【美壇綜藝秀】Social Media in Ancient China

In the pre-Qin (先秦) era, the Hundred Schools of Thought were practically free to contend with one another, generating a lot of light and heat. Does it sound like today's social media? You bet.

Indeed, social media in pre-Qin China served as a public forum. Then as now, Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) tirelessly asked to be taken seriously by virtue of their ideas. Then as now, ideas could make or break a social media career.

How did pre-Qin KOLs get their ideas across? They "tweeted" or "posted" on bamboo slips (竹簡), almost always with a touch of elegance and bouts of wit. 

(Google image)

When these bamboo-slip bloggers made a point, they made it memorable and recitable for popularization. Popularity came with limelight, which in turn would catch the attention---if not the approval---of the powers that be. Anyway, plebeians (commoners) did matter. Grassroots' support did mean something.

Unapologetically, therefore, pre-Qin KOLs competed to prevail as living legends. No wonder their bamboo slips were slim in shape and light in weight, thus being passed around easily. Meanwhile, bamboo slip-carrying promoters were like bards,  broadcasting their respective schools of thought in town squares and rural marketplaces. All in all, at the end of the day, folks literate and illiterate would be able to share what the Hundred Schools of Thought had to say---until when everybody felt like walking on eggshells, thanks to the First Emperor.

Speaking of the First Emperor, his book-burning policy probably fell short of a great success in practice. For one thing, a book made of bamboo slips could often be put together or put apart at short notice. Such flexibility gave many banned books a new lease on life. Yes, destruction and preservation could somehow co-exist, as observed by the 19th century British poet Lord Tennyson:

"Tho' much is taken, much abides."*

(*The word "abides" here means "remains." The line comes from Tennyson's epic "Ulysses.")


Author: renqiulan 

所有跟帖： 

• wow，任博今天竹簡論古今，too funny！ -古樹羽音- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 17:37:17

• 謝謝古樹羽音！小生筆名紉秋蘭，請直呼秋蘭。 -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 17:43:13

• 好的，即刻改！秋蘭竹簡論古今：-） -古樹羽音- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 18:10:37

• 謝謝古樹！ -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 18:29:51

• It so happens that bamboo and orchids grace each other. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/07/2023 postreply 12:48:41

• Bamboo slips made social media possible in ancient China. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/07/2023 postreply 12:44:36

• 秋蘭厲害，熟讀春秋：）） -衛寧- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 17:47:13

• 實在是皮毛，衛寧謬讚了。同時感謝鼓勵！ -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 17:58:11

• I've really got to give it to Confucius when it comes to -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/07/2023 postreply 12:51:00

• "Spring and Autumn." Confucius is still a living legend and -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/07/2023 postreply 12:53:09

• deservedly so, whether you agree with him or not. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/07/2023 postreply 12:54:16

• 占位點讚，再來細細拜讀。 -盈盈一笑間- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 18:41:42

• Thank you, 盈盈! -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 19:02:16

• Take it easy. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/07/2023 postreply 12:55:01

• What a great writing! Solute! -方外居士- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 18:47:48

• +100086！絕對的精品帖子 -盈盈一笑間- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 18:52:46

• You are so nice! -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 19:04:17

• You're making me blush. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/07/2023 postreply 12:56:19

• Just a thought. Thank you, 方外居士! -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 19:03:27

• 抱歉來晚了，謝謝佳作！讓我在細讀文字之前，先感歎一下。秋蘭，你到底讀過多少古今中外的書籍？求書單。你來美壇開讀書沙龍吧！ -盈盈一笑間- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 18:56:06

• 最好是英文原版書的讀書沙龍。一起讀書，一起討論。讓美壇飄起書香 ~ ~ -盈盈一笑間- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 18:58:25

• Try to convince me that I can live up to your expectations. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 19:09:46

• 八十年代北京大學舉辦沙龍之風甚盛，對嗎？ -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:07:20

• 那時我還很小，不知道呀。不過希望美壇可以有讀書沙龍。：） -盈盈一笑間- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:26:43

• 這是我看有關當年學運文獻而得知的。 -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:36:25

• I like your idea. But---there's always but---I may not be up -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 19:07:10

• to the job. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 19:07:36

• Not a job. Just for fun. 讀書的樂趣。 -盈盈一笑間- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 20:23:47

• 請盈盈不要過度解讀這個job字。Job 可以含有“使命”的意思。至於 fun, 無疑是不可或缺的。在我而言，汲取知識也是 -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 20:47:02

• 有益兼有趣的。盈盈的意見呢？ -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 20:49:07

• 完全同意！一起讀書，有益兼有趣 -盈盈一笑間- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:02:51

• 趣味在心頭，盡量帶知識性，不妨也帶爭議性。中英不拘，長短不限，自由取向，自由發揮。如何？ -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:44:47

• 辛苦盈盈了，晚了，大家晚安！ -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:52:00

• 晚安秋蘭。晚安美壇！ -盈盈一笑間- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 22:03:26

• Sweet dreams, 美語世界 ! -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 22:15:57

• 完全同意！那就這樣說定了！太好了！ -盈盈一笑間- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 22:02:25

• Discussion done. Decision made. Project undertaken. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 22:21:27

• 太好了！期待！謝謝秋蘭。 -盈盈一笑間- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/07/2023 postreply 15:25:19

• Fun, in this context, means that I enjoy taking -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/07/2023 postreply 12:58:04

• 我讀書不多，讀得懂的更少。自己的底子自己最清楚。 -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 20:56:05

