Xun Shuang
| Xun Shuang | |
|---|---|
| Official of the Han dynasty | |
| Born | 128 |
| Died | 190 (aged 62) |
| Names | |
| Traditional Chinese | 荀爽 |
| Simplified Chinese | 荀爽 |
| Pinyin | Xún Shuǎng |
| Wade–Giles | Hsün Shuang |
| Courtesy name | Ciming (Chinese: 慈明; pinyin: Címíng; Wade–Giles: Tz'u-ming) |
| Other names | Xun Xu (simplified Chinese: 荀谞; traditional Chinese: 荀諝; pinyin: Xún Xū; Wade–Giles: Hsün Hsü) |
Xun Shuang (128–190), courtesy name Ciming, was an official, Confucian writer and scholar who lived in the Eastern Han dynasty. Born in the influential Xun family of Yingchuan Commandery ((穎川郡; around present-day Xuchang, Henan), Xun Shuang, for most of his life, distanced himself from politics because he perceived the political arena to be corrupt and dangerous. He repeatedly turned down offers to serve in the government, and spent his time producing numerous writings and giving lectures. However, in late 189, he was forced to join the civil service and became an official. Within a span of only 95 days, he rose through the ranks quickly from his initial status as a commoner to the highly prestigious office of Minister of Works (司空). Prior to that, within the 95 days, he had held the appointments of Chancellor of Pingyuan (平原相) and Minister of the Household (光祿勳). He died of illness in 190 while secretly making plans with Wang Yun, He Yong and others to eliminate the tyrannical warlord Dong Zhuo, who had hijacked and controlled the Han central government.
Xun Shuang's ancestral home was in Yingchuan Commandery (穎川郡; around present-day Xuchang, Henan). He was the sixth son of Xun Shu (荀淑), an official who served as the Prefect (令) of Langling County (朗陵縣) and as the Chancellor (相) to the Marquis of Langling County. Xun Shu had eight sons, who were nicknamed the "Eight Dragons of the Xun Family" (荀氏八龍).
Xun Shuang was fond of reading since childhood. He could fluently recite the Analects and Spring and Autumn Annals when he was just 11. The Grand Commandant (太尉), Du Qiao (杜喬), praised him and said he was worthy of becoming a teacher. As he was interested purely in scholarly pursuits, he distanced himself from politics by refusing to socialise with officials and turning down offers to serve in the government. The people in Yingchuan Commandery once said, "Among the Eight Dragons of the Xun Family, Ciming has no equal."
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