Yiqiao Huang, Grade 11
UWCCSC
In the year 230 AD, seven friends escaped from the dangerous chaos and political turmoil of wartime China and formed “Seven Worthies of Bamboo Grove”, a group of writers, poets, and musicians (Mumford). They gathered in a bamboo forest in modern-day Henan province, where they retired from politics or only dabbled in, and pursued the Taoist culture by connecting to freedom and expressing individuality (Chauhan et al.). I want to witness the formation of seven unlikely companions in a time where social hierarchy and political power meant everything because they came from different families and held diverse ideologies (Confucianism and Taoism). I would also like to become part of their life in the bamboos and connect with nature.
The first person I would meet is Ji Kang, the condemned musician who played the eternal song “Guangling San” before his death, which became the pioneer of the Chinese Zither/Guqin in the Chinese history (History Explained). He received Confucian education but found it fragile and incompetent to himself and the society, so he devoted himself to the Taoist power of “nature” and “inaction”. At some point, he pursued immortality, which seemed to be a fashion then. I would sure love to witness that myself! If I manage, I will hear him play the song I longed to hear.
As a fan of the poem Ode to the Virtues, I crave the company of the legendary “alcoholic”, Liu Ling (Mumford). His practice of the virtues of Taoism was perhaps the most significant among the seven, and as a believer in this field, I would like to see how he lives his life. His perception of “the impossibility of palace life for scholars” would timelessly fit many knowledgeable individuals, and I would like to talk to him about that.
Deemed as escapers, they were nevertheless competent. The emperor, Sima Yi, desired to draw Shan Tao to serve for the palace (History Explained). He entered the official career at the invitation of interests and was satirized by Ji Kang, but when Ji Kang died, his child was handed over to Shan Tao. I would love to see this interesting relationship for myself, and hear from them, how dirty palace life can be. This relationship became intriguing to many because Ji Kang used the majority of his letter to Shan Tao to mock the government with historical references. This use eventually led to Ji Kang’s death. If so, then why had they not broken off earlier?
In general, I want to live life with them. I want to witness how hunger brought people into the death struggle, how big disparities and dark governments brought intellectuals into the bamboos, and how this legendary relationship had in common. The answer to that, is perhaps, to return to nature as a way to escape. Their musical and written pieces which remained could, perhaps, allow us to peek into the life of seven extraordinary people, who managed to see the world as it was and choose their way of living it. They did not lose their virginity and developed themselves, which is rare at any time in history. I want a trip back to the bamboos.
Works Cited
Chauhan, Yamini, et al. “Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove.” Britannica, 20 July 1998, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Seven-Sages-of-the-Bamboo-Grove/additional-info#contributors.
History Explained. “竹林七贤：嵇康死、阮籍哭，污浊的世界，注定救不了绝望的7个人 [Seven Sages in the Bamboo Forest: Ji Kang Died and Ruan Ji Cried. The Dirty World Is Doomed to Save Seven Desperate People].” Baidu Blog, https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1691135056806035601&wfr=spider&for=pc. Accessed 4 Aug. 2022.
Mumford, Rhys. “The Seven Worthies of the Bamboo Grove.” Seven Worthies, 22 Nov. 2021, https://sevenworthies.com/seven-worthies-of-the-bamboo-grove. Accessed 4 Aug. 2022.
Image Courtesy: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/76661
The first person I would meet is Ji Kang, the condemned musician who played the eternal song “Guangling San” before his death, which became the pioneer of the Chinese Zither/Guqin in the Chinese history (History Explained). He received Confucian education but found it fragile and incompetent to himself and the society, so he devoted himself to the Taoist power of “nature” and “inaction”. At some point, he pursued immortality, which seemed to be a fashion then. I would sure love to witness that myself! If I manage, I will hear him play the song I longed to hear.
As a fan of the poem Ode to the Virtues, I crave the company of the legendary “alcoholic”, Liu Ling (Mumford). His practice of the virtues of Taoism was perhaps the most significant among the seven, and as a believer in this field, I would like to see how he lives his life. His perception of “the impossibility of palace life for scholars” would timelessly fit many knowledgeable individuals, and I would like to talk to him about that.
Deemed as escapers, they were nevertheless competent. The emperor, Sima Yi, desired to draw Shan Tao to serve for the palace (History Explained). He entered the official career at the invitation of interests and was satirized by Ji Kang, but when Ji Kang died, his child was handed over to Shan Tao. I would love to see this interesting relationship for myself, and hear from them, how dirty palace life can be. This relationship became intriguing to many because Ji Kang used the majority of his letter to Shan Tao to mock the government with historical references. This use eventually led to Ji Kang’s death. If so, then why had they not broken off earlier?
In general, I want to live life with them. I want to witness how hunger brought people into the death struggle, how big disparities and dark governments brought intellectuals into the bamboos, and how this legendary relationship had in common. The answer to that, is perhaps, to return to nature as a way to escape. Their musical and written pieces which remained could, perhaps, allow us to peek into the life of seven extraordinary people, who managed to see the world as it was and choose their way of living it. They did not lose their virginity and developed themselves, which is rare at any time in history. I want a trip back to the bamboos.
Works Cited
Chauhan, Yamini, et al. “Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove.” Britannica, 20 July 1998, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Seven-Sages-of-the-Bamboo-Grove/additional-info#contributors.
History Explained. “竹林七贤：嵇康死、阮籍哭，污浊的世界，注定救不了绝望的7个人 [Seven Sages in the Bamboo Forest: Ji Kang Died and Ruan Ji Cried. The Dirty World Is Doomed to Save Seven Desperate People].” Baidu Blog, https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1691135056806035601&wfr=spider&for=pc. Accessed 4 Aug. 2022.
Mumford, Rhys. “The Seven Worthies of the Bamboo Grove.” Seven Worthies, 22 Nov. 2021, https://sevenworthies.com/seven-worthies-of-the-bamboo-grove. Accessed 4 Aug. 2022.
Image Courtesy: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/76661
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