This book is a literary biography of Shen Yueh, a statesman, historian, poet, and devout lay defender of both Buddhism and Taoism. His active career spanned three successive dynasties (Liu-Sung, Nan-Ch'i, and Liang), whose capitals were located in the lower Yangtze city of Chien-k'ang (modern Nanking). The title 'Reticent Marquis' (Yin-hou) was awarded him posthumously by the Liang Emperor Wu, who, though owning his own rise to power partly to Shen's bold counsel, had found him less than forthcoming from that point onward.
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