#Xinyu Wang family

[sportworldtone]

Xinyu Wang

Xinyu Wang is an international Chinese tennis player. Wang is presently in a love affair with Wu Yongen, as she announced through a post in 2021, making her relationship status known to the public. You may get here Xinyu Wang WTA Player Career, Husband, Net Worth, Family, And More

[guzhufuren]

New posters, message, part of a soundtrack and information about upcoming chinese BL The General's Son, show from the director of Word of Honor

"Green mountains are hidden in the distance, the waters are far away, the bright moon is always shining, the world is full of happiness."

Genres: wuxia; revenge Number of episodes: 24 Episode runtime: 18 minutes

Lead actors: Li Kaiwen as Li Jianwei; Dong Zifan as Chen Xiaoxi

Director and executive producer: Ma Huagan (Word of Honor, The Legend of Anle, Sword Dynasty) Art director: Liu Jingping (Love and Redemption, A Dream of Splendor, Wonderland of Love) Screenwriter and chief producer: Zhou Shucheng Executive producers: Zhuo Zuoqing, Yang Qi Co-producers: Jiang Yuxin, Li Shike, Dong Xinyu Co-director: Wang Xue Producers: Jiang Zhengpeng, Liu Wei, Xu Heni Planning by: Luo Yuting, Luo Gaoqiang

Filming finished this June. Will not be broadcast in mainland China. Original script.

Synopsis: General Li's family were killed on New Year's Eve. Li Jianwei, the youngest son of the Li family, escaped death, but disguised himself as a courtesan and went to Wei Mountain to seek revenge. Chen Xiaoxi, the young master of Guigu, has a lively and eccentric personality, becomes increasingly close to Li Jianwei, who has tried his best to win him over. Chen Xiaoxi's sister, Xiao Hetao, is simple and kind. She discovers that Li Jianwei came for revenge, and dies to resolve the hatred between the two.

Characters:

Li Jianwei. Twenty years old, the youngest son of General Li Fei, he is loved by the whole family, standing like an orchid and a jade tree, smiling like the bright moon. He should have had a bright future, but his fate changed overnight. In order to get revenge, he went undercover to Weishan, enduring humiliation and patiently executing his plan step by step.

Chen Xiaoxi. At the age of twenty, we meet the young master of Weishan Guigu. He was born pure but had evil eyes. Under his lively and sunny appearance, his face looked like that of a devil's. In fact, he was rough but kind, and treated people with sincerity. Unfortunately, fate played a cruel joke on him and his mother died.

Xiao Hetao. At the age of seventeen, Chen Xiaoxi rescued a human child from a wolf pack. Innocent and romantic, she was very simple and naive. Gui Rong and others gave Xiao Hetao the purest and most innocent living environment, but she hoped to resolve the hatred of everyone with her own power.

Princess Qingyuan. Thirty-four years old, a graceful and elegant lady, smart and tenacious. She was in love with Chen Dawang when she was young. After Chen Dawang's death, she firmly refused marriage arranged by the magistrate's office and spent many years in Zhejiang. While helping Li Jianwei to take revenge, Qingyuan, the deputy envoy of the Chang'an Supervisor Zi Ke, has been trying to find out the truth about Jian Jishan from 20 years ago.

Chen Dawang. At the age of 38, we meet the leader of Guigu in Huishan. Twenty years ago, he was a major general in the Loyal and Brave Army led by Chen Weishan. Entrusted by the general, Chen Dawang and his party lived in seclusion in Guigu for twenty years, just to avenge the Loyal and Brave Army and reveal the truth to the world one day.

Sizhou. 24 years old, a descendant of the Loyal and Brave Army, he was a martial arts expert but became blind in two days. Because he was indebted to the Lord of Qingyuan, he stayed by his side and waited for investigation. While helping Li Jianwei to get his revenge, he also hoped to find out the truth of the old case of the Loyal and Brave Army from 20 years ago.

Wan Qianhong. Thirty-eight years old, owner of Baihua Villa, with mysterious martial arts and deceitful tricks. When she was young, she fell in love with Li Pu, who concealed his identity. Later, Li Xifei and Huang Jueda broke off all ties with Wan Qianhong. Since then, Wan Qianhong deeply hated Li Pu and all men in the world. Behind the hatred, Wan Qianhong missed her daughter so much that she mistakenly recognized Xiao Hetao as Zaotian's daughter. In the end, they ended up loving each other but not being able to be together.

Shi Tou. Eighteen years old, a good martial brother of Chen Xiaoxi, grew up in Jianweishan. He is the beloved son of Uncle Hua and Aunt Hua, with a simple and straightforward personality. He was happy and naive until Xiaohe died. The joy he did not even have time to express became the biggest regret in Shi Tou's life.

*text from informational brochures was converted with image to text online programs, translated through google translator and edited by me with some help of online dictionaries. i do not speak chinese, so there are most certainly mistakes in the text. purpose of this translation is to give you the general idea

[sunriseverse]

DMBJ prompt- Kan Jian doing something that makes Zhang Rishan laugh when they're on a mission together?

😁

this took me.........almost two weeks, i am so sorry. anyway, enjoy!

-

Zhang Rishan doesn’t expect to see Kan Jian again—once he’d left along with Wang Pangzi and the others more closely aligned with the Wu family, Zhang Rishan had thought that would be the last of it. It had been surprising, how sudden that realisation had felt—he hadn’t realised how well Kan Jian had integrated himself into the hum of daily life around Xinyue, even if Zhang Rishan had been gone for some of that, trapped beneath the sands. But all things must end—this is not an empty maxim, but something that he has learnt through firsthand experience; a man out of time as he is, it’s inevitable that, at some point, those whom he grows close to will leave at some point—even if they stay their entire lives, the way Fo Ye had, death will eventually claim them. It’s something he’s grown used to—something he’s grown around, a tree around a barbed fence, until the wicked spikes no longer dug into his flesh.

So perhaps that’s why, when Wu Xie comes to his side, offers him a nod of acknowledgement as he takes the binoculars proffered to him, he doesn’t expect the shadow at Wu Xie’s back—or, rather, only expects one of them; Wang Pangzi is there, of course, two flaring stars of the Iron Triangle so much dimmer without their third sun, but then, to his side, Kan Jian, who’s wearing his trademark sleeveless ensemble. Not for the first time, Zhang Rishan feels a small flare of exasperation—it doesn’t matter how warm the man might run, one day he’ll catch a cold dressing like that.

To his further surprise, though, rather than following after Wu Xie when he moves to get his allies into order, Kan Jian instead diverts to Zhang Rishan’s side, smiling widely. “Huizhang!” he exclaims, puppyish and bright-eyed, and not for the first time, Zhang Rishan feels incalculably old—had he ever been so enthusiastic? He’s not sure he can remember. But in the tense atmosphere of this pre-ambush gathering, it’s like a breath of spring breeze, carrying the scent of plum blossoms.

“Aren’t you going to join Wu Xie’s detachment?” Zhang Rishan says mildly, and shifts slightly so that Kan Jian can come stand at his side if he chooses. Kan Jian takes the opportunity with a grin, and Zhang Rishan, despite the inappropriateness of it, given the context, finds himself smiling faintly in return.

After that, things fall into motion like an executioner’s blade—a spectacle, coated in blood and a sense of shared fervor from both sides. It’s a race to try and apprehend the Wang as they try and flee, having at some point realised the ambush was imminent. Zhang Rishan would love to know how that had happened, but he supposes, as he sidesteps a blow and brings a knee up into someone’s ribs, that it doesn’t particularly matter; the Wang, though they may have the element of familiarity, are panicking, and not as motivated as the remainder of the Jiumen—and, after all, the capture of the individuals is less pressing than the destruction of the computing division. They can always track down any who flee later on; the computing division, on the other hand, is something that must be dealt with forthwith, as it poses the largest threat.

Wu Xie, unsurprisingly, is the one to take the matter into hand—he disappears without a word halfway into the compound, leaving the rest of them to deal with any other hostiles. They’re lucky to have managed to do a near full sweep of the compound by the time the explosions rock the foundations—the only injuries to his team are some scrapes and bruises, no fatalities or serious wounds, though everyone gets at least liberally coated in dust. Zhang Rishan resits a sigh and wipes a hand across his face to clear his vision, and begins counting off to make certain that no one lagged behind and was caught under rubble.

As he’d initially assessed, no one is injured—Kan Jian, though, is looking dejected, hands shoved into his pockets and covered in grey dust, and he resolves to approach him and find out what the issue is. With that decision made, he leads his team out of the compound and around the perimeter for a final casting of the net to see if any more Wang have emerged from the compound that they missed while inside. They manage to detain a few more, but as Zhang Rishan had suspected, they’re not anyone of consequence. Wu Xie emerges, too, eventually, holding Li Cu in his arms and looking worse for the wear—dusty, bloodied, and exhausted, but clearly satisfied, at least for now. Zhang Rishan leaves him be, and dismisses those who had made up his team to other tasks, and then heads for where Xie Yuchen and the interim family heads have convened to try and decide what to do with the Wang they’ve captured. Kan Jian follows after him, which makes it easier, when the conversation draws to a close, for Zhang Rishan to turn to him with a raised brow. “Did you lose your slingshot?”

Kan Jian shakes his head, still looking absolutely crushed. “I brought some candies for Xiaomaque—Luo Que, I mean, but they got lost while we were inside.”

For a moment, Zhang Rishan merely blinks at him, and then, without meaning to, his lips stretch into a smile, and then he’s laughing, quiet and half-wonderous. Kan Jian—he’s like the golden rays of dawn, sometimes too warm but always well-intentioned. Zhang Rishan has watched the relationship between him and Luo Que grow from a one-sided enmity to something more cordial, even playful—not that it had, he suspects, ever been unplayful, on Kan Jian’s side—, but he hadn’t expected—this, he supposes; for Kan Jian to have grown so attached to the other man as to become distressed when something he’d meant for him was lost. Kan Jia’s gaze flickers, and Zhang Rishan realises, suddenly, he might think he’s laughing at him, and so he says, “Follow me,” and leads a confused but pliant Kan Jian to the Jeep he’d driven in, and opens the glovebox. “Luo Que rode with me on the way here,” he explains as he takes out a bag of lollipops. “These—”

“Are his favourite!” Kan Jian says, excitedly, and takes the bag. “Thank you, huizhang! You really are amazing!” He’s beaming like Zhang Rishan has given him some sort of irreplaceable treasure, and, not for the first time, Zhang Rishan finds himself smiling back automatically. “Thank you!” he says, again, happily, and turns to make a beeline towards the other end of camp, where Luo Que is hovering, almost indistinct, at Yin Nanfeng’s side.

Still smiling, Zhang Rishan shakes his head and closes the glovebox. 

[lacommunarde]

rules: List the first line of your last 10 (posted) fics and see if there’s a pattern! Thanks @dual-domination and @bladedweaponsandswishycoats for tagging me! <3

“Commander,” said Ivanova’s comm. (A Field Telepaths' Guide to Types of Rogues Babylon 5, Ivanova/Talia Winters) (Next line is a bit longer: She needed a drink. She needed rest. She needed her comm to stuff it for all of the two hours of regulation rest that they were required to have even when they were working back-to-back shifts, so she could actually take that rest and not suffer sleep brain.

