sparhawk
January 10th, 2008, 07:17 PM
I just finished transcribing this biography from the book (I hope it can be seen as fair use for a book that is almost impossible to find extant...). It is one of the most fascinating biographies of Fang Shih I have read so far. It comes from the "Records of the Three Kingdoms." I'm sure you will all enjoy it. Click on the text for a full version (in a PDF file is 27 pages long document...)
Let me know what you think about it.
When Lu was only eight or nine years old he had already demonstrated a fondness for gazing up at the sky's traveling lights. Whenever he found someone who knew the skies, he would quiz him about the the stars' names, and at night Lu was seldom willing to go to sleep. His parents forbade this stargazing, but ultimately they could not stop him. Lu himself would say, "Though I am young, it is a feast for my eyes to look upon the sky's patterns." He often argued, "If creatures no nobler than barnyard chickens and wild geese can recognize times, is it not obvious that humans could?" (http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dccprxvt_22fnt28vfv)
Whenever Lu was playing on a dirt field with his neighborhood friends, he would draw maps of the celestial star fields on the ground, and add the sun, moon, and planets. He was able to answer any and all questions asked of him and expound at length on astrological events. What he said was so extraordinary that even the experts of the village, some of whom had made long study of the skies, could not take issue with the young Lu. It was for these reasons that everyone recognized his highly unusual talent for such things. When Lu came of age naturally he understood the technologies of the Book of Changes, Wind Angles, Heavenly Patterns, omenology, and physiognomy. He was able to master them to the finest, most subtle detail. Lu's inborn capabilities were vast, and he could learn a great deal. He was above feeling enmity, even for those who expressed resentment toward him. At the same time, he did not particularly incline toward those who showed him favor. Rather he sought always to return good deeds for whatever injustice was done him. He often said, "Loyalty and filiality, credibility and righteousness are basic to being a good man, and one should be resolute in practicing them. A show of incorruptibility and determination, of reserve and punctiliousness are but the external trappings of the scholar, and they are hardly worth feeling obligated to pursue." (http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dccprxvt_22fnt28vfv)
Lu also said, "If my name becomes known to only a few people, I still hope to be regarded highly in their eyes. After all, who can tell the waters of the great Yangtze from those of the lesser Han once they have churned together at their meeting. Surely, I would enjoy the opportunity to discuss in person the Way with prominent and powerful people, as did Ssu-ma Chi-chu, and I have no interest in sharing the boat of a simple fisherman. Such is my ambition." (http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dccprxvt_22fnt28vfv)
Let me know what you think about it.
When Lu was only eight or nine years old he had already demonstrated a fondness for gazing up at the sky's traveling lights. Whenever he found someone who knew the skies, he would quiz him about the the stars' names, and at night Lu was seldom willing to go to sleep. His parents forbade this stargazing, but ultimately they could not stop him. Lu himself would say, "Though I am young, it is a feast for my eyes to look upon the sky's patterns." He often argued, "If creatures no nobler than barnyard chickens and wild geese can recognize times, is it not obvious that humans could?" (http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dccprxvt_22fnt28vfv)
Whenever Lu was playing on a dirt field with his neighborhood friends, he would draw maps of the celestial star fields on the ground, and add the sun, moon, and planets. He was able to answer any and all questions asked of him and expound at length on astrological events. What he said was so extraordinary that even the experts of the village, some of whom had made long study of the skies, could not take issue with the young Lu. It was for these reasons that everyone recognized his highly unusual talent for such things. When Lu came of age naturally he understood the technologies of the Book of Changes, Wind Angles, Heavenly Patterns, omenology, and physiognomy. He was able to master them to the finest, most subtle detail. Lu's inborn capabilities were vast, and he could learn a great deal. He was above feeling enmity, even for those who expressed resentment toward him. At the same time, he did not particularly incline toward those who showed him favor. Rather he sought always to return good deeds for whatever injustice was done him. He often said, "Loyalty and filiality, credibility and righteousness are basic to being a good man, and one should be resolute in practicing them. A show of incorruptibility and determination, of reserve and punctiliousness are but the external trappings of the scholar, and they are hardly worth feeling obligated to pursue." (http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dccprxvt_22fnt28vfv)
Lu also said, "If my name becomes known to only a few people, I still hope to be regarded highly in their eyes. After all, who can tell the waters of the great Yangtze from those of the lesser Han once they have churned together at their meeting. Surely, I would enjoy the opportunity to discuss in person the Way with prominent and powerful people, as did Ssu-ma Chi-chu, and I have no interest in sharing the boat of a simple fisherman. Such is my ambition." (http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dccprxvt_22fnt28vfv)