zgongjin

[zgongjin]

Added a location finder that draws data from my maps— it should make finding and discussing places much easier. Unfortunately, it doesn’t include many Han locations that were later abolished or lost significance, since the maps are for the 260s.

[zgongjin]

A Test of Character

華歆、王朗俱乘船避難，有一人欲依附，歆輒難之。朗曰：「幸尚寬，何為不可？」 後賊追至，王欲舍所攜人。歆曰：「本所以疑，正為此耳。既已納其自託，寧可以急相棄邪？」 遂攜拯如初。世以此定華、王之優���。

-- 《世説新語·德行》

Hua Xin and Wang Lang were once fleeing by boat when a man sought to join them. Hua Xin wished to decline, but Wang Lang said, "There’s still room — why not?" Later, when the pursuers drew near, Wang Lang wanted to abandon the man. But Hua Xin said, "This is precisely why I hesitated earlier. But now that we’ve accepted his plea for help, how can we cast him aside in a moment of danger?" He then assisted the man just as before. It was by this event that people judged the better of Hua and Wang.

-- Shishuo Xinyu (A New Account of the Tales of the World), Dexing (Virtuous Conduct)

[zgongjin]

Note to Self: Research historical tyrants before naming your pets.

A confession: I named my dog Bobo because it's a cute name.

Today, I finished my translation of the Jinshu's biography of the 5th-century emperor Helian Bobo, and... yikes. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LVMsEoAeO9kCx2fObk1yJcudKlZ7s3P0/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=116077321629377540633&rtpof=true&sd=true

Helian Bobo had an intense management style. His policy for military equipment was simple: if an arrow pierced a shield, he killed the shield-maker. If the arrow failed to pierce it, he killed the arrow-maker. When he built his fortress, if an iron wedge could be hammered even an inch into a wall, the builder was killed and reportedly buried inside it.

In my defense, I just thought Bobo was a cute name.

Anyway, here's my Bobo, who has never committed a single war crime (to my knowledge).

[zgongjin]

Cutting the Mat

管寧、華歆共園中鋤菜，見地有片金，管揮鋤與瓦石不異，華捉而擲去之。又嘗同席讀書，有乘軒冕過門者，寧讀如故，歆廢書出看。寧割席分坐曰：「子非吾友也。」

-- 《世説新語·德行》

Guan Ning and Hua Xin were once hoeing vegetables together in a garden when they came across a piece of gold on the ground. Guan Ning, treating it no differently from dirt or stones, struck it aside with his hoe, while Hua Xin picked it up — but quickly tossed it away. On another occasion, the two were reading side by side when a grand carriage passed by their gate. Guan Ning continued reading as if nothing had happened, while Hua Xin put down his book and went out to look. Guan Ning thus cut their shared mat in two and moved away, saying: "You are no longer my friend."

-- Shishuo Xinyu (A New Account of the Tales of the World), Dexing (Virtuous Conduct)

[zgongjin]

I haven’t been able to get updates going on SOSZ in the past few months, so I have decided to start hosting my maps on a GitHub site here. From now on, I’ll post any debugging updates or new maps there, alongside my ongoing projects: translating official titles and a curated collection of interesting artefacts.

Here are a few snippets of how they look at the moment:

You can find the public repository here. As always, feel free to reach out if you’d like to reuse any content or if you notice any bugs.

Maps of the Three Kingdoms

Over the past few months, I embarked on a little adventure making 3K maps, and now that I have finished everything, I'm pretty excited to share all the maps!

The maps are based on The Historical Atlas of China map collection for the 3rd year of Jingyuan (262), with topography provided by digital elevation models from HydroSHEDS.

The problem with using modern topography on ancient maps is of course that sometimes labelled landforms do not match nicely to the local topography, since measurements may not be so precise in the past. I tried my best to correct when I could, but otherwise, I left them as it is when I couldn't find a clear possible correction (so don't be surprised to see some rivers flowing along mountain peaks!).

Tumblr compresses images quite a bit so for now the full collection (including overall and individual provinces) is on SOSZ here.

