Chinese Customs 005: Jin Dynasty: Eating Spring Plate (Rolls) 中国古代风俗百图 之 005 晋 馈春盘

立春咸作春盘尝，芦菔芹芽伴韭黄。

互赠友僚同此味，果腹勿须待膏粱。

古代在立春有吃五辛盘的风俗。如《荆楚岁时记》载：『元日，……进屠苏酒，下五辛盘。』周处《风土记》：『元日造五辛盘。』注云：『五辛所以发五藏之气，即大蒜、小蒜、韭菜、云苔、胡荽是也。』五辛盘又称春盘。《摭遗》载：『东晋李鄂立春日命以芦菔、芹芽为春盘馈贶。』《本草纲目》中说：『五辛菜，乃元旦、立春以葱、蒜、韭、蓼蒿、芥辛嫩之菜杂和食之，取迎新之意。』这一风俗传到唐、宋、金、元。如元代耶律楚材有《立春日驿中作穷春盘》诗，其中说到用藕、豌豆、葱、蒌蒿、韭黄和粉丝作春盘。

Chinese Customs 004: Tang Dynasty: The Plum Flower Makeup 中国古代风俗百图 之 004 唐 饰梅花妆

初七人日又立春，梅花点额颜色新。
此身若在含章殿，疑是寿阳宫里人。


 古代以正月初七日为『人日』，《事物记》载：东方朔最初置『人日』。传说宋武帝时，寿阳公主在人日卧含章殿，檐下梅花飘落在公主额上，形成一种装饰；宫女效之，以红点额为『梅花妆』。此俗传至唐宋，妇女多在脸上画各式图案；有『斜红、面靥』等名目；涂唇有『万金红、大红、内家圆』等名目。其实，妇女在脸上点画装饰，早在春秋战国时已经兴起了；长沙出土楚国女俑的脸上就有圆点的图案可证。到唐代发展为往脸上贴金箔花钿，成为一种化妆时尚。

Chinese Customs 003: Ming Dynasty: Presenting Name Cards During New Year Visits 中国古代风俗百图 之 003 明 拜年送名片

拜年不必进府门，送上名片抵见人。
各处贺岁皆如此，赠予纸店大笔金。

宋代已用名片拜年，称为『飞帖』。各家门前贴一红纸袋，上写『接福』，即承放飞帖之用。《清波杂志》载：『元祐年间，新年贺节，往往使用佣仆持名刺代往。』到明代仍然如此。文徵明《拜年》诗云：『不求见面惟通谒，名纸朝来满敝庐。我亦随人投数纸，世情嫌简不嫌虚。』清代《燕台月令》也形容北京『是月也，片子飞，空车走。』现代的贺年片、贺年卡，可以说是其遗风。

Chinese Customs 002: Song Dynasty: Having Fun at Music School for Female Entertainers 中国古代风俗百图 之 002 宋 教坊自乐

良辰美景奈何天，泪眼装欢又一年。

堪喜岁首无官役，相聚青楼奏管弦。

　　

宋代教坊妓女原属宫廷，是为官妓；『绍兴年间，废教坊职名，如遇大朝会、圣节，御前排当及驾前导引奏乐，并拨临安府衙前乐人……』

另有私妓，在市井演唱。

官府有事，如设酒库卖酒，为招揽生意，『官私妓女，顾倩只应』。

一年之内，难得休息。只有新岁初一有空闲自娱。 

Chinese Customs 001: Song Dynasty: Playing With Firecrackers 中国古代风俗百图 之 001 宋 燃爆竹

