10 08 Eastern Han

Front 1

桓譚
Huan Tan

Back 1

- fl. ca. 30 B.C.-A.D. 41, lived through transition to Eastern Han, greatly admired Yang Xiong (53 B.C.-18 A.D.)
- important works: New Discussions, Xinlun 新論, preface to his “Immortals,” Xian fu 仙賦,
- preface to his “Immortals” is important because it celebrates immediate response to personal experience (which characterizes much of medieval literature)

Front 2

新論
Xinlun, New Discussions

Back 2

- written by Huan Tan 桓譚 (fl. ca. 30 B.C.-A.D. 41), presented to Emperor Guangwu 漢光武帝 (r. 25-57) around A.D. 26
- contains opinions on philosophical, cultural and economic matters

Front 3

班彪
Ban Biao

Back 3

- A.D. 3-54, father of Ban Gu, Ban Chao and Ban Zhao
- wrote poetic account is “The Journey North,” Beizheng fu 北征賦, a poetic account of his journey northwest to seek the patronage of local general Wei Ao (d. 33) in A.D. 25; important because it is a fu of biographical occasion

Front 4

崔駰
Cui Yin

Back 4

- d. A.D. 92, grandson of Cui Zhuan 崔篆 (a scholar who served under Wang Mang 王莽 (r. A.D. 9-23) and wrote “Consoling My Aims” Weizhi fu 慰志賦), famous court writer of late 1st century
- wrote “Restoring the Capital,” Fan du fu 反都賦, a defense of Luoyang with a preface in which a visitor complains about the small size of Luoyang and argues for Chang’an
- other important works: several poetic expositions praising Dou Xian (d. A.D. 92) and “Seven Reliances,” Qiyi 七依 (an imitation of “Seven Stimuli”)

Front 5

馮衍
Feng Yan

Back 5

- fl. ca. A.D. 20-60, prominent figure in rebellions against Wang Mang 王莽 (r. A.D. 9-23), fell out of favor under Emperor Guangwu 漢光武帝 (r. 25-57)
- about A.D. 55, composed “Making My Aims Clear,” Xianzhi fu 顯志賦, which recounts his life of hardship and return to private life; includes long preface to make circumstantial occasion clear

Front 6

志
zhi

Back 6

- “aims”
- theme of poetic expositions, used in titles of fu (ex. Cui Zhuan’s 崔篆 “Consoling My Aims” Weizhi fu 慰志賦 and Feng Yan’s 馮衍 “Making My Aims Clear,” Xianzhi fu 顯志賦) that clearly put the fu in the functional role of poetry

Front 7

詩言志

Back 7

- “poetry articulates aims”

Front 8

杜篤
Du Du

Back 8

- d. A.D. 78, writer of fu
- wrote “On the Capital,” Lun du fu 論都賦 in A.D. 42 to argue for restoring the capital to Chang’an
- “Mount Shouyang,” Shouyang shan fu 首陽山賦 is the first clear example of a poetic exposition that constructs a famous situation in history and lets the characters state their cases

Front 9

論都賦
Lun du fu, "On the Capital"

Back 9

- written by Du Du 杜篤 (d. A.D. 78) in A.D. 42
- argues for restoring the capital (in Luoyang) to Chang’an, straightforward praise of Chang’an’s glories and strategic virtues

Front 10

班固
Ban Gu

Back 10

- A.D. 32-92, family had a long history of service; historian and writer of fu
- initially, desire to complete his father’s planned historical work (Han Shu) led to his arrest, but brother Ban Chao 班超 (A.D. 32－102) intervened, which gained Ban Gu’s project imperial sanction and access to the imperial library
- resulting work was the Han Shu
- other important works: “Two Capitals,” Liangdu fu 兩都賦, “Contact with the Hidden,” Youtong fu 幽通賦, and “Answering a Friend’s Teasing,” Da bin xi 答賓戲
- died in prison after being arrested for his association with Dou Xian 竇憲 (d. A.D. 92)

Front 11

兩都賦
Liangdu fu, "Two Capitals"