[zgongjin]

Of All My Sins

王子敬病篤，道家上章應首過，問子敬 「由來有何異同得失？」 子敬云：「不覺有餘事，惟憶與郗家離婚。」

-- 《世説新語·德行》

When Wang Zijing was gravely ill, a Daoist priest, preparing a ritual petition for him to confess his wrongdoings, asked: "Looking back, what sins have you committed in life?"

Wang Zijing replied: "Nothing else comes to mind — except divorcing my wife, Lady Xi."

-- Shishuo Xinyu (A New Account of the Tales of the World), Dexing (Virtuous Conduct)

[zgongjin]

I am not your father

良年五歲而太祖疾困，遺令語太子曰：「此兒三歲亡母，五歲失父，以累汝也。」 太子由是親待，隆於諸弟。良年小，常呼文帝為阿翁，帝謂良曰：「我，汝兄耳。」 文帝又愍其如是，每為流涕。

-- 《三國志·趙王幹傳》注

When [Cao] Liang was five years old, Cao Cao fell gravely ill. In his final instructions, he said to the Crown Prince (Emperor Wen): “This child lost his mother at three and his father at five — I now burden you with him.” From then on, the Crown Prince treated Liang with great affection, more so than his other brothers. As Liang was still young, he would often call Emperor Wen “father,” and the emperor would always correct him, saying: “I am your elder brother.” Emperor Wen, touched by Liang's words, would weep for him time and again.

-- Records of the Three Kingdoms, annotations to Biography of Gan, Prince of Zhao

[zgongjin]

The Timeless Insult

昔齊威王嘗為仁義矣，率天下諸侯而朝周。周貧且微，諸侯莫朝，而齊獨朝之。居歲餘，周烈王崩，諸侯皆弔，齊後往。周怒，赴於齊曰：『天崩地坼，天子下席。東藩之臣田嬰齊後至，則斮之。』 威王勃然怒曰：『叱嗟，而母婢也。』

-- 《戰國策·趙三》

King Wei of Qi once practised benevolence and righteousness. Qi led the feudal lords of the realm in paying tribute to the Zhou court, because at the time, the Zhou court was poor and weak, and none of the other lords offered tribute — only Qi did. A few years later, King Lie of Zhou died, and the feudal lords all went to offer condolences. Qi, however, arrived late. The Zhou court was angry and sent an envoy to Qi saying: “Heaven has collapsed and the earth has cracked, and the Son of Heaven has descended from his throne. Yet the eastern vassal, Tian Ying of Qi, arrives last — and for this, his envoy has been executed!” King Wei of Qi, seething with rage, retorted: “Bah! And your mother was a maidservant!”

-- Strategies of the Warring States, Book of Zhao III

[zgongjin]

The last blue "horse" with the straight neck is actually a mule. See this post from the Xi'an Museum, and this baidu entry. Otherwise, a solid post and great elaborations! I really enjoyed the Xi’an museums when I visited as well.

April 11, Xi'an, China, Xi'an Museum/西安博物院 (Part 2):

First up, the star of the museum, Tang dynasty (618 - 907 AD) sancai/唐三彩 pottery figurine of a rider on a horse (三彩腾空马):

More Tang-era sancai pottery horse figurines:

This one is a sancai figurine of a camel......screaming? That's a reaction pic worthy face right there:

Another reaction pic worthy face.....this time on a small gold tiger figurine (the head looks more like a bat tbh lol):

Qin dynasty (221 - 207 BC) kneeling clay figurine. This is how people sat before raised seats and chairs became a thing, and this position is called jizuo/跽坐:

Bronze parts from a horse chariot (because the chariots were wooden, it decayed, leaving behind these bronze parts):

Left: bronze crossbow (called nu/弩) trigger mechanism and arrow heads (may be from Warring States period, 403 - 221 BC)

Right: Bronze swords and daggers. If I remember right, the ones on the bottom left are yue/钺 heads