霹雳声中旧岁除，为惊疫魃燃青竹。

一自火药发明后，难止新年放鞭俗。
　　

据《神异经》载：西方山中有山臊，犯之则令人寒热。但它怕竹子爆声。于是人们烧竹来赶走它。

唐代诗人来鹄诗云：『新历才将半纸开，小庭犹聚爆竿灰。』宋代王安石诗：『爆竹声中一岁除，春风送暖入屠苏。』在火药发明之后，人们在春节仍然燃爆竹。

范成大《爆竹行》中描写燃爆竹的过程：『截筒五尺煨以薪，节间汗流火力透，健仆取将仍疾走。儿童却立避其锋，当阶击地雷霆吼。一声两声百鬼惊，三声四声鬼巢倾。十声连百神道宁，八方上下皆和平。却拾焦头叠床底，犹有馀威可驱疠。』

在南宋出现用草纸裹火药扎成卷形的爆仗。《武林旧事》：『至于爆仗，内藏药线，一连百馀不绝。』此指用药线串在一起的鞭炮。

明代黎淳有《爆竹》诗：『自怜结束小身材，一点芳心不肯灰。时节到来寒焰发，万人头上一声雷。』所咏的是『升天雷』，北方称为『二踢脚』。

火药的发明，本是为和平生活用的，后来用于战争，乃是人类的不幸；用于侵略战争，更是人类的大不幸。

Lisi: Advising Against Driving Away Foreign Talents 李斯：谏逐客书

Li Si was the Prime Minister of the Chinese First Emperor of Qin Dynasty (221 - 206 BC). He is credited with the creation of the Zhuan Script (Official or Seal Script). However, he is also famous because of a note he wrote to the First Emperor to advise him not to drive away the foreign born talents and the fact that the First Emperor accepted his advice. The following is his main argument: 

The Mount Tai is large because it was not picky ...... 

I have heard that many officials have discussed the need to dismiss their foreign clients (talents), but I dare to think that this is a bad thing to do.

In the past, when Lord Mu was searching for distinguished men, he found You Yu from western Rong and Bai Lixi from Wan, he welcomed Jian Shu from Song, and he spotted Pi Pao and Gongsun Zhi in the kingdom of Jin. Although these five gentlemen were not born in Qin, Lord Mu used them and thus was able to annex twelve countries, and Qin emerged as a strong country in the western Rong.

Lord Xiao implemented the new legal system of Shang Yang and as a result, our old customs and habits were either changed or eliminated, and thus enabled our people to live better life. With this, our country is stronger and more prosperous. Our people are then happy to join the armed forces, and our neighbouring countries are willing to listen to us. After we defeated Chu and Wei, we occupied more that thousand square kilometres of land, and today our country are still strong and well managed.

King Hui adopted Zhang Yi’s strategy and thus occupied many territories around the Sanchuan River. We also annexed Ba and Shu in the west, Shang Jun in the north, and Han Zhong in the south. We conquered many minority races (tribes), controlled two major cities Yan and Ying, and occupied Cheng Gao in the east. A lot of fertile lands were seized, the alliance of six countries was dissolved and these countries were forced to pledge their allegiance to Qin. The impacts of the strategy have lasted even until today.

King Zhao employed Fan Sui and discharged his corrupt uncles Ranghou and Huayang, only to eliminate unauthorized behaviour and to invigorate the strength of the ruling family's position. He devoured the territories of the feudal lords and made the house of Qin able to become emperors.

These four rulers were successful because of their foreign advisors. From this aspect, how could the foreign advisors let the rulers of Qin down? If these four rulers would not have employed and incorporated foreign consultants in their courts, the state of Qin would not be as rich and prosperous as it is now, and Qin would not be a strong and powerful country…..

I have heard that a country with ample land and fields can grow abundant grain, a state with a vast territory can accommodate many inhabitants, and a strong army will have brave soldiers. Equally, the Mount Tai is large because it was not picky about the size of its rocks. All the rivers and seas run deep for they do not reject small streams. And a king can manifest his virtue only by not driving out the inhabitants of his country. Therefore, it is important not to stretch a country all over the world, and not to make people become estranged to their country; and only then, the four seasons will be completed and beautiful, the spirits and gods will grant good luck, and all will be like during the age of the Five mythical Emperors and the Three holy Kings (of Xia, Shang and Zhou), who are invincible in this world. If your majesty now would dismiss your foreign advising clients (talents), they would be a fortune for your enemies' countries. If you would allow people of ability under Heaven to draw back from your court and not to come here to the west, they would not put one step on the ground of your state of Qin. That would be tantamount to lending weapons to robbers and giving grain to the bandits who robbed Qin.

