Tang Xianzu Stories | The Two Prodigies, Shuai Bo and Tang Cong

Tang Xianzu was a child prodigy renowned throughout his hometown, yet even then there was another who rivaled him in literary talent—his fellow townsman, Shuai Ji. The two remained lifelong close friends, leaving behind many cherished tales of their friendship.

Shuai Ji (1537–1595), courtesy name Wei-shen, art name Qianzhai, was a native of Changkai in Linchuan and a poet of the late Ming period. He was ranked alongside Tang Xianzu, Qiu Zhaolin, and Zhu Hui, and was hailed as one of the “Four Great Talents” of pre‑Ming Linchuan; together with Qiu Zhaolin and Zhu Hui, he was also known as one of Linchuan’s “Three Eminent Scholars.” In the thirty-first year of the Jiajing reign (1552), he passed the provincial examination; in the second year of the Longqing era (1568), he secured the jinshi degree. He held various posts, including magistrate of Pingyang in Zhejiang, censur in the Ministry of Revenue, and vice‑governor of Guangdong. While serving as professor at the prefectural academy of Runing (present‑day Runan, Henan), he founded the Daliang Academy, carefully selecting capable teachers to instruct in the arts and letters, thereby greatly enhancing the local scholarly atmosphere. For his effective administration of education, he was later promoted to chief instructor at the Imperial Academy, then transferred to the position of chief clerk in the Ministry of Works and subsequently to that of assistant director in the Ministry of Rites. Later, he was appointed governor of Sinan Prefecture (present‑day Sinan County, Guizhou); shortly thereafter, he was demoted to deputy administrator of Ye City (present‑day Linzhang, Hebei). During the Western Xia invasion, he accompanied the army on campaign and, upon returning to court, composed the “Ode to the Pacification of the Western Xia,” earning the favor of Emperor Muzong, who summoned him to serve in the Imperial Archives and later promoted him to assistant director in the Southern Criminal Justice Department. On one occasion, when the crown prince went out to preside over official duties, he again presented the “Ode to the Lecture at the Prince’s Audience,” receiving high praise. Nevertheless, governance was not his forte; repeatedly thwarted by the vicissitudes of officialdom, he petitioned for retirement after more than a year and devoted himself henceforth to writing.

Shuai Ji was handsome, intelligent, and eager to learn. In his early years, he took a keen interest in classical prose and the art of fu, attaining a high level of literary accomplishment. He enjoyed a close and profound friendship with Tang Xianzu. His principal works include the “Rhapsodies on the Two Capitals” and the “Collection of the Yangqiu Pavilion,” among others, comprising forty volumes, of which twenty-three survive today. His poetry covers a wide range of subjects, with deeply evocative imagery, elegant diction, and a distinctive lyrical charm.

Both of Shuai Ji’s sons were gifted in literature and were praised by Tang Xianzu as “the two disciples of the Shuai clan,” with their collected works, the “Weichen Collection,” widely circulated. Shuai Ji’s erudition and Tang Xianzu’s brilliance earned them renown throughout the land. During the Qing dynasty, the eminent Neo-Confucian statesman and distinguished scholar Li Fu remarked: “In the Jiajing and Longqing periods of the Ming, my fellow townsman from Linchuan, Mr. Shuai Weishen, was held in equal esteem with Mr. Tang Ruoshi. At the time, people would say: ‘Shuai is learned, Tang is astute—two prodigies indeed.’”

Shuai Ji was thirteen years older than Tang Xianzu. In his youth, he passed the provincial examination and subsequently secured a jinshi degree with ease—far smoother sailing than Tang Xianzu’s often rocky career in the imperial examinations. Yet despite one’s favorable circumstances and the other’s hardships, the two transcended their respective fortunes to forge a profound bond in the world at large: their friendship was among the closest, their correspondence most frequent, their mutual understanding deepest, and their literary collaboration most extensive. In the eleventh year of the Wanli era (1583), the year following Zhang Juzheng’s death, with the “obstacles” finally removed, Tang Xianzu at last passed the jinshi exam. Upon learning this, Shuai Ji was overjoyed and composed “Joyful Greeting upon Tang Yiren’s Success,” celebrating the occasion. In the poem, he likened his relationship with Tang Xianzu to that of Guan Zhong and Bao Shuya. “Guan–Bao” refers to the statesmen of the Spring and Autumn period: Guan Zhong, who was relatively poor, and Bao Shuya, who was well-off. Though materially unequal, the two knew each other deeply and trusted one another implicitly, becoming close friends. Their enduring friendship has been cherished as a celebrated tale handed down through generations in China. Here, the phrase “the friendship of Guan and Bao” is commonly used to describe an intimate, mutually trusting bond between two dear companions. By invoking the image of Guan–Bao to characterize his own rapport with Tang Xianzu, Shuai Ji affirmed that, though separated by great distance, the two had never forgotten the ties of old.

Tang Xianzu and Shuai Ji shared yet another “fate forged in a dream.” In the fifteenth year of the Wanli era (1587), Tang Xianzu returned to his hometown of Linchuan to pay respects to his family. By then, Shuai Ji had already been dismissed from his post as prefect of Sinan in Guizhou and was living at home. On the eve of Tang Xianzu’s arrival, Shuai Ji dreamed that Tang, whom he had not seen for four or five years, had come home to visit. At the banquet, Shuai Ji placed his hat upon Tang Xianzu’s head, and it fit him perfectly. Shuai Ji sighed, “People say that though our hearts are one, each of us wears a different hat—yet this is indeed so.” The next day, Tang Xianzu met Shuai Ji wearing that very hat. During the feast, the two men truly exchanged hats; by an uncanny coincidence, the fit was exact down to the smallest detail. Upon learning of Shuai Ji’s dream, Tang Xianzu remarked with deep emotion: “Dreams spring from affection, and affection arises from harmony. Among all those in the county who have shown me kindness, none has matched the warmth of Shuai.” He thus composed a poem titled “A Dream on My Way to Visit Shuai Ji.”

In the nineteenth year of the Wanli era (1591), dissatisfied with the corrupt governance of powerful ministers, Tang Xianzu submitted a memorial titled “On the Councillors and the Imperial Censors,” only to be demoted in return and dispatched to Xuwen, Guangdong, to serve as a local magistrate. This incident had far-reaching repercussions; many people consciously kept their distance from Tang Xianzu, lest they invite trouble. Yet Shuai Ji, undeterred by such caution, composed poems to honor Tang Xianzu, praising his integrity and uprightness. In the spring of the twenty-sixth year of the Wanli era (1598), Tang Xianzu resigned from office and returned home. Shuai Ji expressed his understanding and, at Tang’s request, penned the preface to “The Collected Works of Tang Yiren of Yumintang.” By the thirtieth year of the Wanli era (1602), Shuai Ji had already passed away. Liu Yunchang, a native of Tongcheng in Anhui, who was then serving as the county magistrate of Linchuan, ordered the publication of Shuai Ji’s “Selected Poems and Prose from the Yangqiuguan Collection.” Moved by this, Tang Xianzu wrote the preface to the anthology, declaring that Shuai Ji’s collection was truly the work of a noble scholar.

Tang Xianzu and Shuai Ji, whether in times of prosperity or adversity, whether in high office or in humble straits, always cherished one another, regarding each other as lifelong confidants—a celebrated tale of their friendship.