Rong Qiqi
Encyclopedia
Róng Qǐqī is a mythological Chinese
folk hero
. He is depicted as a recluse
, who shuns material possessions in favour of an ascetic life. Rong was known in Ancient China for a fable involving an alleged encounter with the philosopher Confucius
. Although largely forgotten in the following centuries, in his time, the story of his encounter with Confucius was a source of artistic and poetic inspiration. The story is retold in the famous text Liezi
, written by Lie Yukou
, a circa 5th century BCE Hundred Schools of Thought
philosopher. Many scholars conclude that Rong Qiqi, while a notable figure in early Chinese literature
, is likely fictional or legendary and not historical.
According to the fable involving Rong, he lived to the age of 95. The text does not indicate the cause of Rong's predictament, whether it arose out of choice or from misfortune, but popular interpretations of the text have assumed it is the former
In the story, Confucius encounters Rong Qiqi, an elderly recluse who has chosen a life of ascetism. Rong is starkly in contrast to the Confucian ideal of a successful man; he is elderly, poorly dressed, with little material possessions or ambitions. And yet, despite his poverty, Rong appears happy to Confucius. He responds to Confucius' bewilderment with a cheerful song, happily accompied by his playing of the lute
. The Han Dynasty
classic Huainanzi
reports that "when Rong Qiqi plucks one chord of his lute, Confucius, moved by its harmony, rejoiced for three days."
Confucius requests Rong provide reasons for his happiness. Rong Qiqi, Confucius surmised, has nothing to be joyful of; he has no possessions, no hope, and no future. Rong replies that he is happy for three reasons, his "three joys" : being born human, being born a man, and living to an old age. That, for him, is enough.
After all, Rong surmises, most men are poor and all men will die, so why should he worry himself? This is consistent with all lives, so instead of waiting with everyone else for it to eventually end, why should he worry himself with anything? Why should he deny himself happiness? Instead of being miserable, waiting for his fate, he chooses to be happy. Says Rong Qiqi:
and on the importance of education and studying. This makes him a perfect foil
for Rong Qiqi, who rejects his personal responsibilities in favour of pursuing happiness.
He lived in poverty, not because he was forced to, but because he chose to. He chose to reject the material world. Being destitute was, by itself, not an appealing trait.
view of life as a way to achieve the tranquility and harmony valued in Daoism as integral to the Tao
.
Poets Gu Kaizhi and Tao Yuanming have also mentioned Rong Qiqi in their poetry, but the latter spoke of him with far more skepticism, wondering if such emphasis on the natural and abandonment of the worldly is actually worth it.
Some poets rejected Rong, seeing seclusion as a cheap escape from recent misfortune and responsibility. The poet Sengdu, while praising the idea of seclusion as a means of spiritual enlightenment, rejected Rong's reaction to futility by indulging in simplistic joys and desire. As he describes in one of his poems, Sendu's response to Rong is "Though this age might be said to be joyous, what of later lives?"
Rong Qiqi was also popularly associated with a group of Chinese Taoist Qingtan
scholars, writers, and musicians called the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove
who came together in the 3rd century CE. This is indicated in some apocryphal art from the fourth century CE, in a tomb near Nanjing, depicting Rong Qiqi with the Seven Sages. However, the Seven Sages lived in a time period long after Rong Qiqi's, so this association is probably apocryphal, assuming that Rong Qiqi is a real person and not just a fanciful character.
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
folk hero
Folk hero
A folk hero is a type of hero, real, fictional, or mythological. The single salient characteristic which makes a character a folk hero is the imprinting of the name, personality and deeds of the character in the popular consciousness. This presence in the popular consciousness is evidenced by...
. He is depicted as a recluse
Recluse
A recluse is a person who lives in voluntary seclusion from the public and society, often close to nature. The word is from the Latin recludere, which means "shut up" or "sequester." There are many potential reasons for becoming a recluse: a personal philosophy that rejects consumer society; a...
, who shuns material possessions in favour of an ascetic life. Rong was known in Ancient China for a fable involving an alleged encounter with the philosopher Confucius
Confucius
Confucius , literally "Master Kong", was a Chinese thinker and social philosopher of the Spring and Autumn Period....
. Although largely forgotten in the following centuries, in his time, the story of his encounter with Confucius was a source of artistic and poetic inspiration. The story is retold in the famous text Liezi
Liezi
The Liezi is a Daoist text attributed to Lie Yukou, a circa 5th century BCE Hundred Schools of Thought philosopher, but Chinese and Western scholars believe it was compiled around the 4th century CE.-Textual history:...
, written by Lie Yukou
Lie Yukou
Lie Yukou is considered the author of the Daoist book Liezi, which uses his honorific name Liezi . The second Chinese character in Yukou is written kou 寇 "bandit; enemy"; the first is written yu 圄 "imprison", yu 禦 "resist; ward off", or occasionally yu 御 "drive ; ride ; control" Lie Yukou is...
