Ban Gu

Ban Gu

Ban Gu (32 ~ 92 years), the word mengjian, Fufeng anling (now Baoji City, Shaanxi Province) people. Minister, historian and writer of the Eastern Han Dynasty, together with Sima Qian, were called "ban Ma".

Ban Gu was nine years old and wrote poems and Fu. At the age of 16, he was elected to Taixue and read a lot. In the first year of the Han and Yuan Dynasties (89), he followed general Dou Xian in the northern expedition to Xiongnu, took up the post of Zhonghu army and zuozhonglang general, discussed military affairs, defeated Bei Danyu, and wrote the inscription of fengyanran mountain. In the fourth year of Yongyuan, dou xianmou died in prison at the age of 61.

Ban Gu wrote a lot in his life. As a historian, the compilation of Hanshu is one of the "first four histories"; as a Cifu master, it is one of the "four great masters of Hanfu". Liangdu Fu created an example of Jingdu Fu, which was listed in the first chapter of Wenxuan. At the same time, as a Confucian theorist, Baihu Tongyi integrates the great achievements of Jingxue at that time, making Chenwei theology theorized and codified.

(overview of Ban Gu's portrait source: Chinese martyr's Shrine) < / I > < I >)

Life of the characters

Study in Luoyang

Ban Gu was born in a Confucian family. He was educated and influenced by his father and uncle when he was young. He was able to recite Fu when he was nine years old. Ban Biao, Ban Gu's father, was a famous scholar at that time. Many people came to worship him as a teacher or discuss knowledge with him. Influenced by his father's friends, Ban Gu broadened his horizons and made great progress in his studies. In his later years, ban Biao devoted himself to writing historical records. Influenced by his father, Ban Gu also began to pay attention to Han affairs.

In 44 A.D., Wang Chong visited ban Biao in Luoyang, the capital of China. He appreciated Ban Gu's talent and ambition and believed that Ban Gu would be able to complete the important task of writing the history of Han Dynasty in the future.

With the growth of age, Ban Gu began to be dissatisfied with the family education of the Confucian family. In order to further study, Ban Gu entered Luoyang imperial college when he was 16 years old. Here, he studied hard and learned all kinds of classics. No matter Confucianism or other hundred schools of thought, he was able to study deeply. At the same time, he paid attention to insight. He didn't stick to the theory of one teacher, and he didn't stop at the annotation of pronunciation and meaning, but asked for the general meaning of classics. This is a very important condition for him to grow into a good history in the future. Here, Ban Gu met Cui Yan, Li Yu, Fu Yi and other students. Because Ban Gu is tolerant and easy-going, he is not proud of his outstanding ability, so he is praised by his classmates and scholars. By the time ban Biao died, Ban Gu was only 23 years old, but he had a high level of cultural accomplishment and writing ability.

To seek an official from a virtuous person

Ban Biao died in 54 A.D. in the thirtieth year of Jianwu. Because of his father's financial difficulties, Ban Gu had to move back to his hometown of anling in Fufeng from Luoyang. It was a heavy blow to Ban Gu, who had a strong sense of self-improvement. But he was not discouraged, and his determination to inherit his father's unfinished business did not change. Ban Gu thinks that his father has already written the part of the biography of historical records, the content is not detailed enough, and the layout needs to be improved; the part that has not been written needs to be renewed. Therefore, on the basis of his father's historical records, he began his career of writing the book of the Han Dynasty by using the rich books collected by his family, and at the same time, he actively sought the opportunity to become an official.

In the first year of Yongping (A.D. 58), Emperor Ming of Han Dynasty appointed Liu Cang, king of Dongping, as a general of pumila, and allowed him to choose 40 auxiliary officials. Ban Gu thought that this was a good opportunity to become an official. In order to actively recommend talents, and also to show his insight and talent, he wrote a recital < I > (< / I > < I > recital of Wang Cang of Dongping < / I > < I >) < / I >). Ban Gu's recommendation did not succeed, but most of his suggestions were adopted by Liu Cang.

Private compilation of national history

In the fifth year of Yongping (A.D. 62), when Ban Gu was doing his best to write the book of Han Dynasty, someone wrote to the imperial court to report that Ban Gu had "privately compiled the history of the country". The emperor of the Han and Ming Dynasties ordered Fufeng County to arrest him. Ban Gu was put into Jingzhao prison, and the manuscript was also checked by the government. Su Lang, a member of the same county, was accused of forging a prophecy. He was arrested and put to death soon after he was put into prison. In the face of this grim situation, the whole class is very nervous, afraid of bad luck. Ban Gu's younger brother, ban Chao, worried that Ban Gu was forced by the county office and could not express himself, so he rode a fast horse to Luoyang, the capital, and planned to write to Emperor Han and Ming to redress Ban Gu's injustice.

Ban Chao drove his horse through Huayin and Tongguan, and rushed to Luoyang, the capital city. Shangshu pleaded for Ban Gu's injustice, which aroused the attention of the emperor of the Han and Ming Dynasties to this case and specially called ban Chao to verify the situation. Ban Chao told the emperor of the Han and Ming Dynasties of his father and brother's painstaking efforts in compiling history and their intention to publicize "Han de". The prefect of Fufeng also sent the manuscript to the capital. After reading the manuscript, Emperor Ming was surprised by Ban Gu's talent. He praised Ban Gu's manuscript as a wonderful work. He ordered his immediate release and called him to the imperial Library of Luoyang in Kyoto. He worshipped Ban Gu as the commander of Lantai and was in charge of the imperial library.