A lot of products may not be produced in Qin, but they can be treasured by us; many wise people may not be born in Qin, but they are willing to serve our country with loyalty. Now if we dismiss these people, they will become the treasure of other kingdom, this is to disadvantage us and benefit our enemies. This is amounting to weaken us internally and causing unhappiness among our dukes and princes. Under such circumstances, how can we avoid danger to our country? 

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李斯是秦朝（公元前221年至206年）秦始皇的宰相。他被认为是秦篆书的创造者。他给秦始皇写的《谏逐客书》是他名垂千古。他劝秦始皇不要驱逐外来的人才，而秦始皇也接受了他的劝告。以下是他的主要论点：

臣闻吏议逐客，窃以为过矣。

昔穆公求士，西取由余於戎，东得百里奚於宛，迎蹇叔於宋，求丕豹、公孙支於晋。此五子者，不产於秦，而穆公用之，并国二十，遂霸西戎。

孝公用商鞅之法，移风易俗，民以殷盛，国以富强，百姓乐用，诸侯亲服，获楚、魏之师，举地千里，至今治强。

惠王用张仪之计，拔三川之地，西并巴、蜀，北收上郡，南取汉中，包九夷，制鄢、郢，东据城皋之险，割膏腴之壤，遂散六国之纵（合纵），使之西面事秦，功施到今。

昭王得范雎，废穰侯，逐华阳，强公室，杜私门，蚕食诸侯，使秦成帝业。

此四君者，皆以客之功。由此观之，客何负於秦哉！向使四君却客而不纳，疏士而不用，是使国无富利之实，而秦无强大之名也。…..

臣闻地广者粟多，国大者人众，兵强者士勇。是以泰山不让土壤，故能成其大；河海不择细流，故能就其深；王者不却众庶，故能明其德。是以地无四方，民无异国，四时充美，鬼神降福，此五帝、三王之所以无敌也。今乃弃黔首以资敌国，却宾客以业诸侯，使天下之士退而不敢西向，裹足不入秦，此所谓‘藉寇兵而赍盗粮’者也。

夫物不产於秦，可宝者多；士不产於秦，而愿忠者众。今逐客以资敌国，损民以益仇，内自虚而外树怨於诸侯，求国无危，不可得也。

注：由余：晋国人，先是在西戎任职，后来秦穆公设法使他投奔秦国。百里奚：楚国人，原为虞国的大夫，晋灭虞后，把他作为陪嫁的奴隶送给秦国。后来楚地的宛地，被楚国边境的人俘获。秦穆公用五张黑羊皮将他赎回，并封为大夫。迎蹇叔：原为岐人，旅居宋国，由于百里奚的推荐，秦穆公派人花重金请去做了大夫。丕豹：晋大夫丕郑的儿子，丕郑被晋惠公杀，丕豹逃到秦。公孙支：原是晋人，后来归秦，为秦大夫。商鞅：卫国人，姓公孙，名鞅。入秦后，被秦孝公重用，实行变法，有大功。因为封地叫商，故称商鞅，又称商君。张仪：魏国人，秦惠王任为丞相，他用连横的策略帮助秦分化瓦解东方六国，使它们服从秦国。范雎：魏国人，秦昭王用为相。他提出远交近攻的策略，帮助秦国统一天下。穰侯：秦昭王的舅父，曾为相国。华阳：秦昭王的舅父。

Flood Legend – Yu the Great Subdues the Flood 洪水的传说，大禹治水

A traditional legend about a major flood can be found in almost all civilisations. Such was the destructive force of this flood that few land animals and plants survived it as it covered the whole earth. For readers in Western society the most famous version is the story of Noah and the Ark as recounted in Genesis, the first book of the Bible.

