Wuming gong zhuan (, “Biography of Mr. Nameless” or “Biography of Mr. No-Namedigitalarchive.npm.gov.tw: Shao Yong’s “Biography of Mr. No-Name””) is a classical literary work of the xiaoshuo genre by the prominent Northern Song philosopher and scholar Shao Yong (1011–1077).
Work In this autobiographically inflected text, Shao Yong portrays himself under the pseudonym “Mr. Nameless” (, Wuming gong or also Wuming jun "Nameless Lord"). He reflects on his way of life, characterized by simplicity, withdrawal from political affairs, and a profound understanding of the cosmic order (TaijiTàijí the Supreme Ultimate (in Chinese cosmology)).
The work is preserved in major sources such as the Shao Yong quanji (Complete Works of Shao Yong), the Shaozi quanshu , and the Shaoshi yishu wuzhong . Among these, the Shaozi quanshu , edited in the Ming dynasty by Xu Bida , is regarded as a particularly comprehensive collection of Shao Yong's works.
Both the Qing-period Zhuozhou zhi ("Chronicle of Zhuozhou") and the Huangchao wenjian ("The best examples of literature from Our Dynasty"cf. chinaknowledge.de: Songwenjian ) compiled by Lü Zuqian in the Southern Song quote the text.cf. dushu.com: Shaozi quanshu. Wuming jun zhuan A historical dispute existed regarding Shao Yong's birthplace, between Zhuozhou in Hebei and a location in Henan.It was questioned whether the sentence serving as the narrative guideline, "" ("Mr. Nameless was born in Ji, grew up in Ji, and grew old in Yu"), actually originated from Shao Yong. It is now generally assumed that Shao Yong's birthplace was in present-day Linzhou (formerly Linxian ) in Henan (the historical Hengzhang).
The text is included in various collections such as the Shuofu (说郛), for example the edition used by the Hanyu da zidian published by the Commercial Press.Hanyu da zidian, bibliography no. 703 (Shao Yong : Wuming gong zhuan . Shuofu - Shangwu yinshuguan )
The biographical section of Alain Arrault's monograph on Shao Yong concludes with a presentation and translation of the Wuming gong zhuan (Chapter III).Alain Arrault: Shao Yong (1012-1077): poète et cosmologue. Paris: Collège de France, Institut des hautes études chinoises, 2002. Mémoires de l'Institut des hautes études chinoises v. 39 (Summary - "la Biographie du Sieur sans nom")
See also Taiji (philosophy)
References and notes
Bibliography Shao Yong : Wuming gong zhuan . Shuofu (Shangwu yinshuguan )
Further reading Don J. Wyatt: The Recluse of Loyang. Shao Yung and the Moral Evolution of Early Sung Thought. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press 1996 (online) Alain Arrault: Shao Yong (1012-1077): poète et cosmologue. Paris: Collège de France, Institut des hautes études chinoises, 2002, Mémoires de l'Institut des hautes études chinoises v. 39 (Summary)
External links Shao Yong Shao Yong’s “Biography of Mr. No-Name” (Chinese) Shaozi quanshu. Wuming jun zhuan (Chinese)