The imperial edict to revise history

Ban Gu was worshipped as the "Lan Tai Ling Shi". He was appointed to compile the story of Shizu Benji, the story of Emperor Guangwu in the Eastern Han Dynasty, together with former Suiyang County Magistrate Chen Zong, Changling County Magistrate Yin min, and Sili county magistrate Meng Yi. Ban Gu, together with Chen Zong, soon completed the compilation of Shizu Benji, which was praised by the Ming emperor. Because of his outstanding efforts in compiling Shizu Benji, Ban Gu was promoted to "Lang" official, responsible for collating Royal books.

Ban Gu continued to write about the history of Emperor Guangwu and the deeds of the meritorious officials, Pinglin, Xinshi uprising army and Gongsun Shu of the Eastern Han Dynasty, forming 28 biographies and records. In this way, the records of Emperor Guangwu's Dynasty are generally complete. Dongguanhanji is the contemporary history of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Since the Ming Dynasty, it has been renewed by Zhang Di, an Di, Huan Di, Ling Di and Xian di. Ban Gu made an important contribution and made a good start in its founding period.)

After Ban Gu arrived in the capital, his younger brother ban Chao and his mother also came to Luoyang. Because of his poor family, ban Chao made a living by copying documents for the government. After Ban Gu was appointed Langguan by the emperor of the Han and Ming Dynasties, although his rank was low, he had more opportunities to meet with the emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Later, the Ming emperor asked about ban Chao, who had risked his life to save Ban Gu. Ban Gu told him the truth. The Ming emperor appreciated ban Chao's courage and eloquence very much. It was a pity that he had not been appointed, so he gave ban Chao the title of "lantailing history". During this period, although Ban Gu's position was low, he got a more stable life. More importantly, he was able to contact and use the rich royal collection of books, which provided an important condition for him to complete Han Shu in the future.

Ban Gu showed his outstanding talent in writing the stories of the emperor and his ministers of the Guangwu Dynasty, which was appreciated by the emperor of the Han and Ming Dynasties. In view of Ban Gu's ambition to write the history of the Han Dynasty, Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty also hoped to publicize the "Han virtue" through Ban Gu, so that he could continue to complete the history books. Ban Gu's private writing of the book of Han was a significant turning point, which was a powerful impetus to the completion of the book. From then on, Ban Gu not only had a relatively stable life and had Royal books to use, but also had the will of the Ming emperor, which confirmed the legitimacy of his history writing and no longer had to be afraid. Because of these conditions, Ban Gu began to devote himself to the cause of writing history, and the progress of writing history was greatly accelerated.

Master of literature and history

Ode to the east capital

After the establishment of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Luoyang was established as its capital. By the time of the Ming emperor, the moat was dredged and the city walls were repaired to reorganize the imperial palace. However, the old gentry in Guanzhong still cherished the bustling scene of establishing the capital of Chang'an in the Western Han Dynasty. They thought it was wrong to establish the capital of Luoyang in the Eastern Han Dynasty and hoped that the imperial court would move back to Chang'an. Ban Gu thought that Luoyang was more suitable, and he didn't want to disturb people's minds by moving the capital, so he wrote "Ode to the two capitals", praising the beauty of the scale system of Luoyang, the eastern capital. From the perspective of etiquette and law, he praised Emperor Guangwu's achievements in moving the capital to Luoyang and Zhongxing Hanshi, and publicized the suitability of Luoyang's capital construction, in order to refute the untimely comments of Guanzhong people and clarify people's vague understanding.

On the death of Qin Dynasty

In the 17th year of Yongping (74th year), the emperor of the Han and Ming Dynasties called Ban Gu, Jia Kui, Xi Meng and others to the yunlongmen palace to discuss whether Sima Qian's praise in the historical records of the first emperor of Qin Dynasty was improper. Ban Gu pointed out a mistake in court. After leaving the palace, Ban Gu made a historical review of Qin Ji Lun to further explain his understanding of the death of Qin Dynasty, revealing the inevitability of the death of Qin Dynasty.

Firm ambition

In the 18th year of Yongping (75th year), Emperor Ming of Han Dynasty died, and his son Liu Ji ascended the throne as emperor Zhang of Han Dynasty. Emperor Zhang of the Han Dynasty also had great interest in Confucian classics, so Ban Gu was more valued and was often photographed in the imperial palace to study with the emperor. Every time emperor Zhang went out to patrol, he always asked Ban Gu to accompany him and presented poems and songs to boost the fun. Ban Gu was also invited to attend the discussions of the ministers when the imperial court had important affairs.

Although Ban Gu was valued by Emperor Zhang for his profound knowledge, he was not famous for his father's and son's brilliant talents. He was 40 years old and still could not be promoted. He remembered that Dongfang Shuo and Yang Xiong had complained in their articles that they could not catch up with the times of Su Qin and Zhang Yi, so he wrote an article called Dabin opera. In the form of question and answer, the article expresses his own depression and emotion, refutes his wrong thoughts and depression from the positive, and encourages him to stick to his ambition and keep fighting according to the set goal. The full text is ingenious in conception, elegant in style, profound and sincere in reasoning.

After reading it, Emperor Zhang appreciated Ban Gu's talent more and realized Ban Gu's talent

Chinese PinYin : Ban Gu