In China the flood myth had a different emphasis from the legends told in the West. The flooding of the land from time immemorial was seen as a hindrance to agriculture. The floodwaters were made to recede through the labours of a saviour-hero named Yu the Great, who successfully dredged the land to provide outlets to the sea for the water. Thus was the great central river valley of China made suitable for agriculture and the development of civilization.

Yu the Great was born and lived around 22 century BCE and is regarded as a descendant of Huangdi, the Yellow Emperor. Legend says that four thousand years ago, the water god was angry and opened such a big hole in the sky that the rain poured straight down like a river, submerging the earth for many years. Flood waters were everywhere, and Gun, Yu's father, was summoned by King Shun to control the flood.

Gun went up to Heaven and stole a bag of heavenly soil—called xi rang—which would grow when the wind blew on it. To control the flood, he put some xi rang on the water and let the wind blow over it. Soon, the soil grew and transformed into vast dams. Gun was very pleased and hoped the dams could stop the flood water. However, as the dams were made of soil, they could not hold back the surging water. Eventually, they collapsed and the flooding became more severe. Gun was then put to death by King Shun for his failure.

When Yu grew up and saw people were suffering terribly from the flood, he became determined to control it. Yu spent 13 years trying to control the flood, covering vast distances. During those years, he passed by his home three times but was so busy that he didn’t even stop in.

Yu came to Wushan (the Wu Mountains), which stretched over 800 miles. He wanted to cut a pass through the mountains to allow the flood water to escape to the sea. But the rock was hard, and at times, the mountain and cliffs would shake from the impact of the water. Many workers lost their lives in the massive water surges that slammed into the mountain. For months, Yu was quite worried that he had no way to cut the mountain rock.

Yao Ji, the 23rd daughter of the Queen Mother of the West, had a kind heart. She admired Yu's determination and was moved by the sufferings of the people on earth, so she decided to help Yu. Yao told Yu to use fire to open up Wushan, and she dispatched four divine generals, Kuang Zhang, Yu Yu, Huang Mo, and Da Dai from Heaven to help him.

Yu was very grateful to Yao Ji and led many people to set fires from both ends of the mountain. Yao Ji and the divine beings also used their supernormal capabilities and thunderbolts to strike at the mountain. After 49 days, the rock slowly turned soft and the workers were able to create a channel through Wushan that allowed the flood water to pass to the sea.

After the flood subsided, Wushan became the beautiful three gorges of the Yangtze River known today. During the opening of Wushan, Yao Ji had exhausted her divine energy and could not return to Heaven. So she remained on earth and turned into a mountain peak on Wushan. Later, people named it “Goddess Peak,” and the celestial maidens who forever accompanied Yao Ji turned into various mountain ridges and peaks which are known as Wushan's twelve mountain peaks.

Because Yu was so kind and caring that he put other people's suffering before his own, ordinary people loved him. King Shun also trusted Yu and granted him the Xia area, which today is the city of Dayu Zhou in Henan Providence.

In the end, King Shun did not pass his throne to any of his sons. Instead, when he died in 2208 BC, he gave it to the capable Yu the Great. Yu was 89 years old at that time and lived to be 100.

