The Poet Shen Yueh (441-513): The Reticent Marquis (Princeton Legacy Library (5399))

This book is a literary biography of Shen Yueh, a statesman, historian, poet, and devout lay defender of both Buddhism and Taoism. The title "Reticient Marquis" (Yin-hou) was awarded posthumously by the Liang Emperor Wu, who, though owning his own rise to power partly to Shen's bold counsel, had found him less than forthcoming from that point onward. Shen was indeed very reserved, and continually tortured by the conflicting claims of his ascetic Buddhist ideals and his love for luxury, his chameleon-like ability to preserve his influence through three regimes, and his high social and political status. Richard B. Mather provides the first full description in a Western language of Shen's life and though and supplies numerous translations of his surviving letters, memorials, poems, and essays. Richard B. Mather is Professor Emeritus and East Asian Studies at the University of Minnesota. Originally published in 1988. The **Princeton Legacy Library** uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905. This book is a literary biography of Shen Yueh, a statesman, historian, poet, and devout lay defender of both Buddhism and Taoism. His active career spanned three successive dynasties (Liu-Sung, Nan-Ch'i, and Liang), whose capitals were located in the lower Yangtze city of Chien-k'ang (modern Nanking). The title "Reticient Marquis" (Yin-hou) was awarded him posthumously by the Liang Emperor Wu, who, though owing his own rise to power partly to Shen's bold counsel, had found him less than forthcoming from that point onward. Shen was indeed very reserved, and continually tortured by the conflicting claims of his ascetic Buddhist ideals and his love for luxury, his chameleon-like ability to preserve his influence through three regimes, and his high social and political status. Richard B. Mather provides the first full description in a Western language of Shen's life and thought and supplies numerous translations of his surviving letters, memorials, poems, and essays. Because Shen was often in the center of controversy over matters of social, literary, and religious significance, his life may be read as an embodiment of some of the major issues and developments in the south during China's early middle ages. Professor Mather deals successively with all aspects of his life--his role as historian, courtier, poet, Taoist hermit, and Buddhist. This book is a literary biography of Shen Yueh, a statesman, historian, poet, and devout lay defender of both Buddhism and Taoism. His active career spanned three successive dynasties (Liu-Sung, Nan-Ch'i, and Liang), whose capitals were located in the lower Yangtze city of Chien-k'ang (modern Nanking). The title 'Reticent Marquis' (Yin-hou) was awarded him posthumously by the Liang Emperor Wu, who, though owning his own rise to power partly to Shen's bold counsel, had found him less than forthcoming from that point onward. Ch 5 The Flowering of the Yung-Ming Style End of Ch 5