Back 11

- written by Ban Gu 班固 (A.D. 32-92), presented to the throne in A.D. 65, during the reign of Emperor Ming (A.D. 58-75)
- dialogue frame (guest from Chang’an and host from Luoyang), praises Luoyang (and the frugal values of the Eastern Hand) over Chang’an (and the material glory of the Western Han)
- includes a preface that places the fu in the “tradition of the ancient Poems” gu Shi zhi liu 古詩之流

Front 12

傅毅
Fu Yi

Back 12

- ca. A.D. 47-92, contemporary of Ban Gu 班固 (A.D. 32-92)
- wrote “The Capital Luoyang,” Luo du fu 洛都賦, which praises Luoyang in the context of the debate on the two capitals (long fragment extant)
- other important works: Dance,”Wu fu 舞賦 (best known work) and “Seven Instigations,” Qiji 七激 (an imitation of “Seven Stimuli”)

Front 13

漢書
Han Shu, Han History

Back 13

- written primarily by Ban Gu 班固 (A.D. 32-92), finished by his sister Ban Zhao 班昭 (ca. A.D. 49-c. A.D. 120)
- history of the Han dynasty, includes biographies and texts of many important Han and pre-Han figures

Front 14

班超
Ban Chao

Back 14

- A.D. 32－102, twin brother of Ban Gu 班固 (A.D. 32-92), famous military man

Front 15

竇憲
Dou Xian

Back 15

- d. A.D. 92, famous general and patron of letters, older brother of Emperor Zhang’s 章帝 (r. 76-88) empress
– association with Dou Xian led to Ban Gu’s 班固 (A.D. 32-92) arrest and death in prison.

Front 16

幽通賦
Youtong fu, "Contact with the Hidden"

Back 16

- written by Ban Gu 班固 (A.D. 32-92) on the occasion of his father’s death, included in Wen Xuan
- recounts the glorious history of his ancestors and how he can never hope to equal them, after which he had a dream in which a spirit gives him a cryptic message to the effect that he will rise to high position if he acts with caution

Front 17

答賓戲
Da bin xi, "Answering a Friend's Teasing"

Back 17

- written by Ban Gu 班固 (A.D. 32-92)
- justifies his scholarly enterprise by explicitly adopting the model of responding to criticism used by Dongfang Shuo 東方朔 (ca. 154-93 B.C.) and Yang Xiong 揚雄 (53 B.C.-18 A.D.)

Front 18

舞賦
Wufu, "The Dance"

Back 18

- best known work of Fu Yi 傅毅 (ca. A.D. 47-92), included in Wen Xuan
- dialogue between Song Yu and the King of Chu in which Song Yu defends a dance performance and entertainment in the tradition; transformation of “stilling the passions” theme

Front 19

班昭
Ban Zhao

Back 19

- ca. A.D. 49-c. A.D. 120, the youngest member of the distinguished Ban family; poet, historian, teacher, and political advisor to Empress Dowager Deng (Emperor He’s empress, A.D. 81-121)
- after brother Ban Gu’s death, complete the “tables,” biao 表, and the “Treatise on Astronomy,” Tianwen zhi 天文志 in the Han Shu (with help of scholar Ma Xu 馬續)
- other important works: “The Journey East,” Dongzheng fu 東征賦 and “Admonitions for Women,” Nüjie 女誡
- collection of her works compiled by her daughter-in-law is the first mention of the compilation of a personal literary collection

Front 20

東征賦
Dongzheng fu, "The Journey East"

Back 20

- A.D. 113, written by Ban Zhao 班昭 (ca. A.D. 49-c. A.D. 120)
- recalls father Ban Biao’s 班彪 (A.D. 3-54) “The Journey North”; on accompanying her son to his post and offers moral lessons

Front 21

王充
Wang Chong

Back 21

- A.D. 27-ca. 100, native of Kuaiji 會稽, NOT a member of a distinguished family; writer
- studied under Ban Biao (A.D. 3-54), but later returned to Kuaji
- wrote the Lunheng 論衡

Front 22

論衡
Lunheng

Back 22

- written by Wang Chong 王充 (A.D. 27-ca. 100)
- plain style, skepticism, and advocacy of common sense set Wang Chong apart from the literary and intellectual culture of Luoyang