Qin dynasty (221 - 207 BC) and Han dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD) wadang/瓦当, featuring various auspicious motifs and phrases. These are part of the roof edge in traditional Chinese architecture, as shown in the diagram on the right (wadang is on the bottom left in the diagram). Honestly I think at least some of these wadang designs can be used on mooncake moulds:

A golden loong dragon, very fitting for the Year of the Dragon 🐉:

A (giant) pottery brick decorated with two loong dragons:

A pottery lantern, I believe this is specifically made to be buried in a tomb

Green-glazed pottery dog from Han dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD). It's speculated that this actually depicts a songshi/松狮 dog, which was the breed that the chow chow was developed from. Note the wide head, small upright ears, sturdy protruding snout, stocky build, and the tail curved onto its back. This breed can still be found in China today:

Left: pottery female figurines, probably from Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern dynasties/魏晋南北朝 (220 - 589 AD), since this cross-shaped hairstyle/十字髻 was one of the characteric hairstyles of that time period.

Right: pottery female entertainer figurines, judging by the hairstyles, these are probably from Tang dynasty (618 - 907 AD). The hairstyle of the musicians to the sides are banfanji/半翻髻, the musician to the left is playing a sheng/笙, while the musician to the right is playing a paixiao/排箫. The dancer in the middle has a feixianji/飞仙髻 hairstyle.

Tang-era bronze mirror decorated with auspicious creatures and grapes. Traditionally, grapes motif symbolize longevity and wealth. This is the back of the mirror, the other side is the actual mirror, which is polished frequently and meticulously so that it may serve its purpose.

Various Tang-era hair ornaments made of silver, gold, or jade:

Tang-era sancai pottery tomb guardians:

Northern Zhou-era (557 - 581 AD) stone sarcophagus from Tomb of Master Shi/史君墓, also known as Tomb of Wirkak, dating from 580 AD:

A close up at the epitaph on the sarcophagus, which is written in Chinese and Sogdian. Translation of the epitaph from Wikipedia:

(The period) Daxiang of Great Zhou, year 2, in the first month of a rat year, on the 23rd day. So: there was a man of a family from Kish, domiciled in Guzang. From the emperor he holds the rank (of) sabao of Guzang, in the land of the Sogdians, a landowner. He is named Wirkakk, the son of Wanuk, (namely) Wanuk, the son of the sabao. And (his) wife, born in Xinping, is named Wiyusi. And Wirkakk the sabao married (his) wife in Xinping in a pig year, on the 7th day of the 6th month, on a hare day. And afterwards, here in Xianyang (= Chang’an), he himself died in a pig year, on the 7th day of the 5th month. And his wife too died on the 7th day of the 6th month, on a hare day, in the same year (as her) marriage, the same month, the same day. There is no living being which is born which is not subject to death; moreover, it is hard to complete (one’s) period in the world of the living. But this is harder (still), that, without being aware (of it), a husband and wife see one another (for the first time) the same year, the same month, the same day, in the human world (and) also in paradise, (so that) the beginning of (their) life together (in each place) may be at the same period. This stone tomb was made by Vreshman-vande, Zhimat-vande (and) Prot-vande, desiring a suitable place for (their) father (and) mother. — Epitaph of the tomb of Wirkak. Translated from the Sogdian by Nicholas Sims-Williams.

A clay model of a building for burial, if I remember right this is from Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644), I'm not 100% sure.

Traditionally, Chinese people believe that spirits of the dead will continue to exist and "live", so the dead must be treated as if they are alive, a concept known as 事死如事生. This is why ancient Chinese tombs were often filled with belongings of the deceased, their favorite and most prized treasures, and (often clay) models of houses and possessions, etc. A very famous example of this is Qin Shi Huang's terra cotta army. This is also why Chinese people today still burn paper offerings in the shape of money (mingbi/冥币; colloquially called paper money/纸钱) and items (called zhizha/纸扎) for the deceased. The biggest difference is that today's paper offerings might take the shape of modern items like laptops or cars.

