The Making of a Confucian Scholar

In the early 14th century, as the Yuan Dynasty consolidated its rule over China, a young scholar named Liu Bowen embarked on a path that would make him one of the most fascinating figures in Chinese history. Born in 1311 in Qingtian, Zhejiang province, Liu devoted his formative years to mastering the Confucian classics – the essential curriculum for any aspiring official in imperial China.

Liu’s early intellectual development centered around his preparation for the imperial examinations, the rigorous civil service tests that determined one’s eligibility for government positions. His dedication manifested in a remarkable way when he compiled “Chunqiu Mingjing” (Spring and Autumn Classic Explained), essentially creating what we might call today a “study guide” for the exams. This work revealed not just his academic preparation but also his developing political philosophy, heavily influenced by Neo-Confucian thought.

Visions and Revelations: The White Ape Cave Experience

Liu Bowen’s path took an unusual turn during his intensive study sessions in the legendary White Ape Cave. According to accounts, this period of seclusion led to strange visions that would haunt and inspire him. His eyesight began failing intermittently – sometimes seeing with supernatural clarity, other times experiencing disturbing hallucinations.

The most striking vision occurred when Liu reportedly saw a grotesque figure emerge from the cave walls, a premonition that some later interpreted as representing Zhu Yuanzhang, the future founder of the Ming Dynasty. This supernatural encounter, whether real or metaphorical, marked a turning point in Liu’s consciousness, blending his scholarly pursuits with elements of mysticism that would characterize his later reputation.

The Imperial Examination Gauntlet

At age 22 in 1332, Liu Bowen set out for Hangzhou to take the provincial-level examinations. His success there propelled him to the national capital of Dadu (modern Beijing) the following year for the highest-level metropolitan examinations. The journey itself was transformative – a provincial scholar entering the dazzling heart of the Yuan Empire.

Dadu astonished Liu with its cosmopolitan splendor. The city’s unique design, said to resemble the mythical figure Nezha with its eleven gates representing three heads and six arms, embodied the Mongol rulers’ attempt to project divine protection over their capital. Liu navigated through bustling markets, government offices, and scholarly circles, all while preparing for the decisive examinations that would determine his official career.

Triumph and Early Official Life

Liu’s examination performance proved extraordinary. Ranking 26th overall (and 20th among Han Chinese candidates), he earned the prestigious jinshi degree in 1333. His examination essays, preserved in his collected works, demonstrate both literary brilliance and conventional praise for the ruling regime – though historians debate how sincere these encomiums were given the Yuan Dynasty’s evident decline.

After marriage to his cousin (a family-arranged union) and an agonizing two-year wait, Liu finally received his first official appointment as assistant magistrate of Gao’an County in Jiangxi province in 1335. This marked the beginning of his official career during one of the most tumultuous periods in Chinese history.

The Scholar in a Failing Empire

Liu Bowen entered government service as the Yuan Dynasty entered its final, decadent phase. The imperial court witnessed constant power struggles – between 1294 and 1333, seven emperors ruled in quick succession, several meeting violent ends. Emperor Huizong (later known as Yuan Shundi), who came to the throne in 1333 when Liu took the exams, increasingly neglected governance in favor of religious pursuits and pleasure.

Despite these challenges, Liu and other idealistic scholars like his mentor Jie Xisi (a prominent historian and educator) maintained faith in Confucian statecraft. Jie famously declared Liu to be “a Wei Zheng of the Tang Dynasty, but a hundred times better,” comparing him to the celebrated Tang advisor known for his blunt counsel. This praise foreshadowed Liu’s later reputation as a brilliant strategist and uncompromising official.

The Formative Philosophy of a Future Legend

Liu Bowen’s early career reveals several defining characteristics that would shape his historical legacy. His strict moral code, influenced by Neo-Confucianism, emphasized clear distinctions between right and wrong. As one contemporary observed, Liu maintained absolute standards that applied equally to himself and others – a trait that would both distinguish and complicate his official career.

Interestingly, Liu’s story challenges the common narrative that great figures always had grand ambitions from youth. Like many historical luminaries, his early goals were conventional – pass examinations, secure office, continue family traditions. The extraordinary role he would later play in China’s transition from Yuan to Ming rule emerged from circumstance as much as design.

The Enduring Legacy of Liu Bowen’s Early Years

The formative period of Liu Bowen’s life – from diligent student to examination candidate to junior official – established patterns that would define his historical significance. His blend of classical scholarship with practical statecraft, his moral rigidity tempered by pragmatic flexibility, and his intellectual breadth encompassing both Confucian orthodoxy and unorthodox mystical interests all took shape during these years.

As we follow Liu’s journey from the White Ape Cave to the corridors of Yuan power, we witness the making of a figure who would transcend his time – remembered both as a historical statesman and a semi-legendary strategist in Chinese cultural memory. His early struggles with vision, both literal and metaphorical, seem almost symbolic of the clarity he would later bring to China’s turbulent 14th century transition between dynasties.