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Lun Wenxu (Chinese: å«æÂÂæÂÂ; Cantonese: Leon Man-zeoi; 1467âÂÂ1513), also known as Lun WenâÂÂsui and Lun ManâÂÂsui, courtesy name Bozhou (伯çÂÂ), style name Yugang (è¿Â岡), was a native of Nanhai County (Ã¥ÂÂ海縣) in Guangdong, present-day Shiwan Town (ç³ç£é®), Chancheng District (禪åÂÂÃ¥ÂÂ), Foshan City, Guangdong Province. He was a renowned zhuangyuan (çÂÂå Â; top scorer in the imperial examinations) and a celebrated man of letters during the Ming dynasty, widely praised as a "ghostly genius" (鬼æÂÂ) for his extraordinary wit. Though born into poverty, he applied himself diligently to his studies from a young age and displayed literary talent early on. In popular folklore, he is remembered for his quick thinking, humor, and poetic talent, and his legendary contests of wit with Liu Xiankai (æ³å ÂéÂÂ) have been retold for generations.
In the 2nd year of the Hongzhi reign (1489 AD; å¼Âæ²»äºÂå¹´), Lun Wenxu placed 11th in the provincial examination for Guangdong in the jiyou circle (å·±é Âç§Â), earning the degree of juren (èÂÂ人). In the 12th year (1499 AD), he ranked first in the metropolitan examination for the jiwei cycle (å·±æªç§Â), becoming the huiyuan (æÂÂå Â, lit. top scorer). In the palace examination, he again took first place in the first class, attaining the title of zhuangyuan (çÂÂå Â). His examination mentor was Xu Mu (å¾Âç©Â), and he was appointed Compiler (ä¿®æ°) in the Hanlin Academy (ç¿°æÂÂé¢). In the 18th year of Hongzhi (May 1505), when the Zhengde Emperor (æ¦å®Â) ascended the throne, Lun Wenxu was dispatched as chief envoy to announce the new reign to Annam (å®ÂÃ¥ÂÂ). The following year, while en route, he received news of his fatherâÂÂs death and returned home for mourning.
In the 5th year of Zhengde (November 1510), after completing the mourning period, he returned to the capital and resumed his post as Compiler. He also served as a lecturer in the imperial study sessions. In the 6th year (May 1511), he was promoted to Right Assistant Instructor of the Right Spring Palace and concurrently served as Lecturer, participating in the compilation of the imperial genealogical records. In the 8th year of Zhengde (July 1513), he was appointed chief examiner for the provincial examination in Yingtian Prefecture (æÂÂ天åºÂ). After completing his duties and returning to the capital, he passed away in November of the same year.
Lun WenxuâÂÂs ancestor Lun Cilu (å«次é¸) was originally from Nanxiong Prefecture (Ã¥ÂÂéÂÂå·Â) in the Eastern Circuit of Guangnan (廣åÂÂæ±路) in Song dynasty. He rose to the rank of Rulin Lang (Ã¥ÂÂæÂÂéÂÂ), served as Instructor (æÂÂè«Â) of Guangzhou Prefecture in Guangdong, and later moved to Kuigang (éÂÂ岡) in Nanhai, presentâÂÂday Liyong Village (é»Âæ¶ÂæÂÂ), Shiwanzhen, Foshan. His descendants thereafter became residents of Nanhai.
His grandfather was Lun Yu (å«æÂÂ), and his grandmother was of the Pang clan. His father was Lun Ming (å«æÂÂ), and his mother was of the He clan. Under this household were four sons: Lun Wenxu, Lun Wenjing (å«æÂÂæ¬), Lun Wenfu (å«æÂÂæ·), and Lun Wenze (å«æÂÂæ¾Â), with Lun Wenxu being the eldest. Lun Wenxu himself had five sons. The eldest, Lun Yiliang (å«以è«Â); the second, Lun Yixun (å«以è¨Â); the third, Lun Yishen (å«以詵); and the fourth, Lun Yimo (å«以謨), were all born to his principal wife of the Ou clan. The fifth son, Lun Yie (å«以諤), was born to his secondary wife of the Kuang clan.
The eldest son, Lun Yiliang, placed first in the Guangdong provincial examination (解å Â; jieyuan) in the bingzi cycle (ä¸ÂÃ¥ÂÂç§Â) of the 11th year of Zhengde (1516), and later became a jinshi (é²士) in the xinsi cycle (è¾Âå·³ç§Â) of the 16th year (1521 AD). The second son, Lun Yixun, ranked first in the metropolitan examination (æÂÂå Â; huiyuan) in the dingchou cycle (ä¸Âä¸Âç§Â) of the 12th year of Zhengde (1517 AD), and in the same year placed second in the first class of the jinshi (æ¦Âç¼; bangyan). The third son, Lun Yishen, became a jinshi in the wuxu cycle (æÂÂæÂÂç§Â) of the 17th year of Jiajing (1538). Among them, Lun Wenxu, his eldest son Lun Yiliang, and his second son Lun Yixun each attained a âÂÂfirst placeâ title in their respective examinations. Father and sons, as well as brothers within the same household, all achieved top honors in the imperial examination system, earning them the collective reputation of the "Three Luns of Nanhai" (Ã¥ÂÂæµ·ä¸Âå«).