The world of the dead. Who could say what all the souls in the long line of dead souls thought as Lyra and Will led them out. There were murmurs of course. So everyone could hear those immediately around them. What everyone thought, that was beyond everyone’s ability. (Long Distance Relationship, His Dark Materials, Lyra Silvertongue/Will Parry)

Zhang Rishan heard who had come calling at the Xinyue and did the only thing he could. He closed the door. (Zhang Rishan closed the door to his office: What else could he do after all, Daomu Biji, Zhang Rishan & Zhang Qiling)

Yoo Jaeyi’s first thought was she was only a high school student. Wasn’t she too young to be dealing with this? (Missing Persons Flyers, Beyond Evil, Yoo Jaeyi & Lee Dongsik)

The first few times Shen Wei woke up from a nightmare where the entire weight of the world was resting on his shoulders until it crushed him, he thought nothing of it. After all, he had had the weight of the world happen to him, all those years before, and then he had been the only one around to carry it. It made sense that now that he finally had someone to share the weight of the mountains and rivers with, now that he had Kunlun back to himself lying beside him in bed, only now was he releasing stress born from those years of carrying it. (Pangu Split Heaven and Earth and Then Himself Too, Guardian - novel, Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan, Shen Wei & Gui Mian)

It all started when a fellow professor saw Shen Wei stretching after having a particularly awful day. Apparently the other professor recognized it as a qigong stretch. Shen Wei did keep track of things enough to be aware of the qigong fad that had appeared lately across both Dragon City and China in general. Ok, maybe a little longer ago than lately, but in the grand scheme of things, within a human lifetime, and a young human lifetime at that. But he had been unaware that someone would put together his moving his energy around with qigong. (Qigong Class with Professor Shen, Guardian, Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan)

“Chief Zhao, there is a young man here to see you. He appears to be human. But… you’ll have to hear him out,” Zhu Hong announced when Zhao Yunlan entered the office one morning later in the year in 2015. (Loss of Soul, Daomu Biji, Guardian, main cast & main cast)

“Babies! I’m telling you! They are literal babies!” Pangzi ranted at him. (Younger Than We Were, Daomu Biji Sha Hai, Zhang Rishan & Wang Pangzi)

“You know, my husband isn’t allowed to make tang yuan anymore either. That’s why both of those good-for-nothings are in the other room and not allowed in here while they are made,” Mama Zhao explained to Shen Wei. She pinched off another bit of the filling and rolled it into a ball. Shen Wei followed her and took each ball to pop into a ball of dough, which he quickly smoothed up and over the filling. (Tang Yuan with Mama Zhao, Guardian, Mama Zhao & Shen Wei)

They should have been suspecting a trap. The tomb was too easy to get into. Admittedly, it was far out in the middle of nowhere. But in terms of actually being able to find it and climb into it once there, it was pretty easy. Tombs like that tended to have traps. (Revitalizing the Zhang family, Daomu Biji, Zhang Qiling, Zhang Rishan, Wu Xie, Zhang Haike)

So I like to start mid scene/mid-action, and then go back and explain/scene-describe what's going on (or just move forward from the mid-scene point). Other than that, I don't know. I tend to try to match the mood I am trying to go for, usually unsuccessfully. I should go back and read the source material more before redrafting in the future.

Whoever wants to do the ask meme can! Take this as your invite!

[lucientelrunya]

Sound of War - The Crystal Menace

Tags:

Alternative Universe - Mecha, AU Hurt/Comfort, Action/Adventure, Canon-Typical Violence, no beta we die like a-ning, Other Additional Tags to Be Added

Relationships:

Qi Tie Zui/Zhang Rishan

Dou Cheng/Zhang Buxun (Explore with the Note & The Lost Tomb)

Yin Xinyue/Zhang Qishan

Wang Pangzi/Wu Xie/Zhang Qiling

Summary:

67 years ago, giant alien monsters suddenly started appearing on earth, destroying everything in their path. To defend themselves humanity built equally giant robots, the ARGOS.

These robots are controlled by two pilots, a primary pilot called Jiang and a secondary pilot called Fuguan. Unfortunately, being a Fuguan causes the incurable pilot-sickness, a sickness only members of the Zhang family seem to have a certain resistance against. But even this special ability doesn’t keep them from dying. And dying faster than they can be replaced.

A fate Zhang Rishan was meant to be spared from, being hidden away by his older brother Zhang Qishan. A fateful accident, however, leads to his discovery and he has no choice but to become a Fuguan. Only to be partnered with the man his brother hates the most: Qi Tiezui.

[nefelibatateaser]

Could you suggest FCs for each family?

*keep in mind that this rp WILL NOT be resource oriented, so model faceclaims will be suggested (especially for lord leto whose canon counterpart has been explicitly stated as a beautiful young man (not handsome, but beautiful, like an androgynous greek myth figure. with long hair and all that)).   *we also do not have a set “age bend” rule in place. we just ask that you be reasonable

HOUSE LETO

DUCHESS LETO (50+) : indira varma, aishwarya rai, madhuri dixit, rani mukerji, sarita choudhury, preity zinta,  kajol devgn, sridevi, juhi chawla, mahima chaudhry, manisha koirala, karisma kapoor, raveena tandon, geetanjali rao, deepti naval. 

SER LETO (30+) : UNLOCKED AT CH. II

LORD LETO (26-30) : kaya holl, tom ali, saket sharma, aramis knight, akshay kumar, avan jogi, callum stoddart, sebastian de souza, daanisj mahabier.

LADY LETO (23+) : alia bhatt, janhvi kapoor, sara ali khan, shalini pandey, ,anushi chhillar, alaya f, khushi kapoor, keerthy suresh, banita sandhu, aditi rao hydari, kelly gale, neelam gill, ulka gupta. 

HOUSE AERDDYD

DUCHESS AERDDYD (45+) : naomi harris, estella daniels, cynthia addai-robinson, carmen ejogo, jill scott, kerry wahington, thandie newton, sophie okonedo, tika sumpter, naomi campbell, catherine lough haggquist, thandie newton, angela bassett.

DUKE AERDDYD (45+) : adrian lester, idris elba, sope dirisu, djimon hounsou, paterson joseph, howard charles, danny sapani, david oyewolo.

SER AERDDYD (30+) : adopted

LADY AERDDYD (27+) : lashana lynch, aalijah hydes, gugu mbatha raw, nathalie emmanuel, susie wokoma, jodie turner smith, laura harrier,  pippa bennett-warner, leonie elliott, salem mitchell, grace bol.

LORD AERDDYD (25+) : marcus sivyer, jacob anderson, elliot knight, lucien laviscount,  ntonga mwanza, alfie enoch, adonis bosso, torrin verdone.

LORD/LADY AERDDYD (21+) : cara ricketts, assa miriam, tiffany boone, ebonee noel, alexandra metz,  crystal clarke, evelyn rain, halle bailey, jemal etnel, odiseas georgiadis, chance perdomo, jacob artist, bruno fabre, masao parris.

HOUSE ANLE

@howlscifer and @herorps are doing GREAT job at making resources for chinese faceclaims. so especially for the the anle children, i suggest going to their blog and giving their packs a look!

DUKE ANLE (46)  : wallace huo, li guangjie, qiao zhenyu, hu ge, huang xiaoming, feng shaofeng, liu ye, rick yune, pierre png, 

LADY/LORD ANLE (40) : hu caihong, tiffany tang, gao yuan yuan, fan bing bing, ruby lin, juan zi, zhou xun, qin hailu, li bingbing, cynthia koh, cao xiwen, deng sha, jiang xin.

VISCOUNT ANLE (27) : zhang yicong, ding yuxi, fang yilun, tang xiaotian, wang yibo, darren wang, jing boran, chen xiang, gao taiyu, leon li, zhang zhehan, xiao zhan

LORD/LADY ANLE (<27) : li hongyi, lin yi, sheng yinghao, zheng shuang, zhao liying, shao yuwei, li mengmeng, song weilong, gulnazar (nazha), wu qian, song jiyang, wu jinyan, xu kai, angela baby, li qin, chen xinyu, dilraba dilmurat, guli nazha.

LADY ANLE (20+) : zhao lusi, ju jingyi, zhou zixin, jiang yiyi, bai lu, guan xiaotong, jiang zixin, lin yun, meng ziyi, ren min, song zuer, sun yi, xiao yan, zhang xueying, zhang yaqin, yang chaoyue. 

HOUSE BAVLENKA

GRAND DUKE BAVLENKA (55) : benjamin bratt, emilio rivera, benicio del toro, andy garcia, esai morales, demian bichir.

DUCHESS BAVLENKA (30-35) : maría mercedes coroy, nathalie kelley, ishbel bautista, emily rios, barbara de regil, maría gabriela de faría.

LORD BAVLENKA (25+) : jorge antonio guerrero, peter gadiot, diego boneta, tommy martinez, chay suede, jessey stevens, vadhir derbez, yago muñoz, jorge lopez.

LADY BAVLENKA (18+) : adopted

HEAD BUTLER (50+) : staff member

*these are just suggestion so feel free to apply as anyone you like as long as they fit !

[chaoticbluebirdconnoisseur]

Five Mineral Drug

Five mineral powder (or wushi), also known as cold food powder (or hanshi), was one of the most widely used drugs in medieval China.  I have read the paper Lebensstil und Drogen im chinesischen Mittelalter by Rudolf G. Wagner and thought that those who can’t speak German might want to know more about it as well. In this, I will explain how it was found and popularized, the people who took this, symptoms, side effects, etc.

So I picked out a few texts and translated the translations from German to English. Keep in mind that the translation had gone from being originally written in Middle Chinese to being translated to German by Wagner, and then being translated by me in English. This is not an official translation, and I don’t want it to be treated as such. I tried finding alternative translations but in the end, I had to resort to translating most of it myself. My translations (which are Wagners translations) are marked with a ・ .

And also for those not bright enough: DO NOT RECREATE THIS TRASH! DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CONSUME IT! Jesus

Five Mineral Drug Before He Yan

There is not much known about the History before He Yan’s lifetime, but we have the following statement by Qin Zhengzu in his work Hanshi san lun ・ :

Although the recipe for the cold food powder originates in the Han Dynasty, there were not many who used it. But when the shangshu (He Yan) achieved godly mental abilities (because of the drug), it spread immensely throughout the era.

In Chao Yuanfang’s work Chaoshi Zhubing Yuanhuo [1] which citates Huangfu Mi ・ :

Where the drug came from is not known. Some say Hua Tuo invented it, others say it was Zhang Ji. If one examines the truthfulness on these accounts, it was plausible for Hua Tuo’s talent to invent simple recipes (which does not apply to the five mineral powder). In a text written by Zhang Ji, there is a recipe called Houshi Hei (Black Powder by Sir Hou) and a Zushi Ying recipe, both of those, have a similar composition like the Five Mineral Powder, and the codes of conduct (for the ingestion) are more or less the same. According to those two recipes, the plant-based and the mineral-based, I deduce the origins stem from Zhang Ji and not Hua Tuo.

Remarkable is that Huangfu Mi had to speculate even though He Yan was dead for only 30 years. Rudolf G. Wagner comments that Huangfu’s explanation could ring true because Zhang Ji was known as a doctor specialized in Shanghan diseases (cold diseases). Summarized we know that the drug was probably invented in the Han Dynasty and that it was meant to be used as medicine.

He Yan and the Popularization of The Five Mineral Drug

He Yan (d. 249) was the grandson of He Jin and grandnephew of Empress Dowager He. His mother Lady Yin, who was formerly the wife of He Xian, became the concubine of Cao Cao. Although he was closely affiliated with the imperial clan (through his mother and his wife Princess Jinxiang), he was largely unrecognized by them, Wendi of Wei even calling him a ‘false son'. He stayed out of government until Mingdi of Wei’s death. He Yan cultivated a circle of friends of scholarly interests, on which he exerted influence. His contemporaries include Wang Bi, Xiahou Xuan, Deng Yang, Li Sheng, and Zhuge Dan.

At the regency of Cao Shuang, he and his circle would take great influence in the years from 240 to 249, which was known as the Zhengshi era. He and Wang Bi (226-249)achieved great scholarly achievements in Neo-Daoism, also known as Xuanxue. The cultural, scholarly, and scientific advancements were unparalleled and imitated in later years. But the regime by Cao Shuang and his co-regent Sima Yi (179-251) would prove to be highly unstable. Cao Shuang and his circle came to represent the new elites with Xuanxue as their philosophy, and Sima Yi represented the orthodox Confucian landholders, who would feel threatened by He Yan and his friends who represented in many the new powerholders. Internal strifes in Cao’s faction and Sima Yi’s short retreat from the court would result in a coup d'état against Cao. Cao Shuang, He Yan, his supporters, and their families were all executed.