Front 23

張衡
Zhang Heng

Back 23

- A.D. 78-139, the major literary figure of the 2nd century
- most famous work was the “Two Metropolises,” Erjing fu 二京賦 (completed around 105)
- rewrote his own versions of many earlier expositions: “Plume Hunt,” Yulie fu 羽獵
賦 (like Yang Xiong), “Dance,” Wu fu 舞賦 (like Fu Yi) , “Seven Distinctions,” Qibian 七辯 (imitation of “Seven Stimuli”)

Front 24

二京賦
Erjing fu, "Two Metropolises"

Back 24

- written by Zhang Heng 張衡 (A.D. 78-139)
- reprise of “Two Capitals” in which instigating and restraining desire are respectively represented by two different capitals.

Front 25

南都賦
Nandu fu, "Southern Capital"

Back 25

- written by Zhang Heng 張衡 (A.D. 78-139)
- innovative representation of a third position in the debate over capital cities; praised Nanyang for being a small city and having a reconciliation of society and nature that sustains the polity

Front 26

思玄賦
Sixuan fu, "Thinking on Mystery"

Back 26

- written by Zhang Heng 張衡 (A.D. 78-139), preserved in Wen Xuan
- own version of the Li Sao, journeys through the heavens and then returns home

Front 27

歸田賦
Guitian fu, "Returning to My Fields"

Back 27

- written by Zhang Heng 張衡 (A.D. 78-139)
- short poetic exposition developing the conclusion of earlier pieces in which writers lamented the hardships of public life and resolved to return home
- according to James Robert Hightower, part of a lineage that led to Tao Qian’s “Return,” Guiqulai ci 歸去來辭

Front 28

歸去來辭
Guiqulai ci, "Return"

Back 28

- written by Tao Qian
- according to James Robert Hightower, part of a lineage that includes Zhang Heng’s 張衡 (A.D. 78-139) “Returning to My Fields,” Guitian fu 歸田賦

Front 29

四愁詩
Sichou shi, "Four Sorrows"

Back 29

- written by Zhang Heng 張衡 (A.D. 78-139)
- lyric, “Chu song” style; places “someone longed for,” suosi 所思, in each of the four
directions, with something blocking access and a love gift sent
- dubious preface in Wen Xuan says that this poem expresses Zhang Heng’s longing for the ruler’s recognition

Front 30

有所思
You suo si, "There is Someone I Long For"

Back 30

- part of the yuefu tradition
- possibly echoed in Zhang Heng’s 張衡 (A.D. 78-139) lyric, “Four Sorrows,” Sichou shi 四愁詩

Front 31

馬融
Ma Rong

Back 31

- A.D. 79-166, member of one of the great families of the Eastern Han, famous scholar of the Classics
- famous literary works: “Ode on Guangcheng Park,” Guangcheng song 廣成頌 (A.D. 115) and “Long Flute,” Changdi fu 長笛賦 (A.D. 126)

Front 32

鄭玄
Zheng Xuan

Back 32

- A.D. 127-200, Classical scholar, taught by Ma Rong 馬融 (A.D. 79-166)
- briefly studied with Ma Rong in the capital, then returned to Shandong
- scholar on The Classic of Poetry and the Classics on rites and a teacher

Front 33

王符
Wang Fu

Back 33

- ca. A.D. 90-167, contemporary of Zhang Heng, Cui Yuan and Ma Rong, not successful in official career
- composed the Discourse of One Who Lives Withdrawn, Qianfu lun 潛夫論

Front 34

潛夫論
Qianfu lun, "Discourse of One Who Lives Withdrawn"

Back 34

- written by Wang Fu 王符 (ca. A.D. 90-167)
- vague continuity of anti-Luoyang literature; similar to Masters’ literature (lengthly discourses on political, ethical and philosophical issues organized under different headings)

Front 35

王逸
Wang Yi

Back 35

- wrote during the Yuanchu 元初 Reign (A.D. 114-120), native of old Chu
- wrote the Chuci zhangju 楚辭章句, on which all modern editions of the Chuci are based, his own “Nine Thoughts,” Jiusi 九思 and commentary