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几乎所有的文明传统上都有洪水的传说。因为洪水淹没全球，破坏力很大，很少动植物能够生存。对于西方读者来说，最著名的版本莫过于《圣经》里第一部书《创世纪》中讲述的诺亚方舟故事。在中国，洪水的故事与西方的强调角度不同。史前的这次洪水被看成是对农业发展的阻碍。救世英雄大禹的努力，把水引进大海而消退了洪水。中国因此有了一个适合于农作的中央河流大山谷，并由此发展了中国文明。

大禹，约生于公元前22世纪，是黄帝的后代。相传四千多年前，水神发了怒，把天撞了个大洞，天河里的水直泻而下，把大地吞没了，到处是汪洋。于是，鲧--大禹的父亲被舜王叫去治水。

鲧上天偷了一袋“息壤”。这息壤是神土，见风就增长。鲧十分高兴，治水时，他就取出一点息壤，放在水上，然后让风吹，息壤就变成一条一条的堤坝。鲧想用筑堤 的办法来减少洪火的冲击。可是，他想错了，水少可以用土堵一堵，可那样汹涌的洪水，光用土是挡不住的。所以堤坝最后总是被冲垮，水灾反而闹得更凶了。鲧由 于只相信筑堤坝堵水，结果没有把洪水治好，被舜处死了。

后来，禹长大了，他看到洪水滔天，民不聊生，决心治好洪水。大禹为治水穿山越岭，花了十三年去治水了。在这期间，他有三次经家门，但是没有时间进去。

大禹治水来到巫山，这巫山绵延八百里，岩石坚硬异常，更有狂风骤起，刮得天昏地暗，山崖震动，江涛像山峰一样矗立起来，凿山的民工有许多丧命于狂风骇浪之中，几个月来，无法凿开那坚硬似铁的岩石，大禹甚为发愁。

西王母第二十三个女儿瑶姬，心地善良。她敬佩大禹为民治水的精神，又有感于人们受洪水之苦。决定帮忙禹。慨然答应。她告诉大禹：要打通巫山，须用火烧。又派出神将狂章、虞余、黄魔、大翳 去帮助大禹治水。

大禹非常感激瑶姬的指点，率众百姓在巫山两头放起火来，瑶姬和神将也施展本领，或用电轰，或用雷霹。经过七七四十九个日夜，坚硬的岩石渐渐变软起来，施工的人们很快就打通了巫山八百里，让洪水从巴蜀境内流出来，直向大海奔去。

治理后的巫山成为美丽的长江三峡风光。瑶姬也因在打通三峡时耗尽了神力，回不到天上，只能留在人间。她天天站在高崖上凝神眺望，看到三峡风险浪急，许多行船在风浪中沉没，她就派遣了几千只水鸟，轮番在峡谷中飞行，担任行船的导航，引导人们安全地从峡谷中通过。

瑶姬长久地站在高崖上，日复一日，年复一年，久而久之，渐渐地化为巫山的一座山峰，后人称之为“神女峰”。而陪伴她的侍女们，也化成大大小小的峰峦，永远陪伴着瑶姬，这就是巫山十二峰。

由于大禹仁爱宽厚，以百姓疾苦为先，深受人们的爱戴。舜也十分信任大禹，便封他于夏地，就是今天的河南省大禹州市。

舜没有把帝王之位传给自己的子孙，而是于公元前2208年禅让给贤能的大禹。当时禹89岁，后来活到100岁。

Maliang and his Magical Writing Brush 马良与他的神笔

Once upon a time, there was a poor and kind young man called Ma Liang. He helped a rich man to tend cattle. He liked drawing and drew pictures everywhere. One night, he dreamed that an old man gave him a magic paintbrush and asked him to use it to help poor people. When he woke up, he found the magic paintbrush in his desk.

From that day on, he used the paintbrush whenever people needed help. When he saw that people had no water to use in the fields, he drew a river and the river came to life. People could bring water from the river to the field and save a lot of time and energy. When he saw it was difficult for people to till lands, he drew a cow and the cow came to life. People could use the cow to till lands very easily.

He became famous as many people knew about the magic paintbrush.

The rich man whom Ma Liang helped was a bad man. He sent some people to the Ma Liang's home and took him to the prison. After getting the magic paintbrush, he invited a lot of his friends to come to his home. However, none of the pictures he drew become real.