Lun Wenxu authored The Yugang Collection (è¿Â岡éÂÂ) and The Baisha Collection (ç½æ²ÂéÂÂ), among other writings.ãÂÂ
The Gifted Lun WenâÂÂsui (鬼æÂÂå«æÂÂÃ¥ÂÂ) is a 1976 Cantonese opera historical comedy-drama film, starring Leung HonâÂÂwai (æ¢Âæ¼¢å¨Â) as Lun WenâÂÂsui; Chan Ho-kau (é³好éÂÂ), Lam KarâÂÂsing (æÂÂ家è²), among others.
The Cunning Hustler (å«æÂÂæÂÂèÂÂæ²Âä¸Âå°Â) is a classic comedy film released in Hong Kong on July 30, 1978. Directed by Wang Feng (çÂÂ風) and written by Situ An (å¸å¾Âå®Â), the film revolves around the humorous adventures of its two protagonists, Lun Wenxu and Sha Sanshao. The main cast includes Chan SzeâÂÂka (é³æÂÂä½³), Lo KwokâÂÂhung (ç§åÂÂéÂÂ), Pan BingâÂÂchang (æ½Âå°嫦), Ho LinâÂÂtai (ä½Âè®èÂÂ), and Lou WanâÂÂyin (ç§å®Âèµ), among others.
Lun Wenxu outwits Liu Xiankai (å«æÂÂæÂÂæº鬥æ³å ÂéÂÂ, 1979) is a film directed by Wang Feng and written by Sita An. In the film, Lun Wenxu (played by Leung Tin, æ¢Â天) and Liu Xiankai (played by Ku KuanâÂÂchung; 顧å 忠) not only trade wits and barbs, but also become entangled in a number of exaggerated, farcical romantic episodes typical of the eraâÂÂs comedy style.
The Kung Fu Scholar (å«æÂÂæÂÂèÂÂé»Âæ³å ÂéÂÂ, alt. æµÂæ°ÂçÂÂå Â) is a 1993 Hong Kong comedy film, starring Dicky Cheung (å¼µè¡ÂÃ¥ÂÂ¥) as Lun Wenxu and Aaron Kwok (éÂÂå¯ÂÃ¥ÂÂ) as Liu Xiankai (æ³å ÂéÂÂ). This film is the bestâÂÂknown cinematic portrayal, depicting their rivalry in the academy and their journey to the capital for the examinations.
The Legend of Lun ManâÂÂsui (å«æÂÂæÂÂå³å¥Â) is a Cantonese opera directed by Leung KinâÂÂchung (æ¢Â建忠), written by Lam Yu (æÂÂæ¦Â) and performed by the First Troupe of the Guangdong Cantonese Opera Theatre (廣æ±粵åÂÂé¢ä¸ÂÃ¥ÂÂ). The story follows Lun ManâÂÂSiu, born into poverty and making a living selling vegetables. Diligent, eager to learn, and exceptionally gifted, he soon becomes widely admired for his talent. A wealthy gentry, Master Wu, wishes to take him as a sonâÂÂinâÂÂlaw and sends his maid Sau to propose the match. Lun Wenxu refuses the Wu familyâÂÂs offer, but instead takes a liking to Sau herselfâÂÂinsisting that the matchmaker should be the one to enter the bridal sedan chair. People say the threads of fate have been amusingly tangled.
Though poor, Lun ManâÂÂsui never loses his ambition. Through hardship he grows in wisdom. At the imperial examination in the Golden Throne Hall (éÂÂé¾殿), the emperor himself calls him "a mind blessed by Heaven" (天縱è°æÂÂ). Lun ManâÂÂsui defeats his rival Lau SinâÂÂhoi and wins first place, becoming the zhuangyuan, the top scholar of the realm. But becoming zhuangyuan means he must also become the emperorâÂÂs sonâÂÂinâÂÂlaw. Lun ManâÂÂsui, however, has never forgotten the pureâÂÂhearted Sau from his village. Truly, winning the laurels is glorious, but becoming a royal groom is no easy fate.
It is said that one day, Lun Wenxu delivered vegetables to the home of a local gentryman. Impressed by the young manâÂÂs talent, the gentryman invited him to compose a poem for his treasured paintingâÂÂSu DongpoâÂÂs authentic masterpiece Hundred Birds Returning to the Nest.
Lun Wenxu, who had always admired Su DongpoâÂÂs poetry and calligraphy, lifted the brush and wrote:
Those watching were deeply disappointed. The lines seemed plain, lacking elegance or poetic charm.
Lun Wenxu merely smiled at their reaction. Calm and unhurried, he added another couplet:
The gentry asked him to explain the meaning to dispel everyoneâÂÂs confusion. Lun WenâÂÂsui replied:
As for the earlier linesâÂÂ"Heaven gives one bird and then another; three four five six seven eight birds"âÂÂwhat did they mean?
The answer lay in arithmetic: "One bird and then another" is 2 birds; "three four" means 3 times 4, equal to 12; "five six" means 5 times 6, equal to 30; "seven eight" means 7 times 8, equal to 56. And add them altogether is 100 â the exact number of birds in Su DongpoâÂÂs Hundred Birds painting.
At this, everyone suddenly understood and praised him with raised thumbs, marveling at the brilliance of the poem.