Sun Deng (; 230–260 CE) was a Daoist sage-recluse, a zitherist, and allegedly the last master of transcendental whistling. Chinese literature has various anecdotes about Sun Deng refusing to teach the musicians Ji Kang (223–262) and Ruan Ji (210–263), two of the iconoclastic Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove.
The moral of the story about Ruan Ji visiting Sun Deng, who preferred supernatural whistling over traditional master-disciple dialog, is the ineffability of the Dao (as explained in the opening of the ). The Chinese poetry of the Six Dynasties and Tang dynasty developed this narrative into the "absent recluse" genre, expressing the unfulfilled desire to obtain wisdom by entering into conversation with a sage-recluse dwelling in the mountains.
Ji Kang stories
Ji Kang or Xi Kang (223–262) was a prominent intellectual of the Cao Wei (220–265) period, Daoist philosopher, author, poet, and musician. He was leader of the Seven Worthies/Sages of the Bamboo Grove, a group of intellectuals and artists who met occasionally at his estate to drink wines, take drugs, play music, and engage in witty "pure conversation".
Ji Kang's polymathic interests ranged from "transcendence; immortality" techniques to music theory. His essay "On Nourishing Life" contends that one can achieve longevity through Daoist breathing exercises, diets (e.g., ), and drugs (Cold-Food Powder). Drug use was widespread among the literati in early medieval China, and Ji Kang was "reputed to have been a connoisseur in this field". Ji's writings on music include the famous "A Rhapsody on the Qin" zither, "Essay on the Absence of Sorrow or Joy in Music", and a number of solo pieces for .
The classical Chinese stringed instrument is called in Modern Standard Chinese, owing to the common use of in names for instrumental loanwords (such as ). Sun Deng was renowned for playing a one-string version of the qin (); the 499 Tr. . says Sun Deng could "derive eight notes by plucking a single string."
Ji/Xi Kang and Ruan Ji were close friends, famous for their skills in poetry, music, and ripostes. They helped to develop "Neo-Daoism" and emphasized the importance of "naturalness; spontaneity". Ji and Ruan were in a homosexual relationship with Shan Tao, another one of the Seven Worthies, who described their friendship as "stronger than metal and fragrant as orchids". Ji Kang and Ruan Ji were such close friends that was a popular portmanteau for the pair. Ji and Ruan both tried unsuccessfully to study zither and transcendental whistling with Sun Deng.
Shenxian zhuan Ge Hong's (4th century) Daoist "Biographies of Divine Transcendents" hagiography of Sun Deng has the earliest version of the story about his refusal to teach Ji Kang about zither playing.
Sun Deng's origin is not known. He stayed in the mountains, sitting in caves, strumming the zither and studying the Changes. Winter or summer he wore only a single-layer garment, but when the weather grew extremely cold, someone observed him loosen his hair and use it to cover his body. It was over ten feet in length. When the Grand Mentor Yang Jun sent a messenger to invite Sun Deng to converse with him, Sun made no reply. Yang Jun then sent him a lined cloth robe as a gift. Upon its delivery, Sun came out from his gate, borrowed someone's knife, and cut the robe in two; he then placed the upper and lower halves in separate places outside Yang's gate. He also made a loud sound as if he were being cut in two. At the time, people thought him mad. Only later did they realize that Yang would be executed that way and that Sun was doing this as a symbolic prediction. Yang had him arrested and would not release him, so Sun died. Yang furnished a coffin and had him buried near Zhen Bridge. Several days later someone spotted him at Dongma Hill, so this person sent a letter to a friend of his in Luoxia. Ji Shuye , who had ambitions to outstrip his era, once visited Sun Deng. Sun would not speak with him. When Ji raised objections, Sun calmly strummed his zither, until, after a long time, Ji finally stepped back. Sun then said, "Young man, you have excellent talent, but you lack knowledge of how to preserve the body. How will you avoid [harm]?" (It was not long after this that Ji was destroyed by implication in a grave affair.) Now Ji was skilled at playing the zither. At this point, Sun, using only one string, played a whole tune, and Ji, hearing it, sighed and became lost in thought.Tr. . Yang Jun (d. 291) was a Jin Dynasty (266–420) official during the reign of Emperor Wu and regent for Emperor Hui. Sun Deng's "death" and reappearance is typical for Daoist fake burial, the lowest level of "transcendence". This "grave affair" refers to Ji Kang getting involved in Cao Wei court politics, and sentenced to death by regent Sima Zhao for testifying to help a friend.
Shishuo xinyu The "A New Account of Tales of the World" says, "While Hsi K'ang was wandering among the mountains of Chi Commandery (Honan), he met the Taoist adept , Sun Teng, and thereafter continued his wanderings in his company. As K'ang was on the eve of departing, Teng said, 'As far as your ability is concerned, it's high enough, but your way of preserving your own life is inadequate'."
