Ren An [Biographies of Noble Scholars]

Ren An, whose courtesy name was Dingzu, was deeply fond of learning in his youth. He lived in seclusion in the mountains, never seeking fame or profit, and the people of his time praised him, calling him “Ren Kongzi” (Teacher Ren). He was repeatedly summoned to official posts, but he declined every invitation.

During the Jian’an era, while reading the Biography of Lu Lian in the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), he sighed and remarked, “The true cultivation of one’s nature lies in pristine purity, and the ultimate joy of one’s emotions lies in fulfilling one’s inner aspirations. When one’s nature is cultivated and one’s emotions are fulfilled, one comprehends the Dao and is free from sorrow. What others discard, I choose to embrace; I follow the current of the times without engaging in worldly contention.” Consequently, he never served as an official for the rest of his life, and the people of his time respectfully referred to him as “Ren Zhengjun” (The Summoned Scholar Ren).

Note

Scholar Ren An secluded himself in mountains, shunning fame and official offers, hailed as “Master Ren”. Inspired by Lu Lian’s story in Records of the Grand Historian, he upheld purity and inner peace, rejecting office all his life and revered as Summoned Scholar Ren.

Ren An:

A scholar and hermit of the late Eastern Han dynasty. He is distinguished in the Biographies of Noble Recluses not just for refusing office, but for articulating a profound, highly individualized philosophy of inner peace and self-actualization.

Ren Kongzi:

Being called “Kongzi” (Confucius) by contemporaries was an extraordinary honor. It signifies that Ren An was viewed as a living embodiment of Confucian moral perfection and a supreme moral authority within his local community.

Lu Lian / Lu Zhonglian:

A legendary strategist and philosopher of the Warring States period, famous for his eloquence and his refusal of rewards and titles after achieving great military and diplomatic successes. Ren An’s reading of Lu Lian’s biography served as a spiritual awakening, validating his own choice to reject worldly honors.

Rejecting What Others Discard:

This phrase encapsulates the core Daoist-influenced philosophy of the hermit. While the secular world pursues wealth, power, and fame, the noble recluse recognizes these as burdensome illusions. What the masses discard (seclusion, simplicity, inner peace), the recluse cherishes as the ultimate treasure.

Zhengjun:

A highly respectful title used in ancient China for scholars who had been officially summoned by the emperor or government but chose to decline the appointment. It elevated their status from a mere “recluse” to a morally superior figure whose virtue was recognized by the state, even if they refused its power.

任安字定祖，少好学，隐山不营名利，时人称安曰任孔子。连辟不就。建安中，读《史记·鲁连传》，叹曰：“性以洁白为治，情以得志为乐，性治情得，体道而不忧，彼弃我取，与时而无争。”遂终身不仕，时人号为任徵君云。