Journal paper

Issue No.	No. 38
Title	A Re-examination of the Pillar-couplet of Hui Shihch’i’s (1671-1741) Residence Hung-tou shan-fang
Author	Ho Koon-piu
Page	29-67
Abstract	It is recorded in Chiang Fan’s (1761-1830) Kuo-ch’ao Sung-hsüeh-yüan-yüan chi that the couplet hung on the pillars of Hui Shih-ch’i’s residence Hung-tou shan-fang were the calligraphy of and composed by Hui Shi-ch’i himself. The couplet run as follows: 　　“As for the interpretation of the six classics, we should respect the views of Fu Ch’ien and Cheng Hüsan (127-200); whereas in terms of conducts of decorum, we should follow the instructions of Ch’eng Hao (1032-1085), Ch’eng I (1033-1107), and Chu Hsi (1130-1200).” 　　However, in P’i Hsi-jui’s (1850-1908) Ching-hsüeh li-shih, the couplet are said to be: 　　“Whereas Confucius (551 B.C.-479 B.C.) and Mencius (372 B.C.-289 B.C.) are the orthodox authorities for the interpretation of the six classics; Ch’eng Hao, Ch’eng I, and Chu Hsi set up the paradigms for the conducts of decorum.” 　　Unlike Chiang, P’i has not mentioned which member of the Hui family actually authored the couplet and called Hui’s residence as Hung-tou shan-chai. Partly because of P’i’s version of the story, the authorship of the couplet has been attributed to Hui Tung (1697- 1758), a son of Hui Shih-ch’i by some later scholars. 　　Moreover, Ch’en Ch’ing-yung (1795-1858) and Mo Yü-ch’ou (1763-1841), two late Ch’ing (1644-1912) scholars of Han Learning, made references to two very similar couplets but claimed that their couplets were derived from two early Ch’ing masters Ku Yen-wu (1613-1682) and Yen Jo-chü (1636-1704) respectively. Without making any reference to Hui Shih-ch’i’s couplet, it appears that Ch’en and Mo were perhaps unaware of Hui’s couplet at all. 　　After careful research and investigations, the author of the present article finds that P’i’s version of the couplet is not correct. Moreover, even though Hui’s residence has different names, it has never been called by the Huis and their contemporaries as Hungtou shan-chai. The scholars who alleged that the couplet were authored by Hui Tung were perhaps misled by P’i as well as had misunderstood Chiang Fan. There is further no concrete evidence to suggest that Ku Yen-wu and Yen Jo-chü have written the couplet or any similar saying.
Keyword	Hui Shih-ch’i, Hui Tung, Chiang Fan, Ch’en Ch’ing-yung, Mo Yü-ch’ou, P’i Hsi-jui
Attached File