The Seven Sages of Bamboo Forest were an influential literati class in Wei and Jin Dynasties. Their achievements and attainments in literature, philosophy and art, their attitude and way of life, their personality spirit and pursuit of life had a far-reaching impact on the society and atmosphere at that time, the formation of Wei and Jin culture, and the later literati class and even the whole China culture. For them, the academic circles have been paying close attention to them, and some insightful research results have also appeared. However, there are still some problems to be clarified, such as the names of the seven sages of the bamboo forest, the location of the bamboo forest, the time of visiting the bamboo forest, and why the seven sages should visit the bamboo forest. On these issues, the author has some superficial views, published in order to teach the family.

I. About the Seven Sages of Bamboo Forest

The names of the seven sages first appeared in Wei Chunqiu in the Eastern Jin Dynasty. The reflection of Wei Zhi Wang Shen biography with Ji Kang biography, Pei Songzhi cited Wei Chunqiu cloud:

Kang lives in the county of Hanoi. He has never seen the color of joy with his travelers. With Ruan Ji, Hanoi, Henan Xiangxiu, Zixian, Lang Xie and Pei Lingxiang, he swam among bamboo forests and was known as the Seven Sages.

Selected Works, Ode to Five Gentlemen, and Spring and Autumn Annals by Wei also include: "Live in Hanoi, make friends with Xiang embroidery, and swim in bamboo forests." Ruan Ji, Ji Kang and others traveled in the bamboo forest together, and the number coincided with the "seven sages" mentioned by Confucius, so they were called "seven sages of bamboo forest".

Later, Yuan Hongyou in Sun Sheng wrote a celebrity biography. He took Xiahou Taichu, He Pingshu and Wang Fusi as official celebrities, Ruan Sizong, Ji Shuye, Shan Juyuan, Xiang, Liu Bolun and Wang Junchong as official celebrities, Pei Shuze, Le Yanfu, Wang Yifu, Yu Zisong, and Ruan as official celebrities. (See Liu Xiao's note in Shi Shuo Xin Yu. Literature) so there is the saying of bamboo forest celebrities. However, the bamboo celebrities in Justin only include six people, including Ruan Ji, excluding Ruan Ji's nephew Ruan Xian. Therefore, it can be said that the Seven Sages of Bamboo Forest have had different views since Justin.

Wei Chunqiu records the seven sages of bamboo forest, which is too brief. Comparatively speaking, Li Yue Bu quoted Wei Ji and Shi Shuo Xin Yu, and recorded the seven sages of bamboo forest in detail. Wei Ji wrote: "Kang befriended Ruan Ji, Ruan Xian, Xiang Xiu. He is the seven sages of the bamboo forest, all of whom are arrogant and extravagant, frivolous and etiquette, and passed away after drunkenness. " The world said Ren Xinyu Dan article also contains:

Ruan Ji, Ji Kang and Hanoi all have comparisons, but Kang is younger than others. Before signing this contract, Guo Pei Liu Ling, Liu Chen Ruan Xian, Hanoi Xiang Xiu, Lang Xie Wang Rong. Seven people often get together under the bamboo forest, so they are happy, so they are called the seven sages of the bamboo forest. Although the seven sages were not from the same county, they had the same or similar interests and feelings for the society at that time because they were all noble and vain and despised etiquette, so they fell in love at first sight, and they "often gathered under the bamboo forest and enjoyed themselves" and completely forgot the sinister and dirty outside.

According to Wei Chunqiu, Wei Ji, Shi Shuo Xin Yu and other records, the seven sages of bamboo forest are Ruan Ji's uncles Liu Chen, Ruan Xian, Dan Tao and Xiang Xiu in Hanoi, Ji Kang in Qiao County in Hanoi and Yang Shan, the evil Wang Rong and Liu Ling in Guo Pei. This is also a more consistent view of later generations. However, according to historical records, there are two other important people who participated in the bamboo forest tour, namely Lu Xun and Lu An. Brother Lu is the son of General Zhenbei. Xun was long and was once the prime minister. He belongs to the Sima family and is deeply loved by Si Mazhao. An Zhonghou doesn't like being an official. They were associated with Ji Kang, Dan Tao, Xiang Embroidery, especially Lu An, and were active figures in the bamboo forest tour.

Lu An is from Dongping (now Dongping, Shandong) and Ji Kang are good friends. Whenever I miss Ji Kang, he is not far away, and his life is driven by him. Sometimes Ji Kang is away, and my younger brother Ji wants to replace his younger brother, but Lu An is dismissive, preferring to stay alone in the car rather than associate with Ji Kang. When Ji Kang comes back, he can enjoy himself. "The Biography of Jin Shu Ji Kang" said: "Dongping Lu 'an, with lofty aspirations, needs a thousand miles to drive every lovesickness. Kang You is good at it. " Xiang embroidery and Lu An are also good friends. "Book of Jin" states: "Make an alliance with Kang Ou in Luoyi, and irrigate the garden with Lu An, and take the rest for food and wine. Let's take a look at vilen with you. This is an extremely idle trend. No matter how far or near, I will return to China day after day and resume normal business. " Dan Tao and Lv An, the oldest of the Seven Sages of Bamboo Forest, are also good friends. The biography of Jin Shu and Dan Tao contains:

(Dan Tao) Laozi and Zhuangzi, who are good at sex, teach themselves invisibly every time. With Ji Kang and Lu Anshan. Later, when I met Ruan Ji, I went to the bamboo forest and wanted to forget the words. Lv An not only made good friends with Ji Kang, Xiang Embroidery and so on, but also took part in the bamboo forest tour after Ji Kang and Ruan got to know each other. Since the bamboo forest tour is planned, its relationship with the seven sages of bamboo forest is self-evident. Some people think that Wang Rong is the youngest among the Seven Sages of Bamboo Forest. When visiting the bamboo forest, Wang He and his weak crown fell far behind others, among the seven sages, and I'm afraid I'll be one of them. The funds of Lu An, Ji, Ruan and others should be listed as bamboo saints. This statement makes sense, but unfortunately there is no such statement in history, so we have to prepare for it temporarily.

Lu An's brother, Lu Xun, used to be close friends with Ji Kang, just as Ji Kang said in "The Letter of Parting with Lu Changyi": "Compared with the first year, we met several times and became better. From making promises to making friends, although the origins are different, joy and love will not last long. " Later, Lu Xun planned to commit adultery with his sister-in-law, and Lu An wanted to report it. Ji Kang is a friend of the Lu brothers, so he mediated. The so-called "close the door and want to make the other party safe." Unexpectedly, Lu Xun went back on his word and falsely accused Lu An of being unfilial, so Lu An was imprisoned. Ji Kang broke up with Lu Xun in a rage and wrote a letter to defend Lu An, and the result was also implicated. Ji Kang and Lu Xun made bad friends in Jingyuan of Wei Yuan Emperor. Before the bamboo forest tour, it was inferred from the time that Lu Xun might also take part in the bamboo forest tour. The theory of seven sages in bamboo forest refers to the "seven sages" from Confucius, so Sun Sheng and others only quoted seven people at that time. For example, it is harmless to list the Lu brothers as celebrities in bamboo forests, but it will hinder the grand plan.