For a more thorough analysis on He Yan, I highly recommend DaolunofShiji’s A Case For He Yan.

He Yan was described in the He Yan Biezhuan:” His figure and face were of outstanding beauty; when he went outside, for a walk, onlookers would fill the streets; many said he was a genius”. Further, the Weilüe states: “...in all activities white cosmetic powder did not leave his hands, when walking he looked back at his shadow.” As a dandy, outstanding debater, and philosopher, he would dictate the beauty and philosophical trends, of not only his day but for the next centuries. For example, the former standards of attractiveness were in the Late Han Dynasty a warriorlike appearance with great strength to accompany it. Because of He Yan, the standards changed to a more docile and graceful appearance.

As a trendsetter, with no doubt many admirers, he introduced the drug in the Wei elite with his description of the drug cited in the Shishuo Xinyu: “Whenever I take five-mineral powder, not only does it heal any illness I might have, but I am also aware of my spirit and intelligence becoming receptive and lucid.” It’s popularity rose in the Wei-Jin elite as following anecdotes describe:

Chao Yuanfang’s work which cites Huangfu Mi in Chaoshi Zhubing Yuanhuo・ :

In youngest times, the shangshu He Yan devoted himself to music and appreciated sex, when he took the drug for the first time, his consciousness gained more clarity and his physical strength increased. In the capital (of Wei), everyone passed the drug around... After the death of He Yan, those who took the drug multiplied, and it didn’t slow down with time.

The drug not only aids ‘spirit and intelligence’ but also increases the enjoyment of music and sex.

Cao Shuang’s biography in the Sanguozhi [2]:

Shuǎng’s drink and food and chariots and clothing, imitated the Imperial carriage; craftsmen treasures and toys, filled up his house; wives and concubines filled his Rear Courtyard, and he also secretly took the Former Emperor’s Talent concubines of seven to eight women, and his offices and officials, teachers and workers, drums and horns, elite family’s sons and daughters of thirty-three people, all became his performers and musicians. He forged Imperial Order documents, sending out Talent concubines of fifty seven women to Yè terrace, and having the Former Emperor’s Fair concubines teach and practice performance. He usurped the Grand Musician’s musical instruments, and the Military Store’s prohibited weapons. He made cavern residences, fine engraving all around, repeatedly with [Hé] Yàn and the rest meeting inside, drinking liquor and making merry. 

Rudolf G. Wagner analysis that this scene is also in correlation to the five mineral powder, mainly being in a ‘cavern residence’ which helps with the side effects of the powder (I will explain the side effects later on). Also, the ‘Talented Concubines’ (who are Mingdi’s concubines), the excessive wine drinking, and the musical instruments indicate that the circumstance has been applied to fit the positives of using the drug and to alleviate the side effects.

Of course, this lifestyle would take a toll on He Yan’s health, as the powder that could ‘heal any illness’ betrayed him. As Guan Lu observed, not only He Yan but also his colleague Deng Yang were greatly weakened. The anecdote is in the Guan Lu biezhuan which you can find in his Sanguozhi biography[3]:

Deng Yang's gait is that of one whose sinews are loosed from his bones, and his pulse is unsteady. When he would stand, he totters as a man without limbs. This is the aspect of a disembodied soul. He Yan looks as if his soul was about to quit its habitation. He is bloodless, and what should be solid in him is mere vapor. He looks like rotten wood. This is the aspect of a soul even now in the dark valley.

Also the He Yan Biezhuan further states:” He had such a weakened constitution, that he couldn’t wear heavy silk anymore.” It is plausible that it is attributed to the drugs, the heavy silk could either produce more heat than he could handle, or it could apply pressure to the ulcers, you get from this drug, (but then again we will talk about the side effects later). Hao Yicheng (1757-1825) commented that if Sima Yi didn’t killed him, that he would have passed away anyway, because of the consequences of his drug use.

He Yan’s Legacy in Relation to the Drug

He Yan was the most important person concerning the rise of the drug in Wei-Jin circles. He was blamed for the moral decay of the elite, and over the centuries, criticized regularly for it. The following memorials bear witness to it:

Pei Wei’s (267-300) (whose father Pei Xiu passed away because of the drug, we will get to that later) memorial, which can be found in the Jinshu 35, criticizes Wang Yan and others for their admiration and imitating the actions of He Yan and Ruan Ji. It is explicitly mentioned that their rolemodels like themselves ran around naked, being unable to follow the rites.

Fan Ning, in the reign of Emperor Jianwen (reg. 371-373), presented in a memorial, which you can find in the Jinshu 75, in which he criticized He Yan and Wang Bi ‘That the faults of He Yan and Wang Bi are greater than Jie’s and Zhou’s faults’. Those two ‘terrible last rulers’ were considered evil, but only corrupted their own generation. He Yan and Wang Bi, on the other hand, exceeded the faults of ‘barbarians’ because their negative influence in all areas, corrupted the elite, the execution of He Yan and the establishment of a new dynasty affecting nothing to the problem. He is also implying that because the Jin elite followed He Yan’s and Wang Bi’s teachings, they couldn’t defend the north from the ‘barbarians’.

Sun Simiao (581-682) wrote in his treatise ‘Declaration of the Toxicity of the Five Mineral Powder’ which is in the Qian Jin Yao Fang ・ :

The revival medicine cold food powder or five mineral powder, according to old reports, were not known to recipe specialists, but (its use) began with the Marquis He after the end of the Han.

Since Huangfu Mi among those, who were tricked by this temptation, there were none, whose back didn’t inflame, whose bones didn’t disintegrate and who didn’t subject themselves to destruction. Since I can remember, it hasn’t struck only one from those who I knew, who came from the capital.

Su Shi (1036-1101) wrote in his memorial ‘The Memorial of Shangyang’ Lun Shangyang the following ・ :

It began with He Yan, that the people took stalactites and wushi (different word for fuzi: aconite), and gave themselves uncontrolled to wine and sex, to prolong their life. (He) Yan was in his youth rich and honored, how should one be surprised, that he took the cold food powder, to satisfy his desires? What he caused with that (that the powder spread), was enough to kill people and to destroy families. Every single day. How awful it is to die from the cold food powder - But what can I alone do? Those who take the cold food powder and whose backs are decaying (are so numerous), that they step on each other's feet!

Yu Zhengxie (1775–1840) wrote in his work Guisi Cungao the following, comparing the five mineral powder to opium ・ :

The nobles and dignitaries haven’t asked themselves if they have an illness or not, but it became fashionable with He Yan to take this drug without reason. The people of Wei and Jin took this drug and were not able to come back to their senses until the end of their lives...

The powder of Wei and Jin and the ‘pill’ of Tang and Song are the worst and are comparable with today’s opium. Under the Jin, Tang, and Song the governments, however, haven’t banned (these drugs), whereas today opium is banned; That’s how one can see that only the present government is handling the problem correctly.

The Recipe

First, we examine He Yan’s Five Mineral Powder Recipe, referenced in Sun Simiao’s (581-682) work Qian Jin Yi Fang, where mentioned in a note that if two components (sulfur and red clay containing silicon) are removed from the Wushi Gengsheng San recipe, you are left with Sanshi Gengsheng, Marquis He’s original recipe. The ingredients are listed here:

Zhongru (stalactite) 2.5 liang

Baishi Ying (milky quartz) 2.5 liang

Haige (oyster shell) 2.5 liang

Zishiying (amethyst) 2.5 liang

Fangfeng (Siler divaricum) 2.5 liang

Gualou (Trichosanthes kirilowii) 2.5 liang

Ganjiang (Zingiber officinale) 1.5 liang

Baishu (Atractylis ovata) 1.5 liang

Jiegeng (Platycodon grandiflorum) 5 fen

Xixin (Asarum Sieboldi) 5 fen

Renshen (Panax ginseng) 3 fen

Fuzi (Aconitum L.) cooked, with the removed shell 3 fen

Guixin (cinnamon tree bark from a smaller branch)

And very important is expensive wine.

As Wagner points out, his list of ingredients isn’t exact, because of the many variables the identification of those ingredients has (pharmacological variables, terms describing the ingredients, the provenance of the plants, etc.). But we can establish the most important ingredients: stalactite, aconite, and herbs such as ginger, ginseng, etc..

In Xi Kang’s (223-262) biography in the Jinshu 49, we see that stalactite could be consumed on its own ・ :

Xi Kang also met with Wang Lie, and together they went to the mountains. Lie found a stone, with the form resembling a sugar hat. Lie took half of the stone and gave the other half to Xi Kang. Both froze and turned to stone.

Donald Holzman, in his book La vie et la pensée de Hi K’ang identifies the ‘stone resembling a sugar hat’[4] as a stalactite, which is in He Yan’s recipe.

Little side note ‘turned to stone’ is indeed comparable with the slang ‘getting stoned’.

Pharmacological Effects

Before we turn to the preparation of the drug, I’d like to point out the fact that we only vaguely know what components lead to the psychoactive effect. Wagner wrote in his paper that he tried to have people knowledgeable in these regards, research with him, but it didn’t work out. If you want to learn more in this regard, I can’t help you.

Preparation of the Drug and Codes of Conduct

According to Huangfu Mi the minerals have to be prepared (I assume grinding it into a powder) and then they have to rest for 30 days. The plants are prepared on the day of ingestion.

The following texts are in Chao Yuanfang’s work Chaoshi Zhubing Yuanhuo and in Sun Simiao’s work Qian Jin Yi Fang ・ :

Those who take the Hanshi powder, take the amount of 2 liang, this amount is divided into three pastes.

At sunrise, he takes with hot, excellent wine the first paste. When the sun has moved one chang (meaning two hours), in turn, he takes the other paste. When the sun has moved a second chang, he takes the last paste, having used up everything.

After a while, he should wash his hands and feet with cold water. When the energy of the drug is working, one will feel numb. Thereupon he undresses and bathes in cold water. When the power of the drug gets stronger and the body is cooled, the mind opens to clarity, and one recovers from the hardships, even for those who lie weakened and suffering in their bed, it will improve before the day ends.

There are people of weak or strong constitution, and there is different tolerability of the drug for many. If the person using the drug is emaciated and weak, he can eat a little before taking the drug. But when the person is strong, he doesn’t need to eat...

One always has to dress cold, drink cold, eat cold, and sleep cold. The colder the better. If the drug didn’t had an effect yet, one shouldn’t bathe cold yet; if one bathes in this situation, it will result in a painful cold, blocking the drug’s effect, leaving the person shivering. Rather (if the drug is blocked) one should drink warm wine, jump, dance, and rub themselves, to achieve the effect, if one starts to get warm, then they should bathe. If the (situation where the drug hasn’t reached the effect) has been dealt with, one should stop and not overdo (the cooling). Also one should eat cold multiple times (a day), not only in the morning and evening. If one refrains from eating and getting so hungry, then it’s causing the person, to get cold, and only if he eats he will warm up.

The ingredients suggest a high content of calcium, explaining the feverish symptoms. For those symptoms of heat, it was also common to just remove the clothes and go around naked.

Further we are informed that 2 liang isn’t an universal dosage, about that Huangfu Mi writes, which is cited in Chao Yuanfang’s work Chaoshi Zhubing Yuanhuo ・   :

As far as seniors and children are concerned, who can’t tolerate (the normal amount, 2 liang) - here you can set the dosage under 2 liang. When the person is robust, you can set the dosage above two liang... Even though this medicine is excellent and can double the strength and spirit, it is indeed difficult to correctly dosage it.

