Yuan Mei (Chinese: 袁枚, pinyin: Yuán Méi; 1716–1797), courtesy name Zicai (子才), pseudonym Suiyuan Xiansheng (随园先生), was a real historical figure — a renowned poet, essayist, and gastronome of the Qing dynasty. In The Book and the Sword, he appears at the West Lake poetry gathering.
Role in the novel
Yuan Mei is among the literati gathered on West Lake when the Qianlong Emperor, in disguise, sends Heshen to identify the passengers. Heshen reports that one of the guests is “the Hangzhou talent Yuan Mei,” known for his unconventional and free-spirited nature.
When precious calligraphy and painting scrolls are presented as prizes, Yuan Mei and his companions — including Shen Deqian, Jiang Shiquan, Ji Xiaolan, and Zheng Banqiao — are startled to discover works by famous masters including Zhu Yunming and Tang Yin, one bearing the Qianlong Emperor’s personal seal. Yuan Mei questions his companions about the identity of the mysterious benefactor, sensing something is amiss.
Yuan Mei appears in 5 scenes across the novel.
Historical basis
Yuan Mei (1716–1797) was a genuine historical figure, one of the most celebrated literary figures of the Qing dynasty. Born in Qiantang (modern Hangzhou), he passed the imperial examination at the remarkably young age of 24 and served as a county magistrate before resigning around 38 to devote himself to writing.
His poetic philosophy, known as the “Xingling” (性灵) school, emphasised genuine emotion and individual expression over rigid formalism. His collected works span poetry, essays, and literary criticism, and his gastronomic treatise Suiyuan Shidan (随园食单) remains a classic of Chinese culinary literature.
See also
- Shen Deqian — Fellow scholar at the West Lake gathering
- Ji Xiaolan — Scholar at the West Lake gathering
- Jiang Shiquan — Scholar at the West Lake gathering
- Qianlong Emperor — The disguised observer at West Lake
- The Book and the Sword characters