Ming-era pottery figurines, arranged in a procession

A landscape painting hand scroll, and if I'm reading the plaque right (there were a lot of people so I didn't get to take a picture of the plaque), it's by famous Yuan dynasty painter Zhao Mengfu/赵孟頫 (1254 - 1322). This particular style of landscape painting is called blue-green landscape painting (青绿山水画), and is so named for its characteristic blue-green color of the mountains. Since the color was produced by mineral pigments, it's long-lasting and does not fade. The most famous painting of this style is One Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains (《千里江山图》) by Wang Ximeng/王希孟 in Northern Song dynasty (960 - 1127 AD).

And last but not least, this one surprised me too......clay water pipes from Qin dynasty (221 - 207 BC):

[zgongjin]

Top Secret

阜遷少府……上疏欲省宮人諸不見幸者，乃召御府吏問後宮人數。吏守舊令，對曰：「禁密，不得宣露。」 阜怒，杖吏一百，數之曰：「國家不與九卿為密，反與小吏為密乎？」

-- 《三國志·楊阜傳》

Yang Fu, after being transferred to the position of Minister of the Lesser Treasury (one of the Nine Ministers), submitted a memorial proposing the reduction of palace women, particularly those who had long fallen out of imperial favour. He then summoned a clerk from the Imperial Wardrobe to inquire about the number of women in the harem. The clerk abided by the rules of the past, and responded: "The palace secrets cannot be revealed." [Yang] Fu became enraged, had the official flogged with one hundred strokes, and berated: “The state's affairs aren't entrusted to the Nine Ministers, but instead to a petty clerk like you?”

-- Records of the Three Kingdoms, Biography of Yang Fu

[zgongjin]

A Sip of Imagination

魏武行役，失汲道，軍皆渴，乃令曰：「前有大梅林，饒子，甘酸，可以解渴。」 士卒聞之，口皆出水，乘此得及前源。

-- 《世說新語 · 假譎》

Once, while on campaign, Cao Cao’s army lost its way to the water source, and the troops were parched. He then gave an order: “Ahead lies a grove of plum trees, full of plums sour and sweet, enough to quench our thirst.” Upon hearing this, the soldiers all began to salivate, and taking advantage of this, they pressed on and reached the water source.

-- Shishuo Xinyu (A New Account of the Tales of the World), Jiajue (Guile and Chicanery)

[zgongjin]

All but a whim

Wang Ziyou [Huizhi] lived in Shanyin. One night, heavy snow fell. When he woke up, he opened his windows and ordered to have some liquor. … Suddenly, he thought of [his friend] Dai Andao, who was then in Shan. Without hesitation, he boarded a small boat to visit him. After travelling all night, he arrived at Dai's residence but did not enter. Instead, he turned back. When someone asked, Wang replied, 'I embarked on this journey purely on a momentary whim, and when my whim passed, I returned; why should I insist on meeting Dai?'

-- Shishuo Xinyu (A New Account of the Tales of the World), Rendan (The Free and Unrestrained)  

王子猷居山陰，夜大雪，眠覺，開室，命酌酒。……忽憶戴安道，時戴在剡，即便夜乘小船就之。經宿方至，造門不前而返。人問其故，王曰：「吾本乘興而行，興盡而返，何必見戴？」

-- 《世說新語·任誕》

[zgongjin]

To sweat or not to sweat

Zhong Yu and Zhong Hui were renowned for their intelligence and virtuous reputations from a young age. At thirteen, Emperor Wen of Wei heard of them and said to their father, Zhong Yao, 'Let your two sons come.' Thus, he summoned them for an audience.

When Zhong Yu appeared before the emperor, his face was covered with sweat. The emperor asked, 'Why is your face sweating?' Zhong Yu replied, 'Trembling with fear and reverence, my sweat flows like a stream.'

The emperor then asked Zhong Hui, 'Why are you not sweating?' Zhong Hui replied, 'Trembling with fear and reverence, the sweat dare not come out.'

