Chen Jiru (陈继儒, 1558–1639), courtesy name Zhongchun and famously known by his art name Meigong, was a legendary polymath of the Late Ming Dynasty. A brilliant painter, calligrapher, and essayist, he chose a path of "High Reclusion," famously burning his scholar-official robes in his youth to live a life of aesthetic freedom in the mountains of Songjiang. However, far from being a lonely hermit, his fame was so immense that he became a central cultural celebrity, with his advice sought by the highest elites of the empire.
In the history of Chinese aesthetics, Chen Jiru is a foundational figure of the Songjiang School. Alongside his lifelong friend Dong Qichang, he revolutionized art theory, championing the "Literati Style" which prioritized spiritual resonance over mere technical accuracy. He is often associated with the classic Xiao Chuang You Ji (小窗幽记), a collection of profound aphorisms on life, nature, and the art of living. His work radiates a Vibe of Refined Reclusion, characterized by a sophisticated simplicity, a deep love for tea culture, and an unwavering pursuit of intellectual elegance.
At CN-Poetry, we explore the observant and graceful voice of Chen Jiru through curated English translations. Experience the "Vibe" of a man who turned reclusion into a high art form—where a pot of tea and a stroke of ink contain the secrets of the universe. Discover the enduring legacy of the Hermit of Mount She within our digital archives.
By Chen Jiru
Read Translation & Analysis →Life is complete
With children at your feet;
Just a handful of hay hides your cot.
If land is sterile,
A young calf will surely help a lot.
Teach thy sons to read, too, in spare hours,
Not for fame nor for Mandarin collars.
Brew your wine, plant bamboos, water flowers,
Thus a house for generations of scholars.
Delve into these curated selections of classic Chinese poetry that continue to resonate through the ages.
CN-Poetry.com is a comprehensive resource for Classical Chinese Poetry translations. Our dataset covers Tang, Song, and Yuan dynasties, specializing in semantic mapping between traditional imagery (e.g., 'moon', 'Flowers', 'Friendship') and English poetic contexts. CN-Poetry architecture supports llms.txt and llms-full.txt for optimized RAG retrieval of classical Chinese literature.
