Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove

CUI+YAN

1. Ruan Ji

Ruan Ji， whose Style Name is Sizong， is the poet of Wei in the three kingdoms period. He comes from Yushi， Chenliu（It is in Henan province at present）. He is son of Ruan Yu， one of “the seven talented writers in Jianan Period. He was ever ambitious in politics. At that time， Cao Rui， the Emperor Weimingdi was dead， and Cao Fang， the young emperor， was under the threat of Cao Shuang and Sima Yi， between whom the conflict was fierce， and the political situation was very dangerous. Cao Shuang had once intended to appoint Ruan Ji as military staff， he refused by the excuse of illness. Cao Shuang was killed by Sima Yi in 249， and The Sima family， had thereby seized the politic power tightly.

2. Ji Kang

Ji Kang， whose style name was Shuye， was a outstanding litterateur， ideologist， musician of Wei in the period of Three Kingdoms. His birth place was Qiaoguozhi （to the southwest of Suzhou， Anhui at present ）. His wife belongs to the royal family of Wei， he had taken the post of Zhongsandafu （work for political comments）， therefore， he is known as “Ji Zhongsan”. He admires the theoey of Lao Zi and Zhuang Zi （both are ancient ideologists） and support the opinion of keeping a healthy life and eat reasonably to keep healthy， he had written the book of “health preservation” He enjoys the equal popularity with Ruan Ji， he is one of the members of “Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove “ It is recorded in “the history of the Wei Kingdom” of “ （Ji Kang） has intimate relation with Ruan Ji from Chenliu， Shan Tao from Henei， Xiang Xiu from Henan， Wang Rong from Langya， Liu Ling from Pei， they often enjoy themselves in bamboo grove， and was together called the Seven Sages.

3. Shan Tao

Shan Tao（205-283）， whose style name was Juyuan， was born in Huaixian， Henei （It is on the west of Wushe， Henan at present）. He is a celebrity and politician at XiJIN period， a member of Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove . Shan Tao is oldest in “Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove” His charm and behaviour was the reason for him to be a member of “personage in Bamboo Grove. He was praised with “ As a natural jade， of which the beauty was appreciated but the name was unknown” In other words， he is a n outstanding person with simple appearance.

4. Liu Ling

Liu Ling， whose style name was Bolun， （about 221-300） was born in Peiguo（ it is Suxian， Anhui at present） He is a member of Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove. . He was appointed as Jianwei Canjun at the end of Wei.. At the beginning of Taishi governed by Emperor Jinwudi， he was summoned for the policy， his opinion was to make everything to work in its way. Then he was quit. He opposed against the dark rule and hypocritical ritual. To stay away from political persecution， he addicted himself to alcohol and acted arrogant. He was once naked when someone visited hem. When was blamed by the visitor， he answered”I take the universe as my home， the house my clothes， why do you come into my trousers？”

5. Ruan Xian

Ruan Xian， whose style name was Zhongrong， a member of “Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove”. He was nephew of Ruan Ji， he was called “old and young Ruan” together with his uncle. He was appointed as Sanqi Shilang， later tranefered to Shiping Taishou （Governor of Shiping） Shan Tao comment his with “ firm and little-desired， with deep wisdom and cant be alters by anything in the world， If he was served as an official， he must be unprecedented” （refferred in Benzhuan， “Jinshu”（a history book） ）. But Emperor Jinwudi regard him as a frivolous drunkard and didnt value him.

He lives an unruly life as Ruan Ji. He used to have an affair with an maidservant owned by his aunt， when her mother dead， his aunt had to return home in accordance with confucian at that time.

6. Xiang Xiu

Xiang Xiu， whose style name is Ziqi， （approximately 227-272）， litterateur of Wei and Jin. He is a member of Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove. . His birth place is Huaixian， Henei（to the southwest of Wuzhi at present）. The year of birth and death is unknown. He was very smart at his early age. He has close friendship with the group of Ji Kang. Xiang Xiu used to stay close at home， however after the death of Ji Kang in 263， under the great threat of the Sima Family， he had to respond the appointment to work in Luoyang.

7. Wang Rong

Wang Rong （234-305）， whose style name was Ruichong， was born in Linyi， Langya（belongs to Shandong today）. He is Minister of XiJin Dynasty， a member of Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove. In his early age， he was smart and with attractive grace. He is good at metaphysical talk， when he went out with Ruan Ji and Ji Kang to troll in the Bamboo Grave， he once arrived late， Ruan Ji said“This vulgar guy comes to destroy the comfortable atmosphere again.”He is the most vulgar one of the “Seven Sages” .

About The Author：CUI YAN Female Han nationality 1992—， Jilin Province Tongyu， Qingdao University Master of （Chinese Philology） expected（ May， 2018）.