Tao Zongyi’s scholarly thoughts on agriculture leave lasting legacy
TAO Zongyi (1329 - 1412) stands as a luminous figure in the annals of the late Yuan (1271-1368) and early Ming (1368-1644) dynasties, distinguished for his erudition and cultural contributions.
Born into a family that revered knowledge, Tao’s intellectual pursuits began in his youth, culminating in a mastery of poetry, prose, calligraphy and painting.
Amidst the upheavals of the waning Yuan Dynasty, Tao sought refuge in Songjiang, where, amid the toils of agriculture, he meticulously chronicled his reflections.
In the twilight of the Yuan, Tao’s disciples meticulously curated these musings, birthing the magnum opus known as the “Thoughts after
Agricultural Activities.” This opulent work, spanning 30 volumes, unraveled the tapestry of the Yuan Dynasty’s history, introducing its legal systems, cultural anecdotes, and the contours of peasant uprisings in the southeastern realms.
The nine-volume “Essentials of Book History,” also written by Tao, was the first of its kind in China. It meticulously cataloged biographies and critiques of scholars and their literary contributions from antiquity to the end of the Yuan Dynasty.
Born in an old house in Xiatou Village, Tao spent his formative years there. Later in life, he married Yuan Zhen and inherited the responsibility of managing grain transportation in Songjiang. He and his wife settled in
Nancun, Sijing Town, constructing a thatched cottage for their home.
Tao abandoned the traditional imperial examination system, rejecting recommendations from prominent figures such as Zhejiang Commander Tai Buhua, Imperial Censor Chou Lu and Grand Commandant Zhang Shicheng.
Devoting his spare time to cultivating the land, Tao earned acclaim for his unwavering integrity, being hailed as a man of true moral rectitude. He opened a school in his cottage, where he engaged in teaching.
During moments of respite from teaching, Tao engaged in discussions with his disciples on contemporary and historical matters. As he gained insights, he recorded them on tree leaves, storing these makeshift manuscripts in large jars buried beneath trees.
Over the course of ten years, these accumulated leaves filled numerous jars. Subsequently, Tao instructed his disciples to excavate and organize them, resulting in the compilation of 30 volumes titled “Thoughts after Agricultural Activities.”
This story gives rise to the Chinese proverb “〟ਦᡀҖ,” meaning to accumulate leaves and transform them into a book, encapsulating the narrative of Tao’s dedication to scholarship and his unique method of knowledge preservation.