Cao Xi (Yes from the imperial family) wrote also an explanation on the correct codes of conduct, which could criticize Huangfu’s suggestions which is quoted in Tamba Yasuyori’s work Ishimpo [5] ・ :

In general, one has to, when someone is taking the cold food drug, when it becomes too strong, consistently (focus on the condition) of the one taking the drug, and administer (fitting) healing recipes.

The body and liquids of the human flesh are (for different people) differing like earth and wind (as they are different in other places)Although it is said (by Huangfu Mi?), that one should drink wine, there are people who can do that, and those who cannot.

Although it is said (by Huangfu Mi?), one always has to stay cool, there are bodies of people, there are ones who can bear the cold, and those who can’t.

Although it is said (by Huangfu Mi?), one should eat and drink a lot, there are for food and drink different amounts (of digestibility).

Although it is said (by Huangfu Mi?), one should always exercise, there are different stabilities of the bone, ones who are strong and ones who are weak.

Because the people are thick and thin, old and young, have in their bodies illnesses or not, those who have much warmth and those who have much coldness, one cannot treat (the side effects) them with the same method.

A strong rise of the drug has many aspects and produces hundreds of illnesses.

As those symptoms can be useful in identifying anecdotes where someone is ‘under the influence’, as we turn to the next section.

The Stoned Nobles

Yes, Huangfu Mi called them “The Nobles turned to Stone”.

As it is mentioned the drug spread in He Yan’s lifetime and long after that. In the Guan Lu biezhuan there is instance recorded where Pei Hui asked his subordinate Zhao Kongyao why he isn’t looking well, Zhao replied ・ :”I have the misfortune, that no drug-minerals are remaining in my body.”

As Qin Zhengzu writes in his work Hanshi san lun ・:”Those who took (the powder), searched each others company.” The nobles of that time met in ‘drugparties’ which were most of the time called ‘wineparties’. The language describing those gatherings resembled those of wineparties. For example it is mentioned in the Jinshu 35 that Shi Chong (249-300) once wanted to sue Sun Lishu for not having acted according to the rites at his wineparty, but Pei Kai admonished Shi Chong by saying ・ :”You gave someone a wild drug and expect correct ritual behavior - isn’t that wrong?”

Then we of course have the parties by Cao Shuang, being prime examples of drug use. Of course the one mentioned in the Sanguozhi but also the one mentioned in Zhong Hui’s biography for his mother ・ :

At this time the Great General Cao Shuang alone held the goverment; he gave himself daily to wine until he became heavily drunk. The elder brother of Hui, the shizhong (Zhong) Yu told what happened on these parties. My mother (Zhong Hui’s mother) said:’ When they are having their fun, they are just having their fun, but it won’t last long. When those of high rank, aren’t arrogant and follow the rules and regulations, then they aren’t getting themselves in trouble. If they overdo it, a tragedy will happen. (Those who are in the government) have an excessive wastefulness. This is not the way to keep wealth and high positions’.

The seven sages of the bamboo grove were also known to be fond of the drug. We know of course that Xi Kang took stalactites, the other members showed also similar symptoms described in the following texts:

Wang Yin’s Jinshu biography cited in the Shishuo Xinyu ・ :

At the end of Wei, Ruan Ji drank heavily, neglecting himself completely, showed his hair in an unkempt state in public, and sat naked with sprawled out legs.

Liu Ling’s love for wine is well recorded, but we see him naked here as well, indicating of course this is a incident of drug use, it’s cited in the Shishuo Xinyu [6] :

Liu Ling was an inveterate drinker and indulged himself to the full. Sometimes he stripped of his clothes and sat in his room naked. Some men saw him and rebuked him. Liu Ling said, “Heaven and earth are my dwelling, and my house is my trousers. Why are you all coming into my trousers?”

Not only in the nobility was the drug popular, but emperors also took this. Emperor Huidi of Jin once had a party with youths of the nobility, it’s cited in the Jinshu 27 ・ :

Huidi hosted in the Yuankang era (291-299) a wine party with the high ranking and entertainment seeking youths (of the elite), they let their hair down and undressed in front of the slaves serving as concubines. Those who wouldn’t participate in it fell from grace, those who rejected it were criticized. Only a few nobles wouldn’t participate in it because of embarrassment, and they were presented as they would lack reverence (towards their ruler).

Interesting to see that not only the use of the drug only had a small opposition, but those who refused to participate in those drug parties were put under pressure. It was not only Huidi of Jin who used the five mineral powder but also emperor Tuoba Gui who personally beat those to death who argued against his drug use and displayed their corpses in the ‘hall of heavenly peace’.

After the fall of Western Jin the nobles took their drug culture with them south, as it is described in an anecdote with ‘The Eight Da’ which is cited in the Jinshu 49 [7]:

Humu Fuzhi, Xie Kun, Ruan Fang, Bi Zhuo, Yang Man, Huan Yi and Ruan Fu were sitting together naked and with disheveled hair in a closed room; they had already been drinking for several days. (Guang) Yi (Humu Fuzhi’s protege whom they had not seen for years, arrived and) was about to push the door open and to enter, but the guardian did not allow him (to come in). He thereupon stripped himself outside the door, put off his hat, (crept) into the dog-hole and looked at them, shouting loudly. (Humu) Fuzhi was startled and said:’Other people definitely cannot do so. That must be our Mengzi (i.e. Guang Yi)’. He immediately called him in, and together with him they (went on) drinking day and night, without stopping. Their contemporaries called them ‘the Eight da’.

The Five Mineral Drug and Women

Wagner comments on the question if women took the drug as well, that they were only sexual objects or musicians. They were not members of the circle who took them for psychoactive purposes.

But that doesn’t mean they didn’t consume it. Certainly, they didn’t participate in parties like the scholar gentry, but they used it like most as medicine. In Chao Yuanfang’s work Chaoshi Zhubing Yuanhuo [8] it says:

When a pregnant woman catches cold and suffers from serious pain in her body, and she cannot be moved because of her condition, taking a dose of Cold Food Powder in warm wine and having a cold bath can do her good. After this, if she feels numbness somewhere on her body, the area should be washed with cold water, if she feels cold, drink some doses of wine...

Considering the fact that He Yan ignored the drug’s intended purposes, it is probable that not all women of that time weren’t so strict on using it purely as medicine either.

Also worth mentioning is that women took other substances like cinnabar, in the tomb of Wang Danhu 200 pills were found, which contained cinnabar. Cinnabar was mainly used in alchemy to either achieve immortality, or immortality of the corpse (to preserve it). But in the Tang dynasty, it replaced the five mineral powder, for it was also psychoactive.[9]

Five Mineral Drug and the Common People

To clarify, the five mineral powder was a luxury commodity. The powder itself wasn’t cheap and you had to mix it with expensive wine. There were no people who could profit from peasants getting addicted, there was no point in getting someone addicted to a substance he couldn’t even in the slightest afford. The five mineral powder was in every aspect a status symbol.

And because it was a status symbol people who couldn’t afford the powder would feign to suffer from the side effects of the powder. An anecdote from the Taiping Guangji 247 states ・ :

In the Northern Wei under Xiaowendi (reg. 471-500) the princes and high dignitaries, in high numbers, took the mineral drug, they were called the Shifa, for those ‘where the mineral drug is coming up strongly’. However, there were also people, who had a fever but were not rich and high standing, but also claimed they took minerals and that the fever derived from that. Contemporaries frequently suspected that those people imitated the looks from the rich and high standing.

There was once a man who lied down in front of the gates of the market and with all seriousness assured, that he had a fever so that the people congregated around him to take a look at him. When his companion wondered (about his simulation), he told him:’The drugs are coming up strongly (I am a Shifa).’ His companion asked:’When did the high lord take the minerals?’ The man replied:’Yesterday evening I bought rice, in it I found a mineral; That one I ate and now it is coming up too strongly.’ Everyone started laughing (because the effect of the powder starts immediately, exposing himself). Since then there were only a few, who pretended to suffer from the drug.

Effects of the Five Mineral Powder

As mentioned five mineral powder was originally used as a medicine, but through He Yan, it was used as a lifestyle drug. It was recommended to be used for everyone, literally everyone. Embryos, children, adults, seniors, healthy people, sick people, weak people, and strong people. And it seems that it was not just recommended in treating every disease you might have, but also to achieve godly abilities, good looks, a lucid mind, strength and of course using it per se was a sign of extreme wealth.

Shi Huiyi (372-444) wrote, which is cited in the Ishimpo by Tamba Yasuyori ・:

The five mineral powder is among the supreme drugs. One can excellently prolong their life, nourish life, and bring harmony to one's intellect. How could (one say) that the drug can only heal illnesses?

Cao Xi wrote, which is cited in Qin Zhengzu’s work Hanshi san lun ・ :

Those who are in today’s high rank, see the basic recipe of the drug and are calling out:’This is the divine powder, with which you can hold on to your life.’ And then comes the day, where they are taking it, undress, stand in the wind and pour cold water over them.

Side Effects of the Five Mineral Powder

Wudi sent an urgent message, in which he demanded that Huangfu Mi accepts a government post. Mi answered with a submittal, referring to himself as ‘the hidden one in the grass’: ‘Since I am weakened and emaciated, I am unclear about the direction of the way. Because of my illness, I removed my hairpins, my hair is (dense) like a forest... My humble self has nothing excellent about me, I cause catastrophe’s and seek my ruin, in fear of my serious illness. Half of my body is already numb, and my right leg couldn’t support myself for 19 years. I also take the cold food powder drug and missed and confused the codes of conduct; my pain (caused by this), my suffering, my bitterness, and my sorrows last for seven years. Even in the coldest weather, I undress and eat ice, and when summer comes, it is unbearably warm, and I am shaken by the coughing. At times I am exceedingly feverish, at times I have the coldest chills; Pus is running out my ulcers, and my arms and legs are heavy. In the meantime, my suffering only got worse, as I am gasping for my life...

In the Jinshu 51 ・ Huangfu Mi describes his ailings caused by the drug, in a submittal, hoping to avoid office. He took this drug in hopes to cure his old disease (most likely a stroke), but only worsened his overall condition. As Huangfu Mi describes further implications, cited in Chao Yuanfang’s work Chaoshi Zhubing Yuanhuo ・ :

At times hands and feet hurt, and all joints want to loosen(?). On the body ulcers, form and knots raise. One sits at the bed and sits for a long time, without moving. Extreme heat is everywhere on the body and collects on one point. At times there are hard sores. When it gets worse, they turn to ulcers. When one recognizes that, the person has to wash it with cold water and rub a cold stone (over the sores). In an easy case the sores disappear after a short time; In the worst case one has to pour water over it for a few days without pause, and then it will improve. When the person has been watered for a while, he will recover eventually. But when the bumps are getting bigger and there is no improvement, one should take a knife whetstone and hold it to fire until it glows, then throw the stone in bitter wine. When the stone is in the bitter wine the stone shatters. Thereon one should grind the stone, and apply the stone mixture to the ulcers; When it has been done three times it will improve. Then one takes big worms from the toilet, grind them, and warm them up and apply the mixture to the ulcers, also that is not necessary to do more than three times, and then the healing is improved.

Huangfu Mi doesn’t write where the ulcers form but it is highly likely that they form on the back. Su Shi writes of decaying backs and according to Huangfu Mi, a son of Wang Su (195–256), Wang Liangfu, died because ‘ulcers ate his back away’.

Of course, the well-known side effect is getting feverish but there are far more, according to Chao Yuanfang’s work Chaoshi Zhubing Yuanhuo other side effects include ・ :

Swelling of the stomach, until it wants to explode

Inflamed buttocks

Stabbing pain in the heart, like needles

Dizziness, frequent falling

Pain on all limbs

Difficulty to urinate

Difficulty to defecate

Stiffening of the joints, until one cannot move or stretch

Defecating without knowing

Pain in the eyes, like needles

Tinnitus and liquids exiting the ear

Pain in the mouth, tongue is tensing, and the mouth getting so dry you can’t eat

Rotting of the testicles

Sweating secretion under the arms and ulcers (on the lymph nodes?)

