For language learners to learn Chinese in China, the legend of the “Seven Sages of Metaphysics in the Bamboo Grove” during the West Jin dynasty was worth noticing, they are representatives of the thoughts of Metaphysics during the West Jin Dynasty.
It must be a mystery for students to study Mandarin in China to guess the origin of their thoughts, after the Sima clan had win the battle over the Cao, the Cao family who had been under suppression could raise their social status, the society was at the interval the shifting of dynasties, the society was in such a turmoil that some of the landlords who were formerly not in power gradually took the attitude of not to cooperate and letting go of nature attitude.
The famous litterateur, ideologist Jikang(嵇康)and Ruanji(阮籍) were the representative figures among them. It’s suggested for students to study Chinese in China that the thoughts of these “Seven Sages of Metaphysics in the Bamboo Grove” be comprehended, among the “Seven Sages of Metaphysics in the Bamboo Grove”, the other five members are Shantao, Liuling, Xiangxiu, Wangrong, Ruanxian.
As people about to study Mandarin in China had expected, they got together because of the same aspiration and interest, and disintegrated due to the difference, “Seven Sages of Metaphysics in the Bamboo Grove” had a fundamental inclination of “getting over the Confucian ethical code but letting the nature be at ease”. They were strongly against the feudal ethical code and rites, and were fighting against the influential officials,
As to the origin of their name, it’s quite easy for students to study Chinese in China that they got the name as the Sage of Bamboos for the reason that they usually gathered around in the woods, drink and discuss together.
It’s worth noticing for students to study Mandarin in China that both Jikang and Ruanji were advocating the thoughts of the Chuang Tzu, they were longing for a peaceful life in seclusion, and they sponsored the nourishing of life of the Taoism.
Choosing to learn Chinese in China could also be splendid and you can taste the free life style here, the thoughts of inactivity and adapting to the times, winning through tolerance became was reason of settling down and getting on with their pursuit.
For students to study Chinese in China, there option that the “Seven Sages of Metaphysics in the Bamboo Grove” had chosen to spend their live was the negative masquerade, laissez-faire attitude, it tend to be something like generosity and open-mindedness, and even to a degree of magnanimous in their disposition which had enabled them to be the fighter of the orthodoxies.
It is obvious for friends to learn Chinese in China that during the age of the “Seven Sages of Metaphysics in the Bamboo Grove” who were greatly under the influence of the Metaphisics, the contradictions within the social politics was so intensive that the pursuit of the “Seven Sages of Metaphysics in the Bamboo Grove” tend to be a more an action of demonstration their high aspirations and the determinedness in uncompromising.
The lasting influence of them is admirable for people to learn Chinese in China, the masterpiece done by Xianxiu, one of the “Seven Sages of Metaphysics in the Bamboo Grove” was written in terms of asking questions and answering them by himself.
Through this book, the author tries to directly demonstrate his personal feelings as well as his contempt for the orthodox codes and rituals of Chinese feudal society. Therefore, it’s strongly recommend for students who are about to study Chinese in China to digest his work.
As to Jikang and Ruanji, all things under heaven were made up of “Qi”, as to them, which is interesting for students to study Mandarin in China to discover, that there are contradictions between the Confucian ethical code and nature, The atmosphere of idle talk was under the influence of Xiangxiu and Guoxiang, they uphold nature and are against the Confucian ethical colds. Their channel of expressing their fond of nature was through their prevention from indulging themselves in fame and wealth. Therefore, before getting prepared to learn Chinese in China, one of the traditional values of Taosim which are still advocated by some of the Chinese people today could not be neglected. As to them the upholding of the Confucian ethical colds could undermine the harmonious interrelationship between human-beings.
As you know, the legend of the “Seven Sages of Metaphysics in the Bamboo Grove” has such far-reaching influences, that people’s conception of value, thought and attitude to life, aesthetic appreciation and style of literature creation were influenced by the Metaphysical elements in it.