-- Shishuo Xinyu (A New Account of the Tales of the World), Yanyu (Speech and Conversation)

鍾毓、鍾會少有令譽。年十三，魏文帝聞之，語其父鍾繇曰：「可令二子來。」於是敕見。毓面有汗，帝曰：「卿面何以汗？」毓對曰：「戰戰惶惶，汗��如漿。」復問會：「卿何以不汗？」對曰：「戰戰慄慄，汗不敢出。」

-- 《世說新語·言語》

[zgongjin]

The unrelenting passage of time

When Huan Wen went on a northern campaign and passed through Jincheng, he saw that the willows he had planted earlier during his posting in Langya had all grown to a circumference of ten spans. Deeply moved, he exclaimed: 'If mere trees have changed like this, how can a man endure?' Stroking the branches, he wept with tears streaming down his face.

-- Shishuo Xinyu (A New Account of the Tales of the World), Yanyu (Speech and Conversation)  

桓公北征經金城，見前為琅邪時種柳，皆已十圍，慨然曰：「木猶如此，人何以堪！」攀枝執條，泫然流淚。

-- 《世說新語·言語》

[zgongjin]

Are they going to 'Cao Shuang' me?

Wang Gong submitted a memorial stating Wang Guobao's crimes, raising troops to punish him.....Wang Guobao was terrified, and did not know what to do. Wang Xun said: "Wang Gong and Yin Zhongkan have no deep enmity with you; the competition between you is merely over power and status." Guo Bao replied: "Are they going to 'Cao Shuang' me?" Xun said: "What are you talking about! You don't have the severe crimes of Cao Shuang, and Wang Xiaobo [Wang Gong] is not someone like Emperor Xuan!"

-- Zizi Tongjian (Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance), Vol 109

恭上表罪狀國寶，舉兵討之……王國寶惶懼，不知所為。珣曰：「王、殷與卿素無深怨，所競不過勢利之間耳。」國寶曰；「將曹爽我乎？」珣曰：「是何言歟！卿寧有爽之罪，王孝伯豈宣帝之儔邪？」

-- 《資治通鑑·卷109》

[zgongjin]

Where is Duke of Gaogui District?

Previously, Yu Chun believed Jia Chong to be crafty and fawning, together with Ren Kai recommended that he be posted to Guanzhong. Jia Chong was thus displeased. When Jia Chong hosted a banquet for court officials and Yu Chun arrived late, Chong said to Chun: "You are usually ahead of everyone, why are you at the back today?" Chun replied, "There were some trivial matters in the market that needed attending to, so I came late." At that time, it was said that Yu Chun's ancestors were once responsible for clearing the way when officials travelled, while Jia Chong's ancestors had once been market leaders. Therefore, the two of them deliberately used these remarks to subtly mock each other.

Jia Chong, considering his elevated status and responsibilities, felt particularly unhappy. As such, during Chun's toast, Chong did not drink. Chun asked, "As an elder, I am offering a toast to you. How dare you refuse?" Chong replied, "Your father is old yet you do not return to provide for him. Who are you to speak?"

Yu Chun was angered and said, "Jia Chong! The chaos in the world is all caused by you alone." Jia Chong responded, "I have assisted two emperors and pacified the Ba and Shu regions. What crime have I committed that would cause such chaos in the world?" Chun asked, "Where is Duke of Gaogui District?"

初，庾純以賈充姦佞，與任愷共舉充西鎮關中，充由是不平。充嘗宴朝士，而純後至，充謂曰：「君行常居人前，今何以在後？」純曰：「旦有小市井事不了，是以來後。」世言純之先嘗有伍伯者，充之先有市魁者，充、純以此相譏焉。充自以位隆望重，意殊不平。及純行酒，充不時飲。純曰：「長者為壽，何敢爾乎！」充曰：「父老不歸供養，將何言也！」純因發怒曰：「賈充！天下兇兇，由爾一人。」充曰：「充輔佐二世，蕩平巴、蜀，有何罪而天下為之兇兇？」純曰：「高貴鄉公何在？」

-- 《晉書·庾純傳》

[zgongjin]

I wonder why people like Zhang Ren, Ju Shou, and Gao Shun didn't switch allegiance after being captured when their former lord was not a good leader anyway. Is it just blind loyalty? What is your opinion on this?

Some people have things they value much, much more than life.