Hypersomnia without being capable to wake up oneself

Swallowing a cough up, leading to an injury to the throat and to bleeding

The feeling of cold and heat change for months

Screaming loudly with a wide openend mouth and with wide openend eyes

Blindness

Insomnia

Stiffening of muscles and skin, until they are dry and feel like wood

Tendency for the eyes to pop out

Some of them can be deadly. But next to the physiological side effects, there are also the psychological side effects. Huangfu Mi writes the following, cited in Chao Yuanfang’s work Chaoshi Zhubing Yuanhuo ・ :

In general, those who take these drugs, when it came up too strongly, even when they are usually intelligent, they are getting dumb. When they are abandoned, they won’t get better. The number of those who died isn’t comprehensible. In general speaking for the stoned nobles, there are ten wrong attitudes (before ingesting the drug): 1.That they are starring angrily; 2.That they have fears or worries; 3. That they cry; 4.That they suppress defecation; 5. That they suppress hunger; 6.That they suppress thirst; 7.That they suppress heat; 8.That they suppress cold; 9.That they overexert themselves; 10.That they are sitting stiff and don’t move When one is against these ten wrong attitudes, one has to, when one wants to raise the effect of the drug, but is already stiff, always has to relax and bring harmony to the limbs; also one cannot read bitter things and not think of something worrying. If one is capable of doing that, the drug won’t come up too strongly and everything will better

If you fail in getting relaxed, similar to LSD, you are getting a ‘bad trip’. Huangfu Mi writes, which is also cited in Chao Yuanfang’s work Chaoshi Zhubing Yuanhuo ・ :

One time I felt like that, when I was sitting in front of my food and tears just kept falling. I took a knife and wanted to kill myself, but was unable to go through with it because my family noticed and took the knife away. I retreated, checked myself, and forced myself to eat and to drink cold water, after that the (desperation) stopped. That it didn’t come to a tragedy, hang on a single thread.

Wang Wei (398-425) once treated his brother with the five mineral drug, but he passed away as a consequence. Wang Wei blamed himself and wrote in a letter which is cited in the Songshu ・ :

In the past year, the powder came up too strongly; on the climax tears came to my eyes, day and night without stopping

And of course, we have Tuoba Gui, when he started taking the five mineral drug his reign was considered ‘a bad trip’

Everyone was aware of the side effects, but they didn’t attribute that as an inevitable consequence but as a case of an overdosing. It was considered safe to use as long as it was used correctly. How it was considered safe to use knew no one.

First Aid In Case of Overdose

At times it can happen, that one falls unconscious and doesn’t recognize people or circumstances. If one (wants) to move its mouth, one can’t open it. The ill person doesn’t know himself and relies on the help of others. In this case, it is necessary that one takes hot wine, for it now depends on his life. But if he can’t drink (the hot wine because of the stiff mouth), one has to kick his teeth in and force the wine down his throat. When the throat is blocked, and the wine flows out, one should not stop (pouring it in). When (the wine) flows out again, one should pour it again and repeats it for perhaps half a day. When the wine gets down, he will regain conscience, but if one stops, without the person drinking the wine, one kills the person.

This is a recommendation by Huangfu Mi cited in Chao Yuanfang’s work Chaoshi Zhubing Yuanhuo ・, it is probably self-explanatory that kicking the teeth of another person while unconscious, will at least provoke animosity, especially when the person unconscious is of higher rank like Pei Xiu. Huangfu Mi writes about his death in Chao Yuanfang’s work ・ :

Pei Xiu from Hedong took the drug and missed the codes of conduct. But because he attained the rank of Sangong, no one dared to force him to treat the (side effects of the drug). He was already beyond the stage of confusion, so that he wasn’t able to realize (what should have been necessary to do), and no one in his entourage knew how to help him. The treatment they chose for him was (giving him instead of warm wine, which would have been correct), letting him drink cold water and rinse him with cold water. When they used hundreds of shi of water on him, the cold became too much and, he died in the water.[10]

If one takes ten shi of glowing coal and pours over them 200 shi of cold water, the glowing coal will go out. Although the heat (caused) by the drug was great, it isn’t as great as the fire stemming from 10 shi stone coal. If one pours the person without interruption, the cold will be enough to kill him.

Later his son Pei Wei wrote a memorial, which you can find in the Jinshu 35, urging to correct the scale of the imperial physicians to prevent overdosing. He didn’t explicitly mention the five mineral drugs, but his background and the massive prevalence of the drug should be good indicators.

Lethality of the Five Mineral Drug

Those who survive (the intake) the longest, live for a few decades; those who live the shortest, only for five to six years. Even though I myself still see and breathe, (is that what I say), only the laugh of a drowning man.

Huangfu Mi’s description of the lethality of the drug cited in the Chaoshi Zhubing Yuanhuo ・. He also lists people who died from the drug in the following:

More and more people took this powder and refused to stop, at time, including myself. Although violent effects were not common it could take a man’s life. One of my cousins named Changhu, suffered from atrophy of the tongue almost shrunk back into his throat; Wang Liangfu of Donghai country suffered from ulcerative carbuncles on his back; Xin Changxu in western Gansu Province suffered ulceration of his back muscles; Zhao Gonglie in Shu County of Sichuan lost six of his cousins to it. All these sufferings were caused by taking cold food powder. Among these, some were quite elderly and some still young, only 5-6 years old. Though I have seen this and sighed at it, I am just like a single drowning man, laughing at those drowning. Yet patients will not take a warning from this, and stop themselves.[11]

Notes

[1] All of Huangfu Mi’s works about the five mineral powder, are only existant in citations in the Chaoshi Zhubing Yuanhuo, the Hanshi san lun and the Ishimpo.

[2] The translation of Cao Shuang’s biography was made by @xuesanguo​. You can read it here.

[3] This translation I found in Guan Lu’s wikipedia page. It basically says everything Wagner has translated. But I only know for sure in this passage, I don’t know if the rest is correct.

[4] I couldn’t find a whole translation of this passage, but in Google Books the translation for Wagners ‘sugar hat’ (in German ‘Zuckerhut’), is in other versions ‘sweet meat’ or ‘cakelike stalagmite’. I personally think ‘sugar hat’ fits best.

[5] Cao Xi was the son of Cao Hui, Prince of Dongping. After the establishment of Jin he was made Duke of Linqiu. His works about the powder were also lost to time and ony citations in the Ishimpo and in the Hanshi san lun survive. Also to note the Ishimpo, which was written in around the year 984, was the first medical text in Japan.

[6]This translation is in the book World History, Volume 1

[7]This translation is in the book The Buddhist Conquest of China: The Spread and Adaptation of Buddhism in Early Medieval China by Erik Zürcher

[8]This translation is in the book History Of Medicine In Chinese Culture. Important to note is that Chao Yuanfang hasn’t quoted neither Huangfu Mi nor Cao Xi, so it could be his own recommendation, which was then followed in the Sui dynasty.

[9] For more info on Wang Danhu I recommend Entombed Epigraphy and Commemorative Culture in Early Medieval China by Timothy M. Davis, Landadel - Emigranten - Emporkömmlinge: Familienfriedhöfe des 3.-6. Jahrhunderts n. Chr. in Südchina by Annette Kieser, and Emigrantenfamilien der Östlichen Jin-Zeit  im Spiegel ihrer Gräber und Grabinschrifttafeln also by Annette Kieser.

[10]The Jinshu says he drank cold wine, not cold water. In this case the Jinshu is correct, he should have had warm wine, but he was given cold wine.

[11]This translation is in the book History Of Medicine In Chinese Culture.

[bookofjin]

Is there any merit to the claim that Sima Shao was half Xianbei?

Shishuo xinyu 27.6 and Yiyuan (“Garden of Strange”) 4.4 tells a story where Sima Shao goes in disguise to spy on Wang Dun, and Dun suddenly wakes up exclaiming that the “yellow bearded Xianbei slave” is in the camp. The Yiyuan adds that Shao's mother, Lady Xun, came from Yan state, and that was why Dun referred to him like that.

I don't believe there is any evidence beyond that. JS31′s short bio on Lady Xun doesn’t record her place of origin, or who her parents were (we came probably assume that she did not come from a famous family), and there were many people living in Yan who were not Xianbei. (It’s not entirely clear in what sense “Yan state” is used here by the Yiyuan either.)

So I’d put this in the “possible but not certain” category

[wangshiyue]

Wang Shiyue & Liu Xinyu: Post-Rhythm Dance Interview, 2019 Chinese Nationals

Interview by 花滑小报

Interviewer: We can see from the new program (RD) that you’re trying a new style? Wang: Yeah, it’s kind of a comedy-themed RD, with a little humor. Liu: It’s our first time skating to this type of music Wang: He didn’t like it at first. Liu: Yeah, at first, I didn’t think this style would suit us, but it turns out that I feel pretty delighted when skating this program.

(About the new RD) Liu: We are skating to “Chaplin” this season. Wang: In this program, we are both taking part in a Chaplin lookalike contest to win the grand prize. At first, we’re competing against each other, and we both want to prize as individuals. Liu: Yeah, to show the best version of ourselves as an individual. Wang: But later, we realize that it would be more efficient to win the prize if we cooperate with each other. So, we end up performing together.

Interviewer: The new GP season will soon begin. Do you have new plans, new goals for this season? Wang: We set a long-term goal, which is to improve our position in the World Championships. Last year, we were 15th, and we hope that this year we could approach 12th. Or even 10th, if possible. We’re going to work very hard. Liu: Yeah. Meanwhile, we will continue working on and refining the details of our programs, competition by competition. Thus, we hope we can compete our best and place as high as possible at Worlds next year.

Interviewer: How do you feel about competing at home ? [TN: Both Wang and Liu are from Changchun, where 2019 Chinese Nationals was held.] Wang: Excited! Liu: Very happy. The new season finally started! Wang: Especially because, originally, we heard that the competition was not going to be held in Changchun. We were so happy when we heard that it was relocated to Changchun. Liu: We could also go visit our family.

Interviewer: Your teammates who competed in the Club League [TN: domestic series] were so happy when they knew that you two were coming back to compete in this National Championships. Liu: Yeah, we know! Wang: When we train with them, they look up to us the way we look up to the world’s top-tier teams, with whom we train together in Montreal. They’re very admiring. Liu: Yeah, when we’re training, they’re all around the rink looking at us. We’ve also told them about some new things that we’ve learned, in order to help them improve.

[architectnews]

Cavernous brick vaults define Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Museum in China

Studio Zhu-Pei housed galleries within vaulted red-brick structures to create the Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Museum in Jiangxi province, China.

Located in the city of Jingdezhen, the museum's sweeping structures each have a unique size, curvature and length, designed by Studio Zhu-Pei to recall the forms of traditional brick kilns.

Vaulted brick structures make up Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Museum

Both Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Museum's design and contents pay homage to the city's history of making ceramics, for which it has been dubbed as the world's "porcelain capital".

It is positioned adjacent to some of the city's imperial kiln ruins, which date back to the Ming Dynasty and were once used to produce porcelain for the imperial family.

The museum is designed to evoke traditional brick kilns

"Jingdezhen is known as the porcelain capital of the world because it has been producing pottery for 1,700 years," explained the Beijing studio.

"The overall experience of the museum tries to rediscover the roots of Jingdezhen, to recreate the past experience among kilns, porcelain, and human beings."

Sunken courtyards are positioned between the vaulted structures

Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Museum's galleries were carefully positioned by Studio Zhu-Pei on site to accommodate the existing kiln ruins, some of which were discovered during construction.

They are partially sunken below ground to maximise the museum's building height without imposing on surrounding buildings, while also creating an intimate, cave-like feeling inside.

Public outdoor space has also been landscaped around the museum

Around the structures, Studio Zhu-Pei has landscaped a series of public spaces, including a semi-open courtyard that is sheltered by one of the vaults and frames views of the ruins.

