Ascetic Yuan Hong secluded himself in a courtyard chamber, keeping plain clothes and wooden clogs. He honored his mother indoors yet skipped formal mourning rites after her death. Twice summoned by the court, he declined, earning high praise from Fan Pang for balancing filial piety and integrity.
Erudite Guo Tai excelled at judging talents and drew countless scholars. His rain-dampened folded headwrap became a widespread fashion. He declined official posts, and Xu Zhi honored him with fresh grass at his mother’s funeral.
Upright scholar Xia Fu was falsely framed as a partisan by corrupt eunuchs. To spare others from disaster, he cut his beard, disguised himself and labored as a metalworker in mountains. Even after amnesty, he stayed in exile until the governor fetched him after three attempts.
Virtuous scholar Xu Zhi repeatedly turned down all official nominations and imperial summons. Yet he held deep gratitude to officials who valued him, once trekking three thousand Li on foot to mourn Huang Qiong, and attended all his patrons’ funerals till his death.
While crowds watched Emperor Huan’s lavish tour, an unnamed Han River elder kept plowing. He rebuked official Zhang Wen, criticizing the emperor’s wasteful travels that burdened folk, contrasting frugal ancient sage kings. He left without revealing his name.
Great Confucian Fa Zhen taught hundreds of disciples yet shunned officialdom. He turned down repeated imperial summons, citing Xu You’s tale of washing ears to guard his purity. Honored as Master of Mysterious Virtue, he lived to eighty-nine in seclusion.
Descendant of hermit Liang Hong, erudite Zhi Xun taught many scholars and wed his daughter to talented Ma Rong. Highly commended by ministers, he rejected multiple imperial summons and lived out his secluded life with an untainted reputation.
Recluse Ren Tang taught the Spring and Autumn Annals and refused official summons. He sent silent symbolic reminders of integrity, punishing tyrants and caring for youth and the old to Governor Pang Can. Villagers revered him with a portrait after his death.