Gao Lian (playwright)

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Gao Lian ( Chinese高 濂, Pinyin Gāo Lián , born approx. 1527; died 1603 ) was a writer of plays and encyclopedic works during the Ming Dynasty . In particular, his encyclopedic works provide information about the material and aesthetic culture (gardens, tea, ornamental plants) of the 17th century in China.

Life

Gao Lian was born into a wealthy family in Qiantang (錢塘), today's Hangzhou (杭州) in Zhejiang Province , and wrote plays, poetry and novels from an early age. For a while he worked at the Honglusi 鴻臚 寺 (Court of Diplomatic Receptions) in the capital Beijing, but after 1575 he retired to the West Lake in Hangzhou.

At a young age, Gao Lian suffered from serious illness and worried about his health. He took this as an opportunity to collect books on medical topics. In this way, Gao Lian was later able to treat and cure an eye disease himself.

In his encyclopedic works it is evident that Gao Lian combined Confucian as well as Daoist and Buddhist elements in his life and thought. It is therefore also an example of the idea that these three teachings are compatible with one another - a notion that was trending towards the end of the Ming period.

Works

Gao Lian's most famous plays include "The Jade Hairpin" Yuzuanji玉簪 記 and Jiexiaoji節 孝 記. He also published several book directories in his library. His most important work, however, is the encyclopedia "Eight Treatises on Healthy Living" ( Zunsheng Bajian遵 生 八 笺 ).

"Eight Treatises on Healthy Living" ( Zunsheng Bajian遵 生 八 笺 )

It was first published in 1591 and reprinted several times in the 17th century. It was included in the Siku Quanshu Imperial Book Collection during the Qing Dynasty . Gao Lian deals extensively with the mental and spiritual health of humans. The book consists of 19 volumes (juan 卷), which are divided into eight subject areas:

  1. On the best methods of pure self-cultivation (Qingxiu miaolun jian 清脩 妙 論 箋; Vol. 1–2): Talks about basic hygiene as passed down from older works of the Yellow Emperor and Laozis .

2. About living in harmony with the four seasons (Sishi tiaoshe jian 四時 調 攝 箋; Volumes 3–6): deals with nutritional suggestions tailored to the respective season.

3. About calm and contentment in everyday life (Qiju anle jian 起居 安樂 箋; Volumes 7–8): It deals with how the architecture and furnishings of houses influence health.

4. About lengthening life and avoiding illnesses (Yannian quebing jian 延年 卻病 箋; Vol. 9-10): Life-lengthening measures, for example "taking in qi" ( fuqi服氣) and gymnastics ( daoyin導引).

5. About food and drink (Yinzhuan fushi jian 飲 饌 服食 箋; Vol. 11–13): Reports include the correct preparation and use of tea, water, soup, zhou (粥), vegetarian dishes, fermentation processes (niangzao酿造) as well as manufacturing processes for pharmaceuticals (fazhi yaopin 法制 藥品).

6. On pure enjoyment of leisure time (Yanxian qingshang jian 燕 閒 清 賞 箋; Volumes 14–16): Covers leisure activities such as collecting art or decorative flowers.

7. On secret medicine (Lingdan miyao jian 靈 秘 丹藥 箋; Vol. 17–18): alchemy and pharmacology.

8. On Travel Outside the Mortal World (Chenwai xiahu jian 塵 外 遐 舉 笺; Volume 19): Contains stories about immortals and Taoist masters from the Chinese past.

See also

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Chen Hsiu-fen 陳秀芬: Nourishing Life, Cultivation and Material Culture in the Late Ming: Some Thoughts on Zunsheng bajian 遵 生 八 牋 (Eight Discourses on Respecting Life, 1591) . In: Asian Medicine . No. 4 , 2008, p. 29–45, here: p. 31 .
  2. ↑ Craig Clunas: Superfluous Things: Material Culture and Social Status in Early Modern China . Urbana: University of Illinois Press 1991, pp. 14-20.
  3. ↑ Chen Hsiu-fen 陳秀芬: Nourishing Life, Cultivation and Material Culture in the Late Ming: Some Thoughts on Zunsheng bajian 遵 生 八 牋 (Eight Discourses on Respecting Life, 1591) . In: Asian Medicine . No. 4 , 2008, p. 29–45, here: p. 32 .
  4. ↑ Ibid.
  5. ↑ Chen Hsiu-fen 陳秀芬: Nourishing Life, Cultivation and Material Culture in the Late Ming: Some Thoughts on Zunsheng bajian 遵 生 八 牋 (Eight Discourses on Respecting Life, 1591) . In: Asian Medicine . No. 4 , 2008, p. 29–45, here: p. 37 .
  6. ↑ Craig Clunas: Superfluous Things: Material Culture and Social Status in Early Modern China . Urbana: University of Illinois Press 1991, p. 18. Ulrich Theobald: Gao Lian. Chinaknowledge.de July 21, 2013. Online at: http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Ming/personsgaolian.html
Note: This article places the family name before the person's first name. This is the usual order in Chinese. Gao is the family name here, Lian is the first name.
personal data
SURNAME Gao, Lian
ALTERNATIVE NAMES 高 濂 (Chinese); Gāo, Lián (pinyin); Kao, Lien
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Chinese author of plays and encyclopedic works
DATE OF BIRTH around 1527
PLACE OF BIRTH Hangzhou
DATE OF DEATH 1603