Sunken below street level, five quieter courtyards have been created with five different themes – gold, wood, water, fire and soil – which reference porcelain-making techniques.

The galleries feature skylights that mimic kiln smoke holes

The museum's vaults were built by hand by pouring concrete between two layers of brick. This mimics an old construction method used to make traditional kilns that negates the need for scaffolding and gives rise to thin, lightweight structures.

A mix of recycled bricks and new bricks were used for the project in order to reflect the local vernacular and many buildings in the city that are constructed from demolished kilns.

"Using recycled kiln bricks to build houses and all kinds of buildings is a significant character in Jingdezhen because brick kilns have to be demolished every two or three years in order to keep a certain thermal performance of the kilns," the studio explained.

The galleries are positioned below ground level

Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Museum is entered through a foyer at ground level, housed within one of the arched structures.

This provides access to a bookstore, cafe, tea room and amphitheatre, and staircases down to the main exhibition spaces that housed underground.

Inside, the spaces are all lit by natural light as far as possible, with the ends of each arch left open or glazed. There are also cylindrical skylights that puncture the ceilings of the vaults, evoking smoke holes of old brick kilns.

An auditorium features alongside the museum's galleries

Studio Zhu-Pei is a Beijing architecture studio that was founded by Chinese architect Zhu Pe in 2005. It was formerly known as Studio Pei-Zhu. Other projects by the practice include the transformation of a factory into Minsheng Contemporary Art Museum, which has an entrance clad with a shiny skin of metal panels.

Elsewhere in China, Shenzhen Horizontal Design recently slotted a white-concrete gallery into the ruins of a brick house to create the Zhang Yan Cultural Museum in China and Powerhouse Company topped a reception building with an undulating walking trail.

Photography is by Studio Zhu-Pei, schranimage and Tian Fangfang.

Project credits:

Architect: Studio Zhu-Pei, Architectural Design and Research Institute of Tsinghua University Design principal: Zhu Pei Front criticism: Zhou Rong Art consultant: Wang Mingxian, Li Xiangning Design team: You Changchen, Han Mo, He Fan, Liu Ling, Wu Zhigang, Zhang Shun, Shuhei Nakamura, Yang Shengchen, Du Yang, Chen Yida, He Chenglong, Ding Xinyue Structural consultant: Architectural Design and Research Institute of Tsinghua University MEP consultant: Architectural Design and Research Institute of Tsinghua University Green building consultant: Architectural Design and Research Institute of Tsinghua University Landscape design: Studio Zhu-Pei, Architectural Design and Research Institute of Tsinghua University Exhibition design: Studio Zhu-Pei, Beijing Qingshang Architectural Ornamental Engineering Interior design: Studio Zhu-Pei, Beijing Qingshang Architectural Ornamental Engineering Facade consultant: Shenzhen Dadi Facade Technology Lighting consultant: Ning Field Lighting Design Acoustic consultant: Building Science & Technology Institute, Zhejiang University Client: Jingdezhen Municipal Bureau of Culture Radio Television Press Publication and Tourism, Jingdezhen Ceramic Culture Tourism Group Main contractor: China Construction First Group Corporation Limited, Huajiang Construction of China Construction First Group

The post Cavernous brick vaults define Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Museum in China appeared first on Dezeen.

[mariebenz]

Data-Driven AI May Help Predict Severity of Coronavirus

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Professor Anasse Bari PhD Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Computer Science Department, New York University, New York, and Megan Coffee MD PhD Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Medicine New York University, Department of Population and Family Health Mailman School of Public Health Columbia University, New York MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Coffee and Bari:  This work is led by NYU Grossman School of Medicine and NYU’s Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, in partnership with Wenzhou Central Hospital and Cangnan People's Hospital, both in Wenzhou, China. This is a multi-disciplinary team with backgrounds in clinical infectious disease as well as artificial intelligence (AI) and computer science. There is a critical need to better understand COVID-19. Doctors learn from collective and individual clinical experiences. Here, no clinician has years of experience. All are learning as they go, having to make important decisions about clinical management with stretched resources. The goal here is to augment clinical learning with machine learning. In particular, the goal is to allow clinicians to identify early who from the many infected will need close medical attention. Most patients will first develop mild symptoms, yet some 5-8 days later will develop critical illness. It is hard to know who these people are who will need to be admitted and may need to be intubated until they become ill. Knowing this earlier would allow more attention and resources to be spent on those patients with worse prognoses. If there were ever treatments in the future that could be used early in the course of illness, it would be important to identify who would most benefit We present in this study a first step in building an artificial intelligence (AI) framework, with predictive analytics (PA) capabilities applied to real patient data, to provide rapid clinical decision-making support. It is at this point a proof of concept that it could be possible to identify future severity based on initial presentation in COVID-19. MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings? Response: Clinical data from a line listing was used to predict risk of ARDS. Although there were only 53 patients (all of whom have now been discharged), we were able to develop a model that can learn from this data. AI often identifies features a doctor would not; ALT, myalgias, and hemoglobin all stood out as the most predictive. The findings are dependent on the data from our colleagues in Wenzhou, China where the case severity was less than is being seen now in New York City. We are at very early stages of developing this framework, we still need to do further do more validation and we need large datasets. We are now looking into expanding the work with New York hospitals and medical institutions around the world. MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report? Coffee and Bari: First, it should be noted that this model needs to be validated in different contexts before it could be used clinically, but we think this is a first step to using AI when the clinical workload is immense. AI is increasingly able to act as an extension to human intelligence. The experimental tool we developed, once deployed, could serve an extension to the work being done by doctors, to help them know early which cases will need more attention and resources. The tool will help doctors make data-driven decisions. We are not trying by any mean to replace doctors. Instead, we are tying to relieve doctors who have high caseloads and limited resources by identifying those patients that need them the most. Instead of scanning tables of data, the algorithm can help go through the data using learning from historical data, to identify which patients need the most clinical attention. In the end, though, the doctor must make the final decisions. Like any other AI, there is a continuous process of learning; doctors and new data sets will help correct and re-train the AI. At this point the model points to clinical features a doctor might not consider as important. That's what's interesting about machine learning; it acts as a second opinion, so to speak. Small increases in liver tests and hemoglobin (red blood cells) appeared to predict severe disease more than other expected characteristics like age and gender. Moreover, characteristics that help diagnose coronavirus - low white blood cell count, chest imaging findings, fevers - did not appear to correspond to more severe disease. MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this work? Coffee and Bari: It will be important that any tools using Artificial Intelligence are not black boxes. Clinicians need to be involved throughout the process so that any tools developed are clinically relevant. We used ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome) as this is the clinical finding most associated with poor outcomes in COVID-19. Mortality can vary when resources are stretched but ARDS is an outcome that we can't yet prevent and its development should not be affected by the availability clinical resources. It is important that such endpoints have clinical significance for patients and healthcare providers. What we have built is still in R&D mode (Research and Development), but we see this as a first step towards a fully functional software with AI capabilities. Most importantly we will need more data to fine-tune and validate this work. We will need more resources so that this can go live. The analytics process we have in place is very promising. It follows a full predictive analytics lifecycle that include data architecture, data preparation, modeling and validation. The most important next step, though, is to use data from hospitals in the US and elsewhere to retrain the algorithms in order for this to be able to be used in different settings.   Citation: Xiangao Jiang, Megan Coffee, Anasse Bari, Junzhang Wang, Xinyue Jiang, Jianping Huang, Jichan Shi, Jianyi Dai, Jing Cai, Tianxiao Zhang, Zhengxing Wu, Guiqing He, Yitong Huang. Towards an Artificial Intelligence Framework for Data-Driven Prediction of Coronavirus Clinical Severity. CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, 2020 DOI: 10.32604/cmc.2020.010691    The information on MedicalResearch.com is provided for educational purposes only, and is in no way intended to diagnose, cure, or treat any medical or other condition. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health and ask your doctor any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. In addition to all other limitations and disclaimers in this agreement, service provider and its third party providers disclaim any liability or loss in connection with the content provided on this website.   Read the full article

[fortunatelysuperfun-blog]

A Comparison of the Texts of Laozi and Wei Shou Project MUSE - Chinese Reading of the Daodejing, A

Thus we have direct and indirect contemporary evidence that Wang Bi wrote a Commentary on the Laozi, and that it reached instant fame. A Comparison of the Texts of Laozi and Wei Shou. Patronage and the Transmission of the Wang Bi Commentary 35 Kuniô has again pioneered such an approach in his Rôshi kôsei. Instead of following the Ming editions as everyone else had done, he looked for the earliest available texts of the Commentary and found them in the various editions of “collected commentaries” to the Laozi that had been put together between the eleventh and the thirteenth centuries. His focus though was on the different lineages of the text of the Laozi, not on the commentaries. So while quoting what he thought were the best commentary texts, he did not establish a critical text for the commentaries included in his work, including the Wang Bi Commentary. The Wang Bi Commentary quotations in these collections in turn might have been, and were, attached to Laozi texts from lineages other than that to which the Wang Bi Laozi belonged. A HISTORY OF WANG BI’S COMMENTARY ON THE LAOZI: THE EVIDENCE He Shao ̬Մ (236–ca. Wang Bi’s, writes in his “Biography of Wang Bi” that Wang “commented on the Laozi.”7 Anecdotes collected by Liu Yiqing ԰∑๸ (403–444) in his Shishuo xinyu (SSXY) ʊ⦦ᅘ⦝, as well as by Liu Xiaobiao ԰ઓᐻ (462–521) in his Commentary on that text, also refer to Wang Bi’s Commentary.8 Most of these anecdotes are from earlier collections. According to one, Wang Bi’s mentor, He Yan ̬ᇀ (ca. Laozi into two philosophical essays after hearing Wang Bi’s interpretation and acknowledging its superiority over his own analysis.9 This first report on Wang Bi’s Commentary best defines the reason for its survival. It could not claim a lobby of Confucian scholars, the court, Buddhists, or Daoists. It could rely only on Wang Bi’s analytical skill in handling the Laozi and on his philosophic depth. Time and again those who took it upon themselves to track down a copy and to spread it to the world were attracted by these qualities. Wang Bi’s fame and notoriety among his contemporaries and later generations rested on his two commentaries on the Laozi and the Zhouyi, and on his two treatises outlining their basic structure. The first three explicit verbatim quotations from this Commentary are in Zhang Zhan’s ೺᜜ (fl. Commentary on the Liezi Ӭઈᘜ. We leave aside implicit quotations.) Zhang Zhan was related to Wang Bi, and (parts of?) the Liezi that he put together came from the library of Cai Rong ▼ⴞ (133–192) that had come to the Wang family.10 Like the Zhuangzi 36 A Chinese Reading of the Daodejing Example 1 from Wang Bi on Laozi 6: 1.... View more ...

[bookofjin]

Annals of Gaozu of Chen, early career (- 550)

[From Chenshu 01]

The Exalted Ancestor [gaozu], the Martial [wu] August Emperor, taboo Baxian, courtesy name Xingguo, child name Fasheng, was native of Xiaruo Village in Changcheng in Wuxing, he was a descendant of Han's Chief of Taiqiu, Chen Shi. His family for generations lived in Yingchuan. Shi's great-great-grandson, Zhun, was Jin's Grand Commandant. Zhun begot Kuang. Kuang begot Da. During the Yongjia era [307 – 313], he moved south and was on the staff of the Imperial Chancellor. He was successively Forerunner to the Heir-Apparent, and set out to be Prefect of Changcheng. He was pleased with its mountains and rivers, and thereupon had his family there. He once spoke to his relatives, saying:

This land's mountains and streams are flowering and elegant, and will foster a king in two hundred years. My sons and grandsons will surely collect this fortune.