He was very angry and asked some people to get Ma Liang. He said to Ma Liang, "If you draw some pictures for me and turn them to life, I will set you free." Ma Liang said, "I can help you."

The rich man laughed and said, "I want a golden mountain. I will go there to gather gold."

The young man drew a sea first. The rich man was angry and said," Why did you draw a sea? I do not want this. I want a golden mountain. Draw it quickly." Then the young man drew a golden mountain which was far away from the sea. The rich man saw that and felt very happy. He said, "Draw a big ship quickly. I want to go there to gather gold." The young man smiled quietly and drew a big ship. The rich man jumped into the ship first and a lot of his family and friends jumped in too. When the ship sailed to the middle of the sea, the young man drew a large wave and it destroyed the ship. So the rich man and his friends died.

After that, the young man lived with his family happily and kept on helping the poor people. So the magic paintbrush was known by everyone.

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从前，有个穷苦但是善良的年轻人名叫马良。他帮一个有钱人看牛。他喜欢画画，所以无处不画。一个晚上，他梦见一个老人给他一支神笔，要他用它来帮助穷人。当他醒来时，那支神笔就在他的桌子上。

从那天开始，他用他的神笔来帮助那些需要帮助的人。当他看到人们没有水来灌田，他就画一条河，河就变成一条真的河流。人们从河里拿水到田里，节省了很多精力与时间。他看到人们耕田辛苦，他就画了只牛，牛就变成了真的牛。人们用牛来耕田，轻松得多了。

因为很多人知道了神笔的事，他因此远近闻名。

他为他干活的那个有钱人是个坏人。他派人到马良的家把马良关进监牢里。得到了马良的神笔后，富人邀请了很多朋友到他的家里来。可是，他所画的图画，没有一幅能活了起来。

他很生气，派人去把马良带来。他对马良说：‘如果你能画些图画，然后令这些图画或了去来，我就让你自由。’马良说：‘我可以帮你。’

富人笑了，说：‘我要一座金山。我要到那里去取金。’

年轻人先画了一片海。富人很生气地说：‘为什么画海？我不要这个。我要金山。快给我画。’年轻人接着在海的远方画了一座金山。富人看了很生气。他说，‘快点画一艘大船。我要到那儿取金。’年轻人暗笑，画了一艘大船。富人先跳上大船，他的家人与朋友都跟着跳上去。当船行走到海的中央时，年轻人画了大风浪，把船给毁了。所以，富人与他的朋友全被淹死了。

此后，年轻人与他的家人快快乐乐地生活，并且继续帮助穷人。所以，他的神笔人人皆知。

The Feeling of Filial Piety Moved Heaven 大舜孝感动天

The filial piety of Emperor Shun (23^rd to 22^nd century BC) was mentioned by Mencius when he said:

'Suppose the case of the whole kingdom turning in great delight to an individual to submit to him. To regard the whole kingdom thus turning to him in great delight but as a bundle of grass - only Shun was capable of this. He considered that if one could not get the hearts of his parents he could not be considered a man, and that if he could not get to an entire accord with his parents, he could not be considered a son. By Shun's completely fulfilling everything by which a parent could be served, Gushou (his father, literally means Blind Old-Man) was brought to find delight in what was good. When Gushou was brought to find that delight, the whole kingdom was transformed. When Gu Sou was brought to find that delight, all fathers and sons in the kingdom were established in their respective duties. This is called great filial piety.'

The story of Shun’s filial piety was later included as the first story in the book entitled The Twenty-four Paragons of Filial Piety written by the Yuan Dynasty scholar Guo Jujing.

In ancient China, during the reign of Yu, there lived a young man named Shun who was the son of Gushou. His nature was most filial. But his father was obstinate and his mother was boorish. His younger brother Xiang was proud and overbearing.