Front 36

楚辭章句
Chuci zhangju

Back 36

- written by Wang Yi 王逸 during the Yuanchu 元初 Reign (A.D. 114-120)
- version of Chuci on which all modern editions are based

Front 37

七
qi, "Seven"

Back 37

- tradition of Mei Sheng’s “Seven Stimuli”
- many fragments from the Eastern Han
*see also 10/6 Western Han

Front 38

魯靈光殿賦
Lu Lingguang dian fu, "The Palace of Numinous Light"

Back 38

- written by Wang Yanshou 王延壽 (ca. 118-138), Wang Yi’s 王逸 son
- canonical piece, included in Wen Xuan, praise of architecture on behalf of the Prince of Lu

Front 39

王延壽
Wang Yanshou

Back 39

- ca. 118-138, Wang Yi’s 王逸 son
- wrote “The Palace of Numinous Light in Lu,” Lu Lingguang dian fu 魯靈光殿賦, “Dream,” Meng fu 夢賦, and the “Wangsun Ape,” Wangsun fu 王孫賦
- his one datable work is a stele inscription (beiwen 碑文) for a cult temple (A.D. 163)

Front 40

蔡邕
Cai Yong

Back 40

- A.D. 132-192, one of the most distinguished literary men of his age, scholar of the Classics, and accomplished calligrapher
- several works written as part of the discourse on calligraphy
- one of the compilers of the Eastern Lodge Account of the Han, Dongguan Hanji 東觀漢記
- wide variety of topics in his compositions shows that the thematic range of poetic exposition was expanding in this period to include more “common” topics

Front 41

嵇康
Xi Kang

Back 41

- A.D. 223-262
- wrote famous “Letter on Breaking Off Friendship With Shan Juyuan,” Yu Shan Juyuan
juejiao shu 與山巨源絕交書

Front 42

趙岐
Zhao Qi

Back 42

- ca. A.D. 108-201, commentator on the Mencius

Front 43

碑文
beiwen

Back 43

- stele inscriptions
- usually consists of two parts: a prose part about the history of a place or life of a person and a (normally) rhymed inscription in the four-syllable line (called ming 銘, song 頌 or ci 詞)

Front 44

趙壹
Zhao Yi

Back 44

- ca. A.D. 130-ca. A.D. 185, first came to the capital in 178, brief celebrity, famous for his unrestrained personality
- most famous works were “Assaulting the Age and Hating Evil,” Cishi jixie fu 刺世疾邪賦, “The Desperate Bird,” Qiongniao fu 窮鳥賦 and the “Anti-Draft Script,” Fei caoshu 非草書

Front 45

刺世疾邪賦
Cishi jixie fu, "Assaulting the Age and Hating Evil"

Back 45

- written by Zhao Yi 趙壹 (ca. A.D. 130-ca. A.D. 185)
- out and out denunciation of the corruption of his age

Front 46

征賦
zhengfu

Back 46

- for example: “An Account of My Journey,” Shuxing fu 述行賦 by Cai Yong 蔡邕 (A.D. 132-192), “The Journey North” by Ban Biao 班彪 (A.D. 3-54) and “The Journey East” by Ban Zhao 班昭 (ca. A.D. 49-c. A.D. 120)

Front 47

東觀漢記
Dongguan Hanji, Eastern Lodge Account of the Han

Back 47

- compiled by Cai Yong 蔡邕 (A.D. 132-192) and others
- important source of the history of the Eastern Han

Front 48

越絕書 and 吳越春秋
Yue jue shu and Wu Yue chunqiu

Back 48

- prose romances; retell and elaborate on the saga of Wu and Yue

Front 49

燕丹子
Yan Danzi

Back 49

- prose romance, uncertain date; Sima Qian used a version of the story
- tale of the Prince of Yan, including the Jing Ke story

Front 50

漢武帝內傳
Han Wudi neizhuan

Back 50

- prose romance, implausibly attributed to Ban Gu 班固 (A.D. 32-92)
- contains stories of Han Wudi and the Queen Mother of the West