Da begot Kang, who then was on the staff of the Imperial Chancellor. In the middle of Xianhe [326 – 334] there was a land determination and for that reason he became a native of Changcheng. Kang begot the Grand Warden of Xuchi, Ying. Ying begot the Gentleman of the Masters of Writing, Gongbi. Gongbi begot the Colonel of Infantry, Ding. Ding begot the Cavalier Attendant Gentleman Gao. Gao begot the Prefect of Ande, Yong. Yong begot the Grand Warden of Ancheng, Meng. Meng begot the Grand Ordinary Minister, Daoju. Daoju begot the Late August Wenzan.

Gaozu was born in Liang's 2nd Year of Tianjian [503 AD], a guiwei year. As young he was special and exceptional, and had great aspirations, and did not arrange for a livelihood. When he had grown up, he read military books, and had much martial skill. His clarity and intelligence was indeed set apart, and he was pushed forward and deferred to by the times. He was 7 chi, 5 cun tall, his “sun-corner” had a dragon appearance, and his hands hung down beyond the knees.

He once roamed Yixing, and ledged with the Xu clan. At night he dreamt that the sky opened up several paces, and there were four persons in cinnabar clothes who held up the sun and arrived. They ordered Gaozu to open his mouth and take it. When he woke up, it was like inside his stomach was burning, Gaozu in his heart shouldered it alone.

At the beginning of Datong [535 – 546], the Marquis of Xinyu, Xiao Ying, was Grand Warden of Wuxing, he considerably esteemed Gaozu. Once when eyeing Gaozu, he spoke to his companions and assistants, saying:

This person is just about [to have] far-reaching greatness.

When Ying became Inspector of Guang province, Gaozu became Army Advisor of Central Upright Troops, accompanying the head-quarter's garrison. Ying ordered Gaozu to recruit and assemble soldiers and horses, the multitude reached a thousand people. He continued to instruct Gaozu to oversee Songlong commandery.

His section's An and Hua counties [Chonghua and Nan'an?] originally did not submit, Gaozu chastised and pacified them. Soon after he oversaw the Controller-Protector of Xijiang and Warden of Gaoyao commandery.

Before this, the Marquis of Wulin, Xiao Zi, was Inspector of Jiao province. He lost the multitudes' heart due to collecting [taxes] cruelly. Li Ben, a native of the land, connected and joined with the outstanding and prominent of several provinces to rebel at the same time. The palace dispatched the Inspector of Gao province, Sun Jiong, and the Inspector of Xin province, Lu Zixiong, to bring along troops and strike them. Jiong and others did not advance in time, and both submitted to execution in Guang province. Zixiong's younger brother Zilüe, Jiong's sons and nephews, and their Masters of the Host, Du Tianhe, and Du Sengming together raised troops, apprehended the Controller-Protector of Nanjiang, Shen Yi, and advanced to rob Guang province. Day and night there were incessant attacks, and within they shook in fear.

Gaozu led 3 000 of the finest soldiers, rolled up the armour and made combined marches so as to save them, in frequent battles he won again and again. Tianhe was hit by a stray arrow and died. The thieves' multitudes were greatly scattered, and Sengming thereupon surrendered. Emperor Wu of Liang deeply commended and marvelled at him, conferred on him General of the Upright Passageway, with ennoblement as Count of Xin'an and an estate of 300 households, and at the same time dispatched painters to make a picture of Gaozu's appearance to observe him.

That Year [544 AD], Winter, Xiao Ying passed on. Next Year [545 AD], Gaozu sent off the coffin to return to the capital. When he arrived at Dayu High Pass, there happened to be a decree for Gaozu to be Marshal of Jiao province, nominally Grand Warden of Wuping. He and the Inspector, Yang Piao, went south to chastise. Gaozu increasingly brought forward the brave and daring, his instruments and weapons were the finest and sharpest. Piao delightfully said:

Among those able to vanquish the thieves, certainly is Minister of the Martial Chen.

He entrusted him accordingly with organizing and strategizing. Gaozu and the multitude armies issued out from Panyu. At that time Xiao Bo was Inspector of Ding province, and they met each other on the Xijiang. Bo understood the army soldiers dreaded far-away service, and secretly offered rewarded and enticed them, and following that deceptively persuaded Piao. Piao assembled the various generals to ask about plans. Gaozu replied, saying:

He entrusted him accordingly with organizing and strategizing. Gaozu and the multitude armies issued out from Panyu. At that time Xiao Bo was Inspector of Ding province, and they met each other on the Xijiang. Bo understood the army soldiers dreaded far-away service, and secretly offered rewarded and enticed them, and following that deceptively persuaded Piao. Piao assembled the various generals to ask about plans. Gaozu replied, saying:

Jiaozhi's rebels spread out, crime followed for the Lineage House. Thereupon they caused usurpation and  chaos in several provinces, spreading out for successive years and harvests. Ding province then wishes to dim the gain in seeing forward, and does not look at the great plan. The tally sent down present [us] with utterances to swing at the criminals, for that reason [I] will live or die for it. How can [you] hold in awe and quail at the Lineage House, and make light of the state's laws? Now suppose the robbers dispirit the multitudes, how are [we] certain Jiao province will chastise the thieves. [If] asking about the criminals' host, then turn around and point at them.

With that they directed the troops to beat the drums and march, and then advanced.

11th Year, 6th Month [25 June – 24 July 545], the army arrived in Jiao province. Ben's multitudes, several ten thousand, was at the mouth of the Suli Jiang, to erect city palisades so as to resist the official army. Piao pushed forward Gaozu as the vanguard, wherever he turned he toppled and captured. Ben fled to Dianche Lake. In the region of the Qu Liao he erected a stockade, greatly constructed ships and warships, filling up and blocking the middle of the lake. The multitude armies dreaded them, they paused at the mouth of the lake and did not dare to advance. Gaozu spoke to the various generals, saying:

Our host is already worn, the generals and soldiers are weary with struggle. To grasp each other for successive years [I] fear is not a good plan. Moreover an isolated army without assistance enters into peoples hearts and bellies. Suppose there is a single battle we do not win, how do we expect to keep our lives intact? Now to depend on them fleeing again and again, peoples' feelings are not yet firm. The Yi and Liao are a flock of crows, and are easy to destroy and exterminate. It is correct to attend to together to set out for a hundred deaths, to determine strength and catch them. We have no reasons to stop and halt, the affairs of the times will go away.

The various generals were all silent, and did not have a response. That night the waters of the Jiang rose 7 zhang, gathered in the middle of the lake, running and flowing in a quick burst. Gaozu directed his section troops, and exploited the flow to advance first. The multitude armies beat the drums and made a clamour, and moved forward together. The thieves' multitudes were greatly scattered.

Ben ran away to enter within the grottos of the Qu Liao. The Qu Liao beheaded Ben, and transmitted his head to the Imperial City. This year was the 1st Year of Taiqing [547 AD]. Ben's older brother Tianbao escaped to enter Jiuzhen. He and the brigand leader Li Shaolong gathered the remaining troops, 20 000, killed the Inspector of De province, Chen Wenjie, and advanced to besiege Ai province. Gaozu carried on leading the multitudes to chastise and pacify them. He was appointed General who Raises the Distant, Controller-Protector of Xijiang, Grand Warden of Gaoyao, and Controller of All Army Affairs of Seven Commanderies.

2nd Year [548 AD], Winter, Hou Jing robbed the Imperial City. Gaozu wanted to led troops to go and assist. The Inspector of Guang province, Yuan Jingzhong secretly had different aspirations, and wanted to plot against Gaozu. Gaozu perceived his plan. He and the Inspector of Cheng province, Wang Huaiming, the Selection Gentleman of the Acting Tribunal, Yin Waichen, and others covertly discussed taking precautions and making preparations.

3rd Year, 7th Month [9 August – 7 September 549], he assembled righteous troops in the Southern Seas, and swiftly called arms to chastise Jingzhong. Jingzhong was desperate and under pressure, and hanged [himself] beneath the balcony. Gaozu welcomed Xiao Bo to garrison Guang provnice.

At that time, the Interior Clerk of Linhe, Ouyang Wei oversaw Heng province. Lan Yu and Lan Jingli incited and persuaded Shixing etc., 10 commanderies. Together they raised up troops to attack Wei. Wei requested aid from Bo. Bo ordered Gaozu to lead the multitudes to rescue him. He thoroughly seized Yu and others, and continued to oversee Shixing commandery.

11th Month [5 December – 3 January 550], Gaozu dispatched Du Sengming and  Hu Ying to bring along 2 000 people to pause above the high passes. He also substantially connected with the  outstanding and prominent of Shixing to together plan to righteously raise up. Hou Andu, Zhang Rensi, and others led more than 1 000 people to come and adhere. Xiao Bo heard about it, and dispatched Zhong Xiuyue to talk to Gaozu, saying:

Hou Jing is gallant and valiant, Under Heaven none are his equal. Those in front assisted an army of 100 000, the soldiers and horses are the very best and vigorous. But yet they did not dare to be the spear-point, and thereupon ordered the Jie thieves to obtain their aspirations. You Lord, with a multitude of little account, how might it be?

Similarly, hearing that north of the High Passes, the kings and marquises are also all a boiling cauldron, Hedong and Guiyang are in turn butchering and massacring each other. Shaoling is beginning a foundation, and personally seeking out shield and spear. Li Qianshi is devoting himself to Dangyang, readily snatching horses and weaponry. By you Lord ignoring the outside, could you be jumping in the dark?

It is not as good moreover as dwelling in Shixing, far away extend the sound of power, protect this grand mountain, and yourself seek much happiness.

Gaozu sobbed and spoke to Xiuyue, saying:

This humble one originally was ordinary and unassuming, facing the state's complete accomplishments. When [I] formerly heard Hou Jing had crossed the Jiang, [I] immediately wished to go and aid. Coming across the conflict with Yuan and Lan, they were thorns in the middle of my path. Now the Imperial Capital is overturned and lost, the Ruler and Sovereign is suffering dust, the lords are humiliated and the subjects dead. Who would dare covering over the instructions! The Lord Marquis embodies then the august branches, his duties weighty among the regions' high peaks. He is not able to snap a spear-point at ten thousand li, wipe away this unjust pain, and see to dispatching a single army. Better than doing nothing, and then submit to later directives, making people melancholy, this humble one will act and plan for a decision, and rely on it as disclosing and recounting.

He then dispatched messengers to go to Jiangling outside the roads, and receive the successor army's appointed time, rules and measures.

At the time Cai Luyang rose up with troops to occupy Nankang. Bo dispatched his belly and heart Tan Shiyuan as Prefect of Qujiang. He and Luyang joined with each other, and together went aganst the righteous army.

1st Year of Dabao [2 February – 3 March 550], Gaozu issued out from Shixing, and stayed at Dayu High Pass. Luyang set out with the army and paused at Nanye, he relied on the mountains and rivers to erect four forts so as to resist Gaozu. Gaozu fought with him, and greatly routed him. Luyang extricated himself, ran away and fled. Gaozu advanced to pause in Nankang. The King of Xiangdong succeeded to authority, and conferred on Gaozu Cavalier in Regular Attendance of the Outer Staff, Holding the Tally, General who Clarifies Power, and Inspector of Jiao province, and changed his ennoblement to Baron of Nanye county.

6th Month [30 June – 29 July], Gaozu repaired the old city of Qitou, and moved to reside there. The Inspector of Gao province, Li Qianshi occupyed Dagao. He dispatched the Master of the Host Du Pinglu to lead 1 000 people and enter Ganshi and Yuliang. Gaozu instructed Zhou Wenyu to bring along troops and strike him. Qiangshi ran to Ningdu. The Successor to Authority conferred on Gaozu Thoroughly Straight Cavalier in Regular Attendance, Envoy Holding the Tally, Commander-in-Chief of All Army Affairs of Six Commanderies, General of the Host of Armies, Inspector of Nanjiang province; the remainder like before.

At the time, natives of Ningdu, Liu Ai and others, supplied Qianshi with ships, warships, troops and weaponry, wanting to assault Nankang. Gaozu dispatched Du Sengming and others to lead 20 000 people to occupy Baikou, and build a fort so as to hold out against them. Qianshi likewise erected a fort so they were confronting each other.

