The Scholars
The protagonist of The Scholars, Fan Jin, lived a destitute life and finally at the age of fifty-four earned the degree of xiucai. But he continued to be ridiculed by his father-in-law Hu the butcher, even being scolded for needing to borrow money for the provincial exam and being told to simply teach in peace. After finally obtaining the degree of juren, Fan Jin was elated to the point of going mad, and the people implored his father-in-law to sober him by striking him. Hu, however, responded: “Being a master is being a constellation in the heavens, and the constellations in the heavens cannot be struck!” This anecdote illustrates that despite enjoying a certain social status, shengyuan (xiucai) were great in numbers and destitute; climbing the next rung to juren, however, brought economic and social advantages.
- Item No.
- CZ 857.08 2961
- Notes
- Written by Wu Jingzi (1701–1754)