Fictional and Fictionalized Biographies and Autobiographies
Han Yü (768–824)
Fur Point was a native of Central Mountain. His patriarch, Bright Sight,1 aided Yü in bringing order to the lands of the East, and he had some success in nourishing nature, thus he was enfeoffed with the lands of Mao.2 When he died, he became one of the twelve spirits. He once said, “My descendants will be the posterity of a spirit-illuminate and shall not be the same as normal beings. They will be born by being vomited.” 3 And, indeed, that is how it was!
The eighth-generation descendant of Bright Sight was Bunny, who, so popular tradition has maintained for ages, lived in Central Mountain during the Yin dynasty and learned the artifices of the spirit-immortals so that he was able to hide in bright light and bring about alchemical changes in things. He had secret relations with Heng Ŏ and rode a toad to the moon.4 His descendants, therefore, withdrew from government service.
One of them named Wiley, who lived near the eastern city-wall, was crafty and a skilled runner. He put his talents to a test against Blackie of Han, who could not catch him. Since he was angry, he plotted with Sung Ch’üeh to kill Wiley and then tore his family to ribbons.
During the time of the First Emperor of Ch’in,5 General Meng T’ien6 led an expedition south against Ch’u and camped at Central Mountain, intending to undertake a great hunt to intimidate Ch’u.
He summoned his stewards of the left and right and his staff to divine concerning the prospect of the hunt with the Lien-shan.7 He obtained the oracles “heaven” and “human culture,” and the diviner congratulated him:
In today’s catch,
no horns or fangs to match,
but one dressed in coarse clothes,
with a harelip and long whiskers ’neath his nose.
with eight orifices and his legs tucked in flat,
you’ll only take the hair from his head,
and with it, on bamboo and wooden slat,
unify the empire’s scripts to be read;
thus Ch’in will unite the feudal lords instead.
Then the hunt began. They surrounded all of Mao’s clan, pulled out their best, and, taking up Point, returned. Meng T’ien presented him as a captive at the Patterned Platform Palace, along with his clansmen, gathered and bound. The Emperor of Ch’in ordered that he be granted a hot cleansing bath, and invested him in Tube City, naming him “Baron of Tube City.” Daily he gained favor and was employed in more affairs.
Point was the sort of man who had a strong memory and an easy understanding of things. From the “era of rope knots” 8 down to the events of Ch’in’s rise to power, there was nothing he did not compile. The works of the yin-yang school, of the diviners, of the physiognomists, of physicians and pharmacists, genealogists, geographers, local historians, calligraphers, painters, of the nine schools, the one hundred philosophers, the gods, and even the theories of Buddha, Lao Tzu, and other foreigners, were all among those things he knew in detail. He was also versed in contemporary affairs, administrative records, accounts and records of market transactions, and whenever the emperor wanted to take note of something, he always stood at his service. Everyone from the emperor himself to the Crown Prince Fu-su and his son Hu-hai, the Grand Councilor Li Ssu, the Keeper of the Chariots Chao Kao, on down to the people, loved and respected him. He was, moreover, expert at following his master’s intent and in demonstrating uprightness or crookedness, skill or clumsiness, always taking his cue from the other person. Even if forsaken by someone, he would not allow an inkling of anything to leak out. Soldiers alone he did not like; but, if invited, he would also go to them from time to time.
His rank rose until he was made “Officer Fit for Composition.” He became even more intimate with the emperor, so that the latter took to calling him “Lord Fit for Composition.” The emperor personally decided all matters, going through one hundred pounds of documents each day. Not even his personal staff was permitted to stand in attendance. Only Fur Point and Candle Holder served him always, put out only when the emperor retired.
Fur Point was a close friend of Spread-out Black9 from Chiang, Porcelain Pool10 from Hung-nung, and Mulberry Tree 11 from Kuei-chi. They recommended one another, and when one would go out or stay in, the others had to go along. If the emperor summoned Fur Point, the other three did not wait for a command, but came directly together and the emperor never reprimanded them for it.
Later during an audience, since the emperor had a task he wanted Fur Point to undertake and tried to rub up to him, Point removed his cap to express his gratitude. The emperor saw his bald spot, and, since in his copying of paintings he was no longer able to reach the standard desired by the emperor, the latter chided him: “Lord Fit for Composition, you are old and balding and can no longer perform useful service. I have called you ‘Fit for Composition.’ Can it be that you are now ‘Not Fit?’” Fur Point replied, “I am one who has ‘Worn out His Heart’ for you.” Thus he was called for no more, but returned to the city of his fief and came to his end there in Tube City.
His descendants were very numerous. They spread out through the empire and into barbarian lands. All lay claim to the title of Tube City for themselves, but only those who lived in Central Mountain were able to continue their ancestor’s profession.
The Grand Historian comments: In the Mao clan there were two lineages. The first took the surname Chi and were the sons of King Wen. They were enfeoffed in Mao and were the ones referred to in the expression “Lu, Wei, Mao, and Tan.” During the Warring States period their lineage included Mao Kung and Mao Sui.12 Although the origin of the Central Mountain lineage is unknown, its descendants were most numerous. But upon the completion of The Spring and Autumn Annals they all came to an end with Confucius, through no fault of their own. Since General Meng pulled out their heir on Central Mountain and the First Emperor installed him in Tube City, each generation has had someone well known. But as to the lineage surnamed Chi, nothing can be learned.
Fur Point was first presented as a captive and finally became a trusted servant. When Ch’in annihilated the feudal lords, he played a role in the success. But his rewards did not requite his toil and, because of his age, he was estranged. Ch’in was truly wanting of gratitude!
Translated by William H. Nienhauser, Jr.
This is a humorous essay on a writing brush, couched in the form of a traditional biography in the standard histories as established by Ssu-ma Ch’ien (see selection 160, unnumbered note, and selection 173, note 10). The first level of the narrative camouflages a satirical statement on the nature of the relationship between the ruler and his ministers—which may refer directly to Han Yü’s own career. This work and others of a similar nature fostered the relationship between the reformed “ancient-style prose” of the early ninth century and the then fledgling fictional genre known as ch’uan-ch’ i (transmission of the strange; see selections 207 and 208).
For a note on the author, arguably the greatest essayist in Chinese literary history, see selection 42.
1. “Bright Sight,” like many names in this piece, is taken from a classical, metonymic reference to the rabbit (here from the Record of Rites [Li chi]).
2. A fairly common surname in China, as in Mao Tse-tung, which also happens to mean “fur,” as translated in the title.
3. A traditional notion of how rabbits are born.
4. Heng (later Ch’ang)Ŏ in ancient Chinese lore stole an elixir of immortality from her husband, the archer Yi, and fled to the moon. The story as Han Yü tells it is different from all classical text versions and may well be intended to refer allegorically to a contemporary set of events.
5. 246–210 B.C.E.
6. The supposed inventor of the writing brush (d. 210 B.C.E.).
7. One of the early divination works.
8. A system of notation similar to the quipu of the ancient Peruvians.
9. Ink.
10. Ink reservoir.
11. Paper.
12. Historical personages who happened to bear the surname Mao (“Fur”).