The commentary by the Liang dynasty scholar Liu Xiaobiao or Liu Jun (462–521) quotes four texts. First, the anonymous says, "In the summer Sun Teng wove garments out of grass, and in the winter he covered himself with his unbound hair. He was fond of reading the "Book of Changes" and playing a one-stringed zither. All who saw him were attracted and delighted by him." Second, the , by Sun Sheng (ca. 302–373), says, "Sun Teng was by nature free of both joy and anger. If anyone doused him under water and then brought him out to look at him, Teng would just laugh aloud. Whatever items of clothing or food were provided him by households where he stayed he would never decline, but when he left he would leave them behind." Third, the (4th century) , by Zhang Yin , gives this version of the story. During the Chia-p'ing era (249–253) some people of Chi Prefecture had gone into the mountains, where they saw a man. The place where he lived was an overhanging cliff rising a hundred (about 700 feet), where dense woods grew in shady luxuriance, yet his spirit and intelligence were extremely bright. He said of himself that his surname was Sun and his name, Teng, with the courtesy name, Kung-ho. When he heard of him, Hsi K'ang followed him about for three years. K'ang asked for his prognosis concerning his own future, but Teng never answered. However, K'ang always sighed in respectful admiration over the fine subtlety contained in his godlike counsels. When K'ang was about to take his leave, he said to the man, "Sir, have you nothing, after all, to say?" Teng finally answered, "Do you know anything about fire? When it is lit it gives light. Yet knowing when not to use the light is, after all, included in knowing when to use it. When a man is born he is endowed with ability. Yet knowing when not to use his ability is, after all, included in knowing when to use it. Thus, knowing when to use light is included in getting enough fuel to keep it burning, and knowing when to use ability is included in understanding things well enough to complete one's allotted years. Now your ability is abundant, but your understanding slight. You'll have difficulty avoiding trouble in today's world. Don't ask me anything more." K'ang was unable to use his advice, and when he became involved in the Lü An affair and was cast into prison, he composed a poem reproaching himself, as follows: "In the past I used to blush before Liu-hsia Hui, But now I am ashamed before Sun Teng." Liu-hsia Hui or Liuxia Hui is the loyal politician Zhan Huo (720–621 BCE). Fourth, Wang Yin's (4th century) explains, "Sun Teng was the one interviewed by Juan Chi. Hsi K'ang treated him as his teacher, with all the ceremony expected of a disciple. During the transition between Wei and Chin (ca. 260–265) it was easy to fall prey to jealousy and suspicion; both noble and base were engulfed together. For this reason Sun Teng was silent on some points."
Zengxiang liexian zhuan The Yuan dynasty (c. 14th century) elaborates on Ji/Xi Kang meeting Sun Deng, and mentions transcendental whistling in addition to zither playing. Sun Teng dwelt in a cave on the North Mountain in the prefecture of Chi . In summer, he made himself garments of plaited straw; in winter he covered himself only with his long hair. He was an expert in the art of whistling without a break, and he loved to read the Canon of Changes and to thrum a one-stringed lute. By temperament he was prone neither to joy nor to anger. Once, we are told, in the hope of seeing him angry, a man pitched him into the river, but when Sun Teng had scrambled out, he only burst into fits of laughter. The high-born statesman Hsi K'ang accompanied him in his wanderings for three years, yet whenever he questioned his Master about his aims, he could get no reply. When about to leave him, Hsi K'ang said: "After all this time, Sir, have you no word for me?" Sun Teng replied: "You know what fire is, don't you? It has the natural property of giving light, but not of using that light; yet its importance depends on the use made of its light. In man, intellectual capacity is a natural gift, but not the use made of that capacity; yet his worth depends on the use he makes of it. The use of light is contingent on a supply of fuel wherewith to preserve its radiance; and the use of intellect consists in acquiring a knowledge of Pure Truth so as to keep one's life immune from harm." Hsi K'ang also asked for instruction in playing the lute, but Sun Teng would not teach him. "Your intellectual capacity is great," he said, "but your knowledge is small. It will be difficult for you to pass unscathed through the world of to-day." … In the end, Sun Teng rose up to heaven in broad daylight.
Ruan Ji stories
Ruan Ji (210–263) was a skillful poet, essayist, and musician, who rebelled against orthodox Confucian rituals and conventions. He loved drinking wine, and his biography says he avoided an arranged marriage into the Sima family by staying drunk for 60 days. The famous -zither melody, "Drunken Ecstasy" is attributed to him.
Ruan wrote philosophical essays about the , , and , his masterful "Songs of My Soul", and "Disquisition on Music". Among recluse poets who practiced transcendental whistling as a way to absorb themselves into nature, Ruan Ji was the most famous whistler of the Jin dynasty. After meeting Sun Deng, Ruan Ji immortalized him in "Biography of Master Great Man", which praises Daoist transcendence over the mundane world.
Shishuo xinyu In the (5th century) version of this transcendental whistling story about Ruan Ji, Sun Deng is referred to as the "perfected person" in the Sumen Mountains .