Rhys Mumford, Author at Seven Worthies

5 Virtues of a Thief

virtues of a thief 5 Robber Zhi (盜跖) is one of the stock characters of the Zhuangzi, frequently invoked to poke holes in the tenets of other philosophers and generally Confucians. This cheeky list, which sums up the ‘dao’ of being a thief, is a comical subversion of the qualities that the ruists (Confucians) espoused. The satirical passage is part of a broader point; the sages disturbed the natural order by introducing the artificial desire for virtuous qualities. Though a few good people may result, the society they create gives rise to [...]

5 Virtues of a ThiefRhys Mumford2025-02-08T06:59:35+00:00

7 Worthies of the Bamboo Grove

In the tumultuous Three Kingdoms period, the dangerous world of politics led seven friends to meet together in a bamboo forest, writing poetry, discoursing on philosophy, and enjoying the natural world. Some of the seven retained official roles, while others turned their backs on politics entirely. The seven as a whole became important icons in a long tradition of abandoning the stifling world of hypocritical politics for a life of the mind.

7 Worthies of the Bamboo GroveRhys Mumford2025-02-12T04:39:09+00:00

3 Winter Friends

winter friends 3 The "three winter friends" or "歲寒三友" is a four-character expression (成語) used to refer to three hardy plants: the pine, the bamboo (both of which last through the winter), and the plum, which flowers during the winter. This literary expression crops up in the Hong Lou Meng when a special garden is prepared to receive the imperial concubine for a family visit. 3 winter friends The "three winter friends" or "歲寒三友" is a four-character expression (成語) used to refer [...]

3 Winter FriendsRhys Mumford2025-02-05T12:57:59+00:00

6 different ways to write qi

'Qi', sometimes transliterated as chi or ch'i is a well-known concept in the worlds of Chinese medicine, philosophy, martial arts and geomancy. A traditional etymology suggests that the concept originally developed from the idea of clouds or mist and from there, by extension, the idea of breath. But actually there were many alternative ways of getting qi down in writing, and the different forms suggest a few different ideas were in play when nailing down this all-important concept in Chinese thought.

6 different ways to write qiRhys Mumford2025-01-04T22:52:02+00:00

3 Sworn Brothers of the Peach Garden

The Han Empire is dying, beset by insurrection from marauding Yellow Turbans. Three noble men meet by chance and find common purpose in resisting the threat of tyranny and ruin. Amidst peach trees, the men swear an oath to unite unto death in the service of the downtrodden. So begins the celebrated Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and the fictionalised account of the real life founder and generals of the Shu Kingdom.

3 Sworn Brothers of the Peach GardenRhys Mumford2025-09-07T06:40:34+00:00

5 punishments & the protest of Yi Ting

punishments & the protest of Ti Ying 5 Ti Ying （緹縈）was the youngest daughter of a doctor condemned to receive one of the five corporal punishments of Han Dynasty China. Defying the societal restrictions on her sex, Ti Ying travelled to the capital to intercede on her father's behalf, boldly petitioning the emperor Wen (漢文帝, 203-157 BCE). Instead of appealing on the basis of her father's good character, she took on the whole system of corporal punishment itself, pointing out the inhumanity of the penal code. The emperor was [...]

5 punishments & the protest of Yi TingRhys Mumford2024-09-07T07:58:00+00:00

Xi Feng’s Way with Words

Xi Feng, or Phoenix, is among the most compelling characters in the Hong Lou Meng. Whenever she steps into a room she dominates the scene, and even when she absent, her influence is felt throughout the two households. One reason for her dominance in the family hierarchy is her quick wit and golden tongue, which she uses with expert precision: she can tear a strip off an underling, negotiate her way to financial advantage, or have a room in stitches. Having not grown up with a classical education, Xi Feng lacks the literary allusions and clever jokes of other young ladies of the household, as Dai Yu snobbily remarks. Yet this does not hold her back in the slightest.

Xi Feng’s Way with WordsRhys Mumford2025-01-29T13:10:24+00:00

The Battle of Red Cliff

The Battle of Red Cliff The Battle of Red Cliff (208) was a turning point in history, checking the imperial ambitions of Northern warlord Cao Cao (曹操) and inaugurating the Three Kingdoms period. Having taken the Han emperor under his 'protection' and secured his territory in the north, Cao Cao marched his vast army southwards, seeking to complete his conquest of China. Yet he suffered cataclysmic defeat at Red Cliff at the hands of the allies Liu Bei and Sun Quan and was forced to retreat northwards, incurring devastating losses en route. [...]

The Battle of Red CliffRhys Mumford2025-02-06T15:43:13+00:00

A certain meretricious talent

I am very much enjoying the Penguin Classics version of the Hong Lou Meng, and in particular some delightful phrases courtesy of David Hawkes' excellent translation. One of these concerns the main character of Bao Yu in Chapter 17, during a set-piece scene that pits the enfant terrible entertainingly against his disapproving father. An imperial edict has made provision for an annual visit home for all palace concubines, provided they can be received in the manner to which they are accustomed. Cue a hasty scrambling to construct what amounts to a pleasure garden in the grounds of the family estate. Bao Yu is unfortunate enough to run into his father, who takes him round with a group of literati and demands that he thinks up names and couplets for the various beauty spots they encounter.

A certain meretricious talentRhys Mumford2025-01-29T13:16:18+00:00

Latest Lists – April 2022

A year has passed since the previous written update to this website, which is cause to reflect on the work that has been done in the intervening months. Leaving aside improvements in the look of the site and working out how to make things work nicely, I have added six lists since the initial Seven Worthies. These run the gamut from "common knowledge" to "fairly obscure" and have been chosen based on nothing more substantial that whatever happened to take my fancy at that particular moment. Starting with the oldest, first up is The Six Schools of Sima Tan, which [...]

Latest Lists – April 2022Rhys Mumford2022-04-13T05:58:04+00:00

About Rhys Mumford