Chen Jiru 陳繼儒

Ch'ên Chi-ju 陳繼儒 (T. 仲醇 H. 眉公, 糜道人), Dec. 16, 1558-1639, Oct. 19, writer and artist, was a native of Hua-t'ing, Kiangsu. Never passing beyond the licentiate in his examination career, he built a home in the hills of his native district known as Shê-shan 佘山, and earned his living by private teaching, by composing books of a popular character, and by writing epitaphs and birthday congratulations. Nor did he join any party or literary society of his day. His popularity was due partly to his native ability as a writer and partly to his friendship with Tung Ch'i-ch'ang [q.v.], who praised him to high officials. He was always welcome in such influential homes as those of Wang Shih-chên 王世貞 (T. 元美 H. 鳳洲, 弇州山人 1526-1590) and Wang Hsi-chüeh (see under Wang Shih-min). Many books printed in his day bore his name as writer of a preface or as compiler—perhaps to increase their sale. His name was even used to advertise certain brands of silk and cloth.

To him is usually attributed the editorship of the famous ts'ung-shu 寶顏堂秘笈 Pao-Yen-t'ang pi-chi, which was named after his studio and printed in five instalments by Shên Tê-hsien 沈德先 (T. 天生) of Chia-hsing, Chekiang. The first instalment, consisting of 20 monographs, was printed in 1606 under the title 尚白齋秘笈 Shang-po chai pi-chi, after the name of Shen's studio. In four subsequent installments, differentiated by the characters hsü 續, kuang 廣, p'u 普, and hui 彙, Ch'ên's name was more emphasized in the prefaces; and most of the 206 titles printed in the four installments are said to have been drawn from Ch'ên's library, including four works from his own hand. It is worthy of note that the third installment, Kuang pi-chi, printed in 1615 contains the essay On Friendship, 友論 Yu-lun (elsewhere written Chiao 交 yu-lun), written in 1505 by the Jesuit Father Matteo Ricci (see under Hsü Kuang-ch'i). The title, Pao-Yen-tang pi-chi, was first applied only to a collection of sixteen works, mostly miscellaneous notes, written by Ch'ên himself and printed by Shên Tê-hsien in 1616. Before long, however, the entire ts'ung-shu was known by that name as though Ch'ên were the sole editor and printer.

About the year 1630 Ch'ên served as editor of the gazetteer 松江府志 Sung-chiang-fu chih which was completed in 1631. Meanwhile he was several times recommended by local officials as worthy of being given an appointment, but he refused the offers. The Kuo-hsüeh Library of Nanking has two collections of his works in prose and verse, both entitled 陳眉公集 Ch'ên Mei-kung chi. One, in 17 chüan, was printed in 1615; the other, in 60 chüan, was printed in 1641. A few years before Ch'ên Chi-ju died ten of his works were printed under the collective title Ch'ên Mei-kung shih chung ts'ang-shu (十種藏書). This included seven titles of miscellaneous notes which had previously appeared in the Pao-Yen-t'ang pi-chi, and three collections of prose and verse entitled: 白石樵真稿 Po-shih ch'iao chên-kao, in 28 chüan, 晚香堂真本 Wan-hsiang-t'ang chên-bên, in 10 chüan, and 眉公詩鈔 Mei-kung shih-ch'ao, in 8 chüan. All three were banned in the Ch'ien-lung period because of the anti-Manchu flavor of several short articles—in particular a history of the Manchus, entitled 建州考 Chien-chou k'ao. Several of his other works were likewise banned. The Ssü-k'u Catalogue (see under Chi Yün), nevertheless, lists 32 titles by him, or attributed to him, most of which were printed in collected works. One, printed separately, entitled 養生膚語 Yang-shêng fu-yü, a work on longevity after the Taoist manner, can be found in the Hsüeh-hai lei-pien (see under Ts'ao Jung). About the end of the Wan-li period (between 1606 and 1615) Ch'ên Chi-ju wrote a preface and commentaries to the historical novel, 春秋列國志傳 Ch'un ch'iu lieh-kuo chih chuan, 12 chüan, which was written by Yü Shao-yü 余邵魚 (T. 畏齋). The novel was about the warring states of the Later Chou and Pre-Ch'in periods (eighth to third centuries, B.C.). Later this novel was rewritten and expanded by Fêng Mêng-lung 馮夢龍 (T. 猶龍, 耳猶 1574?-1645?), dramatist and the editor of several very popular collections of stories. It was printed under the title, Hsin (新) Lieh-kuo chih, in 108 chapters; it is also known as Tung Chou (東周) Lieh-kuo chih.

