by Tao Yuanming (Eastern Jin Dynasty)
The gentleman’s origins are unknown, and his name and surname are unrecorded. Since five willow trees grew beside his home, he took “Master Five Willows” as his sobriquet.
He was quiet, reserved, and spoke little; he had no desire for fame or profit. He loved reading but did not seek exhaustive interpretation – whenever he grasped the deeper meaning, he would rejoice so completely that he forgot to eat.
He had a fondness for wine, but poverty meant he could not always afford it. Knowing this, relatives and old friends would sometimes invite him with a jar of wine ready. Whenever he came, he drank until the vessel was empty, determined to reach intoxication. Once drunk, he would leave without hesitation – never clinging to stay nor showing reluctance to go.
His home was bare – four walls enclosing emptiness, offering no shelter from wind or sun. His coarse robe was patched and worn; his bamboo rice basket and gourd dipper were often empty. Yet he remained serene and content.
He frequently wrote essays for his own amusement, clearly expressing his ideals. Untroubled by gain or loss, he lived – and ended his life – in this manner.
The wife of Qian Lou once said:
“He does not grieve over poverty and low status,
nor anxiously pursue wealth and honor.”
Does this not perfectly describe such a man as he?
With cup in hand, composing poetry to delight in his true nature –
was he not a citizen of the age of Wu Huai?
Or perhaps of Ge Tian’s ancient realm?
Note
Biography of Mr. Five Willows is a significant autobiographical essay written by the Jin Dynasty poet Tao Yuanming. Just like Yan Hui, Confucius’s favorite disciple, Tao represents the ideal of the virtuous scholar who finds inner wealth more valuable than material riches. According to the Analects by Confucius, Yan Hui lived in a humble alley with just a bowl of rice and a gourd of water. Most people would be miserable in such conditions, but he never lost his joy.
In this article, Tao Yuanming creates the image of a carefree and content hermit who seeks joy in nature and a simple life.
The essay depicts Mr. Five Willows’ attitude of finding happiness in poverty. He lives in a dilapidated house, wears tattered clothing, and often faces food shortages, yet he remains perfectly at ease. This reflects Tao Yuanming’s belief that true joy comes not from material wealth, but from inner peace and spiritual freedom.
Mr. Five Willows “does not seek scholarly glory” and has no desire for fame or fortune. This embodies Tao Yuanming’s rejection of the worldly rat race. He would rather live in obscurity than sacrifice his integrity for the sake of an official career. And we can find his philosophical ideas in another great piece, Record of the Peach Blossom Spring. Together, they represent two dimensions – personal and social – of Tao Yuanming’s ideal world.
《五柳先生传》魏晋·陶渊明
先生不知何许人也，亦不详其姓字，宅边有五柳树，因以为号焉。闲静少言，不慕荣利。好读书，不求甚解；每有会意，便欣然忘食。性嗜酒，家贫不能常得。亲旧知其如此，或置酒而招之；造饮辄尽，期在必醉。既醉而退，曾不吝情去留。环堵萧然，不蔽风日；短褐穿结，箪瓢屡空，晏如也。常著文章自娱，颇示己志。忘怀得失，以此自终。
赞曰：黔娄之妻有言：“不戚戚于贫贱，不汲汲于富贵。”其言兹若人之俦乎？衔觞赋诗，以乐其志，无怀氏之民欤？葛天氏之民欤？
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