• Why am I thinking of salons that allegedly brought about -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/07/2023 postreply 13:03:42

• the French Revolution? Man, I am living with history. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/07/2023 postreply 13:08:11

• 秋蘭真是博古通今啊，連古代的社交媒體都被你挖掘出來了！ -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 19:04:10

• They "tweeted" or "posted" on bamboo slips (竹簡)！謝謝秋蘭分享好文。 -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 19:06:10

• It won't hurt to let one's imagination fly a bit far & high. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 19:11:25

• Absolutely! -方外居士- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 19:50:28

• 所謂“大膽假設，小心求證”。 -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:02:10

• 小西請不要誇我。知識是大樹，我隻是小蜉。小蜉如何能撼大樹呢？ -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 20:53:16

• Everyone is an expert in something these days. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/07/2023 postreply 13:11:19

• 先秦的社交媒體就是一個公共論壇。KOL 在竹簡上 "發推特 "傳達他們的觀點。這寫得太有趣了！好棒！ -盈盈一笑間- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 19:55:10

• 盈盈, can you elaborate on this "book club" idea of yours? -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 20:04:00

• 選一本大家都感興趣的英文書，一起讀。每周討論一次？如何？：） -盈盈一笑間- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 20:09:02

• 盈盈，我個人認為你的這個提議難度比較大，因為每個人的興趣不同，讀書的進度也不同。 -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:06:12

• 小西，願聞其詳。 -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:11:22

• 我認為壇友們可以先讀你寫的書評（讀後感），然後由他們自己決定是否要把原著找來看，這是一個向你學習的捷徑。 -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:17:30

• 我就是有那麽一個簡單的想法。在美壇咱們一起讀讀英文原版書。具體細節大家可以再討論。我都可以的。：） -盈盈一笑間- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:23:04

• 我的意見僅供盈盈和秋蘭參考 ：） -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:30:41

• Are you in? If yes, we may have more discussion on this :)) -盈盈一笑間- ♀ (167 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:36:45

• See below for the talk between Qiulan and me. -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:51:46

• 好，看見了。 ：） -盈盈一笑間- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/07/2023 postreply 15:25:45

• 盈盈辛苦了，晚安，周末愉快！ -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 22:37:44

• 周末愉快 -盈盈一笑間- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/07/2023 postreply 15:26:38

• 小西很有道理。這令我想起自己愛讀的The New York Review of Books啦， -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:33:01

• Times Literary Supplement 啦。真是珠玉紛呈。當然，我輩學子效顰，也無不可。 -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:40:23

• 我一般都是先看書評，再決定是否去看書，節省時間 ：） -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:40:52

• 另外，我是一個自由散漫主義者，有些方麵不太習慣統一行動。That's my problem :) -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:42:39

• 看看別人書評，蠻不錯的。 -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:50:40

• 如果秋蘭有精力和時間的話，建議他可以把他看過的某些書寫一寫書評（讀後感），用帖子的方式發在美壇，分享給大家。 -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:12:42

• 也是好主意！ -盈盈一笑間- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:27:45

• 你們支持，我就試試看吧。盈盈、小西兩位晚安，大家晚安！ -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:54:50

• 秋蘭根據自己的時間和精力靈活掌握，我們不要為了fun而累著自己。Otherwise, not fun at all :) -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:59:05

• 下星期發書評帖，弄洋文的。哈哈！ -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 22:02:28

• 洋文的或者中文的，都是你的強項，都歡迎！期待秋蘭的書評，謝謝秋蘭。晚安，周末愉快！ -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 22:07:06

• I'm afraid that is not true. But I'll do my best. Thank you! -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 22:27:46

• You're the best :) -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 22:40:46

• +100086！ -盈盈一笑間- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/07/2023 postreply 15:26:08

• 期待期待！ -盈盈一笑間- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/07/2023 postreply 15:27:46

• 所謂竹簡，指的是薄竹簡，汗青了，就不怕蟲蛀。 -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:05:00

• 百家如何爭鳴呢？需要的是論壇。 -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:09:56

• 手持竹簡的KOL就像吟遊詩人一樣在城鄉廣傳自己的思想，希望得到草根階層的支持。 -盈盈一笑間- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 19:59:23

• 這段曆史我居然不太清楚。我是誰？我在哪裏？哈哈。暈死了。 -盈盈一笑間- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 20:05:43

• Right. But I guess that these pre-Qin KOLs might have their -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 20:06:31

• promoters commissioned to "spread the gospel." -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 20:09:19

• 推理有道理。士大夫階層有經濟實力去雇人。 -盈盈一笑間- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 20:13:43

• 試想，交通不發達，城鄉隔閡又大，偌大一個中原，大師不派眾徒四出傳道，可以嗎？ -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:00:17

• Ulysses by Alfred Lord Tennyson -盈盈一笑間- ♀ (2215 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 20:03:35

• Right on, 盈盈! -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 20:12:08

• 引經據典，融貫中西，讚秋蘭 -顫音- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:12:11

• 顫音這樣誇我，害得我顫抖起來。太感謝了。顫音晚安！ -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 22:05:28

• I could be easily flattered into oblivion. Haha! -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/07/2023 postreply 13:13:01

• 非常READER FRIENDLY的類比。 -Oona- ♀ (32 bytes) () 10/07/2023 postreply 05:20:54

• Thanks, Oona! I'll never forget that I am also a reader. -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/07/2023 postreply 11:10:53