyalty matches that of Wu Zixu. The world is at peace, and they sustain themselves through righteousness. That they have few companions and fewer followers — this is simply their lot.