Historical Record
Xu Gan, styled Weichang, was a literary man of Wei in the late Eastern Han and Three Kingdoms period, one of the "Seven Masters of the Jian'an Era." His life and deeds are little recorded in the official histories, with scarcely a trace of ink. He was renowned for his profound learning and distinctive literary style, especially excelling in rhapsodies (fu). It is said that Xu Gan was calm by nature, did not crave fame or gain, embraced both refinement and substance, was tranquil and of few desires, and had the aspiration of the Mount Ji recluses. Though he lived in an age of chaos, he was able to keep inner tranquility and detachment, undisturbed by worldly affairs. His chief work, Balanced Discourses (Zhonglun), is the concentrated expression of his thought; the book explores cultivation of the self, governance of the state, administration, and many other aspects, displaying his deep understanding and original insight into Confucian thought. However, regarding his specific official career and the details of his dealings with Cao Cao and others, the official histories give no clear record. This makes Xu Gan appear somewhat vague in the historical record, his image being constructed more through his literary works and later appraisals. His whole life seems to have been devoted more to learning and creation than to political prominence. In that turbulent age, to be able to preserve such pure literary integrity was truly rare. His literary achievements, especially his attainments in the rhapsody, exerted a profound influence on Jian'an literature and were esteemed by later generations.
In the Novel
As a historical novel, Romance of the Three Kingdoms concentrates its chief ink on military struggle and political intrigue; for a literary man like Xu Gan, known for his writing, it usually gives little ink—indeed, leaves him unrecorded. In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Xu Gan has almost no independent plot, nor did he take part in any important historical event. The novel's mentions of the "Seven Masters of the Jian'an Era" tend to serve as a background presence of Cao Cao's literary circle, rather than portraying them as independent characters. Thus, Xu Gan's image in the novel is extremely vague—indeed, one might say nonexistent. This forms a sharp contrast with his literary standing in the histories as one of the "Seven Masters of the Jian'an Era." The novel's emphasis lies in the portrayal of heroic figures and the depiction of battle scenes, and it tends to selectively overlook those literary men who did not directly take part in military or political struggle. Therefore, the reader can find almost no specific depiction of or plot involving Xu Gan in Romance of the Three Kingdoms; his character, thought, and works are none of them embodied in the novel. This reflects the difference in narrative emphasis between the novel and the histories, and likewise makes Xu Gan's literary image rely chiefly on the historical sources and the appraisals of later generations.
Key Relationships
* Relationship with Cao Cao: Although the historical sources give no clear record of the specific dealings between Xu Gan and Cao Cao, as one of the "Seven Masters of the Jian'an Era" he was undoubtedly an important member of Cao Cao's literary circle. Cao Cao's esteem for literary talent is well known; he repeatedly recruited cultivated men of letters and exchanged poems and wine with them. Xu Gan's literary talent must have won Cao Cao's appreciation, though this relationship is not depicted in detail in the histories. In the novel, this relationship is handled in an even more diluted manner, scarcely mentioned at all.
* Relationship with the "Seven Masters of the Jian'an Era": Xu Gan, together with Kong Rong, Chen Lin, Wang Can, Ruan Yu, Ying Yang, and Liu Zhen, was called one of the "Seven Masters of the Jian'an Era," and together they constituted the flourishing height of Jian'an literature. They exchanged verses with one another and together advanced the development of literature. This literary connection is one of Xu Gan's most important social relationships; although the sources lack specific descriptions of their interaction, his literary standing and influence cannot be overlooked. In the novel, owing to the insufficient depiction of men of letters, this group relationship is likewise not fully displayed.
* Relationship with the secular world: Xu Gan's character of being "tranquil and of few desires, with the aspiration of the Mount Ji recluses" shows that he kept a certain distance from worldly fame and gain. He inclined more toward pursuing inner peace and the refinement of learning than political prominence. This attitude of standing aloof from things allowed him to preserve a unique clarity and independence in an age of chaos.
Signature Scenes
* The writing of Balanced Discourses: Xu Gan's most signature scene is undoubtedly his devoted composition of Balanced Discourses. This work is the crystallization of his thought, and also the most important cultural legacy he left to posterity. In that turbulent age, to be able to concentrate on scholarly research and complete such a work of profound influence was in itself a signature achievement. Although this scene has no specific historical record, one may imagine him bent over his desk, writing furiously and pondering deeply.
* The elegant gatherings with Cao Cao and the men of letters (novel-only): Although the novel does not explicitly depict scenes in which Xu Gan took part, one may imagine that in Cao Cao's residence or at his banquets, Xu Gan composed poems and drank wine with the other "Seven Masters of the Jian'an Era," discussing literature. Although this scene has no specific ink in the novel, it accords with the background of Cao Cao recruiting men of letters, and with the historical fact of the "Seven Masters of the Jian'an Era" acting together. At such elegant gatherings, Xu Gan might, through his distinctive insight and profound learning, have won the respect of his peers. However, this is not specifically depicted in the novel, and can only be inferred through an overall imagining of Cao Cao's literary circle.
* A life of seclusion or semi-seclusion: Given Xu Gan's character of being "tranquil and of few desires, with the aspiration of the Mount Ji recluses," one may imagine he once had a period of life far from the dust and clamor, devoted to learning and self-cultivation. This way of life, though it has no specific historical scene recorded, accords with his character of standing aloof from things, and was also an important reason he was able to create such a profound work as Balanced Discourses. He may, in some quiet place, have immersed himself in his books, pondering the philosophy of life and the problems of society.
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- 0217-01-01 · YeGreat Epidemic of the 22nd Year of Jian'an· Killed in action