Most of the writings of Ch'ên Chi-ju exemplify the philosophy of the late Ming period which was dominated by the desire to enjoy life. It was said that he employed a number of poor scholars to compile books of this nature to be published under his name. Sometimes publishers attached his name to works of doubtful origin or simply reprinted his writings under different titles. This perhaps accounts for the multiplicity of the titles that appear under his name, as well as for their inconsistency and superficiality. His short essays, letters and poems bad a charm of their own, though they are often vague and rambling. He also painted; but exhibited more skill in calligraphy. Living the life of the literary man who has ostensibly retreated from public life, he utilized that situation to advance his own fame and fortune. Li Fu [q.v.], a younger contemporary, and Yüan Mei [q.v.], who lived in the eighteenth century, were representative of the same type.

[ M.1/298/8a; M/2/396/28a; M. 64/ 庚 7 下/la; M.84/ 丁下/58a; M.86/20/la; Lu Hsin-yü; [q.v.], Jang-li kuan ching-yen-lu 27/11; Ko Chü-lang 葛金烺, 愛日吟廬書畫續錄 (1913) 2/16b; Tu Jui-lien 杜瑞聯, 古芬閣書畫記, Ku-fên-ko shu-hua chi (1881) 7/42a, 16/47a: T'oung Pao (1922) p. 337 (1930) p. 400; Wylie, Notes, p. 172; Chou K'o 周愨, 館藏清代禁書述略, p. 12, in Kuo hsüseh Library Bulletin, 4th year; Sun K'ai-ti 孫楷第, 中國通俗小說書目; Chung Kuo t'ung hsü hsiao-shuo shu-mu: Jung Chao-i 容肇祖, 明馮夢龍的生平及其著述 Feng Mêng-lung ti shêng-p'ing chi ch'i chu-shu in Lingnan Journal, vol. 2, no. 2 (1931).]

FANG FAO-YING

Chen Jiru 陳繼儒 [10879] MS, 298.7631-2. CHECK nianpu cited in Lidai renwu nianli tongpu. — RMH

《明史》卷298

陳繼儒，字仲醇，松江華亭人。幼穎異，能文章，同郡徐階特器重之。長為諸生，與董 其昌齊名。太倉王錫爵招與子衡讀書支硎山。王世貞亦雅重繼儒，三吳名下士爭欲得為 師友。繼儒通明高邁，年甫二十九，取儒衣冠焚棄之。隱居崑山之陽，搆廟祀二陸，草堂數 椽，焚香晏坐，意豁如也。時錫山顧憲成講學東林，招之，謝弗往。親亡，葬神山麓，遂築室 東佘山，杜門著述，有終焉之志。

工詩善文，短翰小詞，皆極風致，兼能繪事。又博文強識，經史諸子、術伎稗官與二氏 家言，靡不較覈。或刺取瑣言僻事，詮次成書，遠近競相購寫。徵請詩文者無虛日。性喜 奬掖士類，屨常滿戶外，片言酬應，莫不當意去。暇則與黃冠老衲窮峯泖之勝，吟嘯忘返， 足跡罕入城市。其昌為築來仲樓招之至。黃道周疏稱「志尚高雅，博學多通，不如繼儒」，其推重如此。侍郎沈演及御史、給事中諸朝貴，先後論薦，謂繼儒道高齒茂，宜如聘吳與弼 故事。屢奉詔徵用，皆以疾辭。卒年八十二，自為遺令，纖悉畢具。