The Old Man of Pengcheng [Biographies of Noble Scholars]

The Old Man of Pengcheng was a recluse from the state of Chu. Seeing the decline of the Han dynasty, he withdrew from society to cultivate the Dao, seeking neither fame nor profit, and lived to be over ninety years old.

During the reign of Wang Mang, the former Palace Attendant Gong Sheng was summoned to serve as the tutor and companion to the Crown Prince. Viewing it as a disgrace to serve two different dynasties, Gong Sheng was pressured by Wang Mang and ultimately starved himself to death.

Hundreds of people, including Wang Mang’s envoys and officials from the commandery governor downwards, gathered to mourn Gong Sheng. Grieving that Gong Sheng had brought disaster upon himself because of his reputation, the Old Man entered alone to weep for him, mourning most bitterly. Afterward, he sighed, “Alas! Fragrant herbs burn themselves because of their scent; oil consumes itself because of its light. Mr. Gong has indeed died before his natural span; he is not one of our kind.” Having finished his weeping, he hurried out, and no one in the crowd knew who he was.

Note

The unnamed Daoist Old Man of Pengcheng lived secluded over ninety years. He mourned Gong Sheng, who starved himself rather than serve Wang Mang, lamenting fame brought the scholar’s premature death, seeing such martyrdom contradict Daoist self-preservation.

The Old Man of Pengcheng:

An unnamed Daoist hermit who represents the ultimate Daoist ideal of self-preservation and detachment. Unlike orthodox Confucian scholars who value martyrdom, the Old Man believes that true spiritual cultivation requires avoiding the public eye entirely to protect one’s vital essence.

Gong Sheng:

A staunchly loyal Confucian official of the late Western Han dynasty. His suicide by starvation rather than serving the usurper Wang Mang made him a legendary martyr for Confucian loyalty. However, in the eyes of the Daoist Old Man, his tragic end was a failure of self-preservation.

Wang Mang’s Usurpation:

Wang Mang was a controversial statesman who usurped the Han throne and established the short-lived Xin dynasty. His aggressive attempts to recruit former Han officials created a severe moral crisis, forcing scholars to choose between political survival and orthodox loyalty.

Fragrant Herbs and Illuminating Oil:

This is a profound Daoist metaphor. It illustrates the danger of displaying one’s talents or virtues. Just as fragrant wood attracts the axe and oil burns itself out to provide light, a person who seeks fame or displays moral righteousness will inevitably attract political persecution and destroy their own life.

Not One of Our Kind:

This phrase perfectly encapsulates the ideological divide between orthodox Confucianism and philosophical Daoism. While Confucians honor those who die for their principles, Daoists view such sacrifices as tragic failures of the ultimate goal: preserving one’s natural lifespan and inner peace.

彭城老父者，楚之隐人也，见汉室衰，乃自隐修道，不治名利，至年九十余。王莽时，徵故光禄大夫龚胜，欲为太子师友。祭酒耻事二姓，莽迫之，胜遂不食而死。莽使者及郡守以下会敛者数百人，老父痛胜以名致祸，乃独入哭胜，甚悲。既而曰：“嗟乎！薰以香自烧，膏以明自销。龚先生竟夭天年，非吾徒也。”哭毕而趋出，众莫知其谁也。