His families treated him very ill, and his mother and brother even had tried to murder him for several times. But every time after he saved himself with his wits, he forgave them. When he realized that his families hated him so much that they could not stop brewing plot against him, he run away and farm on Mount Li (in today's Shandong province)

When he worked in the field, the elephants ploughed for him and the birds weeded for him, for his feelings of filial piety were so great (that even the beasts were moved). Emperor Yao (of Tang) heard of this; he sent nine of his sons to wait on him and two of his daughters to be his wives and later abdicated the throne in his favour.

Verses praise him saying:

Herds of elephants plough in the spring;
Flocks of birds pull the weeds;
He is the heir of Yao and mounts his throne;
The spirit of filial piety moves the heart of Heaven.

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孟子谈到‘孝’时提到了帝舜（公元前23至22世纪之间）：

‘天下大悦而将归己。视天下悦而归己，犹草芥也。惟舜为然。不得乎亲，不可以为 人；不顺乎亲，不可以为子。言舜视天下之归己如草芥，而惟欲得其亲而顺之也。得者。曲为承顺以得其心之悦而已。顺则有以谕之于道，心与之一而未始有违，尤人所难也。为人盖泛言之，为子则愈密矣。舜尽事亲之道而瞽瞍厎豫，瞽瞍厎豫而天下化，瞽瞍厎豫而天下之为父子者定，此之谓 大孝。’

后来元代学者郭居敬把这个故事编排在他所编的《全相二十四孝》里的第一个故事：

虞舜。瞽瞍之子。性至孝。父顽母嚣。弟象傲, 尝谋杀舜，舜遂遁。舜耕于历山。有象为之耕。有鸟为之耘。其孝感如此。帝尧闻之。事以九男。妻以二女。遂以天下让焉。

系诗颂之。诗曰：
对对耕春象。
纷纷耘草禽。
嗣尧登帝位。
孝感动天下。

Yan Zhenqing: A Note on Political Principles 颜真卿：守政帖

Yan Zhenqing (709-785) was a great calligrapher as well as a high official in the Tang Dynasty. His artistic accomplishment in Chinese calligraphy parallels the greatest master calligraphers throughout the history, and his regular script style, Yan, is often imitated.

Yan Zhenqing and his family were known for having an honest and forthright character; they would rather die than go against their principles. This quality was eulogized throughout Chinese history. Yan Zhenqing’s brother, Yan Gaoqing, and nephew, Yan Jiming, were captured by An Lushan during the Anshi Rebellion. Yan Aiqing scathingly denounced An Lushan. An Lushan broke his bones, but he refused to retract his words. Then An Lushan cut out his tongue, but he never yielded. 

Yan Zhenqing himself was a victim of political frame-up for several times. This note was written to his sons and grandsons during his exile.

There are certain principles for statesmen to follow and they must be followed.

Last year I offended the court by my remonstration and was punished. But I will never sacrifice principle for the sake of pandering to the prevailing ideas. If I did, I would have to stand condemned through the ages. Although I am now exiled to a remote place, I would not feel ashamed of it throughout my life. I hope you will comprehend what I mean and will never abandon the principles.

颜真卿（709-785）是唐代的一个大书法家与朝廷官员。他在艺术上的成就，可以比拟历史上任何一位书法大师，而他的颜体为世人所研习。

颜真卿与其家人以诚实与直率个性而闻名于世。他们宁死也不愿意违反原则。他们的这种品质在历史上为人赞颂。安史之乱时，他的哥哥颜杲卿与侄儿颜季明为安禄山所擒。颜杲卿痛斥安禄山。安禄山断其骨，但是他就是不肯屈服。安禄山再割其舌，但是其还是屈服。

颜真卿本身也受到不少政治陷害。以下是他写给他的儿子与孙子的信。

政可守，不可不守。吾去岁中言事得罪，又不能逆道苟时，为千古罪人也。虽贬居远方，终身不耻。绪汝等当，须谓吾之寸心不可不守也。