, a circa 5th century BCE Hundred Schools of Thought
Hundred Schools of Thought
The Hundred Schools of Thought were philosophers and schools that flourished from 770 to 221 BC during the Spring and Autumn period and the Warring States period , an era of great cultural and intellectual expansion in China...
philosopher. Many scholars conclude that Rong Qiqi, while a notable figure in early Chinese literature
Chinese literature
Chinese literature extends thousands of years, from the earliest recorded dynastic court archives to the mature fictional novels that arose during the Ming Dynasty to entertain the masses of literate Chinese...
, is likely fictional or legendary and not historical.
Biography
Like many folk heroes, it is uncertain if Rong Qiqi is a fictional character, or if his story has some basis in truth.According to the fable involving Rong, he lived to the age of 95. The text does not indicate the cause of Rong's predictament, whether it arose out of choice or from misfortune, but popular interpretations of the text have assumed it is the former
Encounter with Confucius
Lute
Lute can refer generally to any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back, or more specifically to an instrument from the family of European lutes....
. The Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
classic Huainanzi
Huainanzi
The Huáinánzǐ is a 2nd century BCE Chinese philosophical classic from the Han dynasty that blends Daoist, Confucianist, and Legalist concepts, including theories such as Yin-Yang and the Five Phases. It was written under the patronage of Liu An, Prince of Huainan, a legendarily prodigious author...
reports that "when Rong Qiqi plucks one chord of his lute, Confucius, moved by its harmony, rejoiced for three days."
Confucius requests Rong provide reasons for his happiness. Rong Qiqi, Confucius surmised, has nothing to be joyful of; he has no possessions, no hope, and no future. Rong replies that he is happy for three reasons, his "three joys" : being born human, being born a man, and living to an old age. That, for him, is enough.
After all, Rong surmises, most men are poor and all men will die, so why should he worry himself? This is consistent with all lives, so instead of waiting with everyone else for it to eventually end, why should he worry himself with anything? Why should he deny himself happiness? Instead of being miserable, waiting for his fate, he chooses to be happy. Says Rong Qiqi:
Background
Confucius was a famous philosopher in Ancient China, known for his emphasis on filial pietyFilial piety
In Confucian ideals, filial piety is one of the virtues to be held above all else: a respect for the parents and ancestors. The Confucian classic Xiao Jing or Classic of Xiào, thought to be written around 470 BCE, has historically been the authoritative source on the Confucian tenet of xiào /...
and on the importance of education and studying. This makes him a perfect foil
Foil (literature)
In fiction, a foil is a character who contrasts with another character in order to highlight particular qualities of another character....
for Rong Qiqi, who rejects his personal responsibilities in favour of pursuing happiness.
Appeal
Rong Qiqi's appeal was his complete abstinence of material desires. He was similar to his Western counterpart, Diogenes the Cynic, in rejecting all societal norms and physical comforts for a life of ascetic virtue.He lived in poverty, not because he was forced to, but because he chose to. He chose to reject the material world. Being destitute was, by itself, not an appealing trait.
In literature and art
The philosophy of the possibly fictional Rong Qiqi was widely admired among writers, with artists viewing it at as a more natural, more fluid, more liberating way to live life. The poet Ruan Kan wrote approvingly of Rong, applauding Rong Qiqi's fatalisticFatalism
Fatalism is a philosophical doctrine emphasizing the subjugation of all events or actions to fate.Fatalism generally refers to several of the following ideas:...
view of life as a way to achieve the tranquility and harmony valued in Daoism as integral to the Tao
Tao
Dao or Tao is a Chinese word meaning 'way', 'path', 'route', or sometimes more loosely, 'doctrine' or 'principle'...
.
Poets Gu Kaizhi and Tao Yuanming have also mentioned Rong Qiqi in their poetry, but the latter spoke of him with far more skepticism, wondering if such emphasis on the natural and abandonment of the worldly is actually worth it.
Some poets rejected Rong, seeing seclusion as a cheap escape from recent misfortune and responsibility. The poet Sengdu, while praising the idea of seclusion as a means of spiritual enlightenment, rejected Rong's reaction to futility by indulging in simplistic joys and desire. As he describes in one of his poems, Sendu's response to Rong is "Though this age might be said to be joyous, what of later lives?"
Rong Qiqi was also popularly associated with a group of Chinese Taoist Qingtan
Qingtan
Qingtan , translated as "pure conversation," was a movement related to Taoism that developed during the Wei-Jin period and continued on through the Southern and Northern dynasties. Qingtan involved witty conversation or debates about metaphysics and philosophy...
scholars, writers, and musicians called the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove
Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove
The Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove were a group of Chinese Taoist Qingtan scholars, writers, and musicians who came together in the 3rd century CE. Although the individual members all existed, their interconnection is not entirely certain...
who came together in the 3rd century CE. This is indicated in some apocryphal art from the fourth century CE, in a tomb near Nanjing, depicting Rong Qiqi with the Seven Sages. However, the Seven Sages lived in a time period long after Rong Qiqi's, so this association is probably apocryphal, assuming that Rong Qiqi is a real person and not just a fanciful character.