[bookofjin]

Could you tell me about Liu Tan and Wang Meng (the one from Jin, not Fu Jian's buddy)? I see their names occasionally popping up from tiem to time

Liu Tan and Wang Meng were two friends who lived in Eastern Jin during the first half of the 4th century. They appear in a number of stories in the Shishuo xinyu, too mane to repeat them all here.

Liu Tan (c. 311 – 347) came from a family of office holders from Xiang in Pei. As young he lived with his mother at the migrant community at Jingkou. The family had become impoverished, and he supported himself by making straw sandals. It is said that at this time he was completely unknown, only Wang Dao recognized him. Gradually his reputation grew, by the time he reached adulthood, people were comparing him to Xun Can. Liu Tan married a daughter of Emperor Ming, the Princess of Luling. Because of his skill in conversation, he became a frequent guest at the house of Sima Yu, the future Emperor Jianwen, together with his friend Wang Meng. He eventually became Intendant of Danyang, the capital commandery. He is said to have warned against giving Huan Wen command of Jing province (Wen also belonged to the same circle of acquaintances centred around Sima Yu). He died in office aged 36 sui.

Wang Meng (c. 307 – 347) belonged to the famous Wang clan from Jinyang in Taiyuan, he is said to have been free and unrestrained and had a reputation for stylish manners. He at one point served on the staff of Wang Dao, and later became a county prefect, but never held any really significant offices. Like his friend Liu Tan, he belonged to the circle around Sima Yu. He died aged 39 sui. In 362 his daughter became the Empress of Emperor Ai.

[wangshiyue]

Interview - Shiyue Wang and Xinyu Liu at Finlandia Trophy 2019

This interview transcript has been edited and condensed for clarity by Evie (@doubleflutz). Interview conducted by Clara (@daejangie).

I'm here with Shiyue and Xinyu - team Wang/Liu of China. This is your second season at Gadbois. Shiyue and Xinyu: Yes.

How have you adjusted to life in Canada? Is it different? Does it feel like home yet? Shiyue: Actually, the first year was hard for us because we needed to learn almost everything from new. So we needed to learn so many things. But this year we feel like it's almost like a home, so this year is easier for us.

When you say "everything new," is that about your skating as well? Shiyue: The skating, life- Xinyu: New coach, new team, new life. Shiyue: Everything! [Laughs]

What do you miss most about home? Shiyue: Food!

Food? [Laughs] Shiyue: Family, food - Chinese food! Xinyu: But basically in Montreal they have a lot of Chinese restaurants. It's good!

Yeah, there's a lot of choices! So there are so many top teams at Gadbois [Shiyue and Xinyu: Yeah] what's it like all training together? Shiyue: When we're training together or in the same session, we skate with them and we learn so many things, like how to skate like them. We really love to watch them skate. Every time they [skate] with music, doing some whole programs, we just stay [still] and go "I don't want to skate, I want to watch!" And every time [Xinyu] will say like "Oh my god, so good!" Xinyu: "So good!" [Laughs] Shiyue: It's like that, yeah. And the coach says "You can do that!" and [then we go] "No, it's okay!" It's like that.

What have they made you focus on in your skating at Gadbois? Is there anything, in particular, they've said that you need to work on? Shiyue: It's more focused on the skating. Before we always thought so many things, like "We want the levels, and we want speed" - not really step by step. So the coaches and the team they teach us step by step. Xinyu: And really to enjoy it. Enjoy your program. Shiyue: Yeah, enjoy your program, focus yourself and don't think about the whole program. Focus step by step.

And your TES was really high this time. It's going up so it's working? Shiyue and Xinyu: Yeah!

And it looked like you were having fun! So that was the next thing that I wanted to ask about, this was such a fun Rhythm Dance. How did you choose "Chaplin?" Were there any other options or did you know it was going to be "Chaplin" from the start? Shiyue: This season we tried to listen to so many music options but it wasn't really- Xinyu: It didn't feel good. Shiyue: And after, Marie-France [Dubreuil], she listened to some music with us. Xinyu: She had some ideas. Shiyue: She said "Oh, I have some ideas. Maybe you can do Charlie Chaplin and you can wear exactly the same costumes. That would be fun!" But in the beginning, [Xinyu] didn't really like the funny style. Xinyu: Yeah, I don't like the funny style. Before in these 12 years that we've skated together, we've never skated in a funny style. Shiyue: Yeah, because he likes cool [styles]. [All laugh] Xinyu: Yeah! But after this program, I feel like it's really good. Shiyue: We tried something off-ice, because we have a dance teacher, and she gave us some really simple [moves] beginning with the music and [Xinyu] felt "Hmm, feels good!" Xinyu: "It's really good!" Shiyue: "It's not bad!" And we talked to Marie-France and she said, "Okay, let's do it!"

So now you can do cool and silly! Shiyue and Xinyu: Yes! [All laugh]

And what about the costumes? Usually, ladies [costumes] in Ice Dance are more feminine, flowy. Xinyu: The music, at the very beginning, you can listen to it say it's a [Charlie Chaplin] lookalike contest. So Marie-France said, "Maybe there should be two Chaplin's." Shiyue: It's like a competition. The two Chaplin's - "You are Chaplin and you are Chaplin too.

"Does it make the lifts easier because there's no dress? Xinyu: Yeah, yeah, yeah! Much easier! [Laughs]

That's good! And your [Free Dance] is "Black Swan." How did you choose that? Shiyue: At the very beginning, it wasn't this [program]. It was really slow and beautiful music. We already had a whole program- Xinyu: We'd been training it for one month. Shiyue: We practiced it for one month and still thought that it was too beautiful for us. And Marie-France said, "Yes, it's too beautiful. It's not your style. Your style is really sharp." Xinyu: Sharp or powerful, yeah. Shiyue: She said, "Maybe we should try the other option? [Xinyu: The black one!] Maybe more dark?" and we said "Like what? Like Black Swan?" Xinyu liked "Black Swan."

It's cool! Xinyu: Yeah! It's really cool! Shiyue: And I didn't answer and he said "Yes, okay! Let's do this!" [Laughs] And I said "Okay, yeah!" and we changed programs.

And now you're okay with it? Shiyue: Yes, I really like "Black Swan" because we watched the movie and the music was really good. But you know, the other really good dancers, they've already skated to it at the Olympics. It's a really popular program, so we should do something different and more "us."

Lovely. And you got three new personal bests at Nebelhorn last time? Shiyue: Yes.

For the Short, Free and overall? That was amazing, how did that feel? Were you expecting it? Shiyue: The last competition for us was a really good beginning because the programs felt good. Xinyu: And everybody really liked our programs. Shiyue: And we liked both programs. We felt that it was really good.

And next you're skating at Cup of China? Shiyue and Xinyu: Yes.

Which we didn't have last year - are you excited for it to be back at home? Shiyue: Yes! Xinyu: Yeah, of course! Shiyue: Yeah, we can go home and this year Cup of China is in a very different city. It's a very new city, Chongqing. We've never been there so it's exciting.

Thank you both so much for talking with us, and good luck! Shiyue: Thank you! Xinyu: Thank you so much!

[bookofjin]

Biography of Xie Daoyun

[From JS096.]

Wang Ningzhi's wife, Ms. Xie, courtesy name Daoyun, was the daughter of the General who Calms the West, Xie Yi [JS079]. She was intelligent and perceptive, and had a talent for debating. Her junior uncle An [JS079] once asked:

[In] the Mao Poetry, which phrases are extremely delightful?

Daoyun said:

Jifu made hymns, majestic like the pure wind. The eternal affection of Zhong Shanfu, thereby calming his heart.

An spoke of [her] being a refined person of the furthest depths. Again they were once gathered inside, when soon snow suddenly came down. An said:

What does it resemble?

An's elder brother's son Lang said:

Scattered salt in mid-air almost can be the model.

Daoyun said:

Even more [?] willow catkins rising because of wind.

An was greatly delighted,

[This is Shishuo xinyu (SSXY) story 2.71. They are playing a rhyming game where the host proposes a topic with a seven word line (shortened in the JS version) and each participant responds with a rhyming seven word line of their own.]

At the beginning of her marriage to Ningzhi, when she returned [for a new wife's customary one year anniversary visit to her parents], she was considerably unhappy. An said:

Gentleman Wang is the son of Yishao [Wang Xizhi, JS060] and is not bad, why are you resentful?

She replied:

For uncles in this house there are Ada and the Palace Gentleman, among the crowd of cousins there are also Feng, Hu, Jie and Mo. [I] had not thought that among heaven and earth there would be a Gentleman Wang!

Feng is said to be Xie Shao, Hu is said to be Xie Lang [JS079], Jie is said to be Xie Xuan, Mo is said to be Xie Chuan, all are their child names.

[This is SSXY story 19.26. The identification of the individuals listed by Xie Daoyun is not certain, the SSXY commentary gives a different one than the JS.]

She also once mocked Xuan that the growth of his studies was not advancing, saying:

Are there mundane occupations going through your heart, or is there a limit to your Heavenly lot?

[This is SSXY story 19.28]

Ningzhi's younger brother' Xianzhi was once talking and discussing with a visiting guest, his words and reasoning was about to yield. Daoyun dispatched a servant girl to inform Xianzhi, saying:

[I?] desire to be a minor gentleman loosening the encirclement.

[She] then arranged a blue-green chiffon walking screen to hide herself, and explained Xianzhi the earlier discussion. The guest was not able to make her yield.

When she came across the difficulties of Sun En [JS100] [in 399 AD], she raised up and arranged herself like [before?]. When she heard her husband and sons had been murdered by the traitors, only then [?] did she instruct the servant girls to carry [her] carriage, drew a blade and set out from the gates. In the chaos troops arrived little by little. She killed several people by her own hand and then was captured. Her maternal grandson Liu Tao at the time was a few [?] years old. The traitors also desired to murder him. Daoyun said:

This affairs is about the Wang household, why shut off [?] another family? Certainly if it is to be like this, [I] would rather first be killed.

En, though he was noxious and cruel, had a change in appearance, and then did not murder Tao.

A widow after this, she lived in Kuaiji, [those] within her house could not but be rigorous and respectful. The Grand Warden, Liu Liu, heard of her fame and requested to converse and discuss with her. Daoyun had a long-standing knowledge of Liu's fame, [he?] likewise did not impede himself [?]. She then bound up her hair with a hairpin and sat on a plain cushion within a screen. Liu with a bundle of dried meat and an orderly belt came to a separate couch.

Daoyun's style and manners were lofty and striding across [?], her expressions presented purely and refined. She first reach family affairs, her desolate defiance flowed continuously, proceeding calmly to respond to questions and viewpoints, her expressions and reasoning unobstructed. Liu withdrew and sighed, saying:

[Her] worth has of late not been seen. Looking at and examining [her] words and manners, makes a person's heart and body both submit.

Daoyun likewise said of him:

My person has gone on to wither and perish [?], and only now [have I] met this gentleman. Listening to him questioning, particularly opens a person's breast and receptacles [?].

Earlier, the younger sister of Zhang Xuan of the same commandery likewise had genuine talent, she married into the Gu clan. Xuan always spoke of her, and considered her a match for Daoyun. There was an aiding nun [?] who wandered among the two families. Someone asked her, the aiding nun replied, saying:

Lady Wang's spirit and feelings are relaxed and bright, because of that she has the manners and airs of the [Sages] beneath the Grove. The wife of the Gu family's pure heart is the glare of jade, is herself from this the flower of the women's quarters.

[This is SSXY story 19.30]

Daoyun's composed poetry, rhapsodies, eulogies and odes are also transmitted to the [current] era.

[The Suishu bibliography lists Xie Daoyun's Collected Writings in 2 scrolls, but this is no longer extant except in fragments.]