Wu Wenli

Hu YunyuNanhai Publication Company · ChinaJun 2024

3.2

Word count: 153 words
Chapters: 2

Summary

Wu Wenli, courtesy name Qufei, was a native of Qiantang, Zhejiang. In the time of the Prince of Tang he served as governor of the upper reaches; he requested to defend Fenshui Pass himself, and after defeat fled into a mountain temple, refusing to surrender...

Editor's review

This book focuses on Wu Wenli of Qiantang in the late Ming, telling of his service as governor of the upper reaches in the time of the Prince of Tang, his self-request to defend Fenshui Pass, and his flight into a mountain temple after defeat, where he refused to surrender. Hu Yunyu, with concise biographical brushwork, sketches a Southern Ming official's choices amid military failure and the collapse of the regime; the narrative centers on two episodes: the defense of Fenshui Pass and his refusal to surrender after defeat. The book is not long, with concentrated source threads, and is suitable as a case reader for understanding Southern Ming local defense and literati conceptions of loyalty. Because the subject's deeds are relatively concentrated, the book's elaboration of historical background is limited; readers lacking a basic Southern Ming outline may need to supplement it themselves. Overall, this is a short biography best read with the question 'how does an individual conduct himself amid dynastic change?' rather than a panoramic history of the Southern Ming.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers concerned with Southern Ming history and literati conceptions of loyalty
Students of literature and history interested in late-Ming local defense and military geography
Students and researchers needing case material on Southern Ming figures

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting a complete general history of the Southern Ming
Readers who dislike source-based biography and prefer light reading

Reading tips

Before reading, ascertain the geographical location of Fenshui Pass; this helps understand the strategic situation of Wu Wenli's self-requested defense.
Read the defeat at Fenshui Pass and the flight into the mountain temple and refusal to surrender as a continuous passage, grasping the coherence of the figure's choices.
Read alongside other Southern Ming biographies and compare how different officials responded amid defeat.

About the publisher

Nanhai Publication Company China · Founded in 1988

Nanhai Publication Company is a comprehensive publisher known for its literature and arts titles, covering fields such as classical poetry, martial arts fiction, and folk literature. Judging from the more than 1,600 books in the database, the company has released classical poetic works including the Nineteen Old Poems and the Nine Songs, as well as multiple volumes of Huanzhulouzhu's series The Swordsmen of Mount Shu, along with related writings by authors such as Guan Hanqing, Qu Yuan, Zuo Si, and Wang Zhihuan. Its publishing character lies in balancing the organization of classic texts with the dissemination of popular literature, placing poetry anthologies alongside long martial arts novels and presenting a relatively diverse literary profile. Public information is limited, and further details about its editorial practices and series planning remain to be supplemented.

版权信息
吴闻礼

FAQ

What are Wu Wenli's main experiences in the book?

According to the material, the book mainly tells of Wu Wenli's service as governor of the upper reaches in the time of the Prince of Tang, his self-request to defend Fenshui Pass, and his flight into a mountain temple after defeat and refusal to surrender. The core is his choices and integrity after Southern Ming military failure.

Is this biography suitable for studying Southern Ming military history?

It can serve as a case reference. The book involves the duties of the governor of the upper reaches and the defense of Fenshui Pass, which has some value for understanding Southern Ming local defense, but because it is a character sketch, overall analysis of military history is limited; it should be used alongside other studies.

What historical background is needed to read this book?

It is best to have a basic understanding from the late Chongzhen years to the Prince of Tang regime, and to know the background of Southern Ming regime changes and the Qing army's southward advance. Without any foundation, one may not deeply appreciate the strategic significance of the defense of Fenshui Pass and the weight of his refusal to surrender after defeat.

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About the author

Hu Yunyu Author · Chinese · 1878–1947

Hu Yunyu (1878–1947), originally named Yunyu and styled Pu'an, went by his courtesy name and was a native of Jing County, Anhui. A noted philologist, exegete and bibliophile of the Republican era, he was also a poet of the Southern Society and a member of the Tongmenghui. He served as president of the Republican Daily and as director of the Shanghai Local Gazetteer Office. His writings span language studies and literary-historical biography, including A History of Chinese Philology, A History of Chinese Exegesis, A Dictionary of Colloquial Expressions and A Survey of Chinese Customs. Thirty-three of his works are held in this collection, among them Mr. Hua Wangjin, Zuo Maodi, Fu Guan, Chen Gou, Zheng Weihong, the Monk Hunrong, Zhou Qizeng and Wang Xing, the Embroidery Needle. Most take Ming and Qing figures as their subjects, falling under comprehensive biography and touching on Eastern philosophy and classic works. Concise and fact-centered, they reveal his narrative skill beyond textual scholarship.