37 Sima Xiangru
A Top Writer of Rhythmical Prose
Han Dynasty saw the most thriving and prosperous period of literature creation with showing up a group of history-honored writers with two Simas standing at the top, one was Sima Qian (see piece 36), the other was Sima Xiangru (179-118 BC). Emperor Wudi once read Sima Xiangru’s rhythmical prose Zi Xu (literally Nothing) and was highly praising it. A dog official (breeding hunting dogs) said: “Sima is a fellow native of mine.” Sima then took an official post. Shortly afterward he created more rhythmical prose, like Shang Lin (a garden), Da Ren (great man), among others.
There was a famous romantic story took place between Sima Xiangru and a beautiful girl by name of Zhuo Wenjun. Once Sima attended a family party hosted by a tycoon surnamed Zhuo in Chengdu, capital city of Sichuan Province. When someone suggested Sima to play music, Sima knew that Zhuo had a pretty daughter Wenjun who was newly widowed, so he played a jin (Chinese instrument) by a tune of Male phoenix paying court to a female trying to seduce the girl. At midnight, Wenjun actually came to Sima’s room, then the two eloped. They went to Sima’s native village, but could do nothing for making a living, so they returned to Chengdu. They borrowed some money and opened a small eatery. Everyday, Wenjun sat behind a cashier stand, while Sima ran forth and back serving as a waiter. The tycoon felt humiliated and angry. Someone advised him: “So had been the case, you had better agree it.” The tycoon gave part of his wealth to them.
Sima Xiangru also wrote a rhythmical prose Chang Men (literally Long Gate) that associated with a story of “A prose rewarded with thousand jin of gold” (each jin equal to 1/2 kg): Emperor Wudi’s first queen Chen Ah-jiao (jiao meant beauty) was Wudi’s cousin. Wudi’s aunt once asked him: “Will you marry Ah-jiao after you become the emperor?” The boy said: “Yes, when I become the emperor, I will build a gold house to hide her.” (“gold house hided a beauty” became an idiom) But shortly after Ah-jiao became the queen, she lost favor from the Emperor and left in limbo staying lonely at Chang Men Palace. Ah-jiao sought help and asked Sima to write a prose, in a hope that the prose might change Emperor’s mind. Ah-jiao also promised a reward to Sima of thousand jin of gold. Wudi was greatly moved after read the prose Chang Men, and Ah-jiao could subsequently win back the favor of Emperor Wudi.