Library

Mr. Yin Jun (Reclusive Gentleman) was surnamed Pan, given name Ji, courtesy name Shuofu, and pseudonym Denglin. His ancestral home was in Sanchuan. Starting from his ancestor, the Zhongyun Official [Official of the Palace Library] certain-someone, who followed Emperor Jianyan on his southern retreat, the family settled in Wulin (modern Hangzhou). By the sixteenth generation, it reached Mr. Pan. Although he did not hold official office, he was renowned in his neighborhood for filial piety and fraternal duty since youth. Upon reaching adulthood, he was erudite and possessed talent for governing the world, harboring grand strategies. Amidst times of turmoil and chaos, he hid away in the corners of the city, and his virtue became even more exalted. Scholars from the southeast revered him as their teacher, to the extent that they dared not address him by his name or courtesy name, but all called him "Mr. Denglin."

Mr. Pan's father, Mr. Yunqiao, had four sons, with Mr. Pan being the youngest. His three elder brothers went to the major cities to engage in commerce. Mr. Yunqiao arranged for Mr. Pan to study outside, forbidding him from knowing about productive labor. Mr. Pan had an exceptional memory; whenever he glanced at something, he could recite it as if he had studied it before. Shortly after his hair hardened, one day he suddenly said to Mr. Yunqiao: "My elder brothers pull carts and drive vehicles, yet I cannot take their place. My brothers work hard to provide for our parents, while Father and Mother still plan for my food, meat, and wine. What kind of person was Bu Shang (Zixia)? Serving parents requires giving one's all; before learning formal studies, one must first learn conduct. My nature is mediocre, but I greatly wish to emulate the story of Zhong You carrying rice. Even if it were only a hundred li, I would serve at your knees." At that time, a tutor was hired in Xinan, Yuhang, and the offerings of meat for tuition fees were never lacking. Mr. Pan bathed and dressed ceremoniously with his three elder brothers, sharing the joys of the Fu and La festivals, living in harmonious unity. Mr. Yunqiao cherished him deeply. Considering that a fine son needs a fine wife, they discussed arranging a marriage for Mr. Pan. The engagement was already coordinated and announced to Mr. Pan. Mr. Pan knelt long on the ground before his mother, crying like an infant, unwilling to marry immediately, and cutting off thoughts of raising a wife and children. When the wedding was finally held after a long delay, Mr. Pan's filial piety did not wane at all.

Mr. Yunqiao was naturally free-spirited and fond of unusual strategies, despising the pedantic scholarship of minor Confucians. Looking at his sons, he saw that only Mr. Pan resembled him in spirit and demeanor. Mr. Pan's first wife, Lady Xu, passed away. His second wife, Lady Yang, was especially capable in managing the household. She performed the duties of a daughter-in-law alongside Mr. Pan, bringing joy to the two elders in the hall. Mr. Yunqiao then decided to let Mr. Pan travel abroad to test his courage and wisdom. Mr. Pan felt somewhat comforted internally and thus followed General Zhang to establish a military command in Guangdong. At that time, rebellions broke out during the Zhen Dynasty, and bandits gathered everywhere like ants and bees, impossible to pacify. The Yao people in the Guangdong caves were watching and stirring up trouble. Mr. Pan, wearing a cornered hat and black clothes, directed strategies with a ruyi scepter, launching surprise attacks to strike the enemy's main channels. Once the stronghold was captured in one assault, the remaining enemies dared not look up, competing to offer cattle and wine to Mr. Pan. After returning with merit to the Commander, he visited his relatives. With a soft voice and pleasant expression, he remained a filial son, showing no glorious achievements to his parents' faces. Mr. Yunqiao, upon hearing this, was overjoyed and said to Lady Yang: "This is truly my son. Our Anren [referring to Pan Yue, style name Anren, a symbol of filial piety] served for thirty years with slow promotion, writing the 'Ode to Leisure' in depression. How can he compare to this son who brings such satisfaction?" He ordered Mr. Pan to go again. Privately, Mr. Pan noticed his parents' eating and drinking had decreased compared to the past and worried about them. He fabricated an excuse, saying he was waiting for General Zhang's cavalry officer to depart together. Soon after, Mr. Yunqiao and his wife passed away on the same night. Mr. Pan wept blood, and his tall body became skeletal. After the funeral, he resumed his travels in Guangdong. General Zhang held Mr. Pan's hand as if both arms had been restored. The rebel forces were extremely fierce; General Zhang transferred away from Guangdong and perished in defeat deep in enemy territory. Mr. Pan did not accompany the army due to illness and, seeing that the situation was largely unmanageable, returned to his hometown. He styled himself "Resident of Qingliang" and sold medicine in the city. Later, when the world was pacified, many of his acquaintances rose to high official positions and wished to recommend Mr. Pan to the court. Mr. Pan shook his head in displeasure, choosing to remain a medical recluse. People regarded him as Boxiu [a reference to a reclusive scholar]. From youth to old age, hundreds of students studied under him. Observing their bearing, one could immediately identify them as disciples of the Pan school. Some followed Mr. Pan to study medicine, using the method of drinking "Shangchi water" [legendary practice associated with Bian Que to enhance vision/medical insight] to diagnose conditions without error. Those who knew Mr. Pan said: "Mr. Pan entrusted his aspirations to medicine. This was likely because his brother Xi Huai Jun [Third Brother] was prone to illness, and Mr. Pan, respecting his mother's will, went to study under Wang Shaolong. It was not merely about burning moxa and applying acupuncture; he attended to pulse-taking and herbal preparation day and night with precision, thus achieving spiritual clarity." His third brother died before Mr. Pan. The widow and young orphans all relied on Mr. Pan. He provided for them during life and ensured proper burial after death. These were his ordinary actions, nothing particularly extraordinary. His written works are mostly worthy of transmission. His poetry and prose were distinct and possessed lofty sentiments. He lived to seventy-four and passed away peacefully at home. In previous years, when I was critically ill and near death, Mr. Pan revived me with a dose of medicine from a square inch-sized scoop. Every day, he visited me in a bamboo sedan chair, bringing a chicken and a jar of wine, engaging in joyful conversation and banqueting. Watching Mr. Pan drink, he was the first; his flushed face was red as jade, sitting among people like spring breeze. One could know he possessed hidden virtue. His sons, Biao Can and Cang Yu, were both renowned scholars in the county. Cang Yu died young. Biao Can was earnest in ethics and valued integrity, inheriting his father's style, and was even more talented and outstanding, continuing to expand the family's reputation. Three years after Mr. Pan's death, my friendship with him was the closest.

Jiang Qi said: "Mr. Pan was not truly a recluse, but his virtue constituted his reclusion; this was due to the times. He did not achieve prominence himself, so how could his son fail to do so? Only through filial piety to parents and fraternal love to brothers, demonstrating unique talents in the military staff, and hiding in medical texts in his later years, did he effectively govern. Yet some fathers and sons oppose each other, and biological brothers fight over money. Why is this?"