【美坛综艺秀】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 (竹简), 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，任博今天竹简论古今，too funny！ -古树羽音- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 17:37:17

• 谢谢古树羽音！小生笔名纫秋兰，请直呼秋兰。 -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 17:43:13

• 好的，即刻改！秋兰竹简论古今：-） -古树羽音- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 18:10:37

• 谢谢古树！ -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

• 秋兰厉害，熟读春秋：）） -卫宁- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 17:47:13

• 实在是皮毛，卫宁谬赞了。同时感谢鼓励！ -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

• 占位点赞，再来细细拜读。 -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (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！绝对的精品帖子 -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (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

• 抱歉来晚了，谢谢佳作！让我在细读文字之前，先感叹一下。秋兰，你到底读过多少古今中外的书籍？求书单。你来美坛开读书沙龙吧！ -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 18:56:06

• 最好是英文原版书的读书沙龙。一起读书，一起讨论。让美坛飘起书香 ~ ~ -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (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

• 八十年代北京大学举办沙龙之风甚盛，对吗？ -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:07:20

• 那时我还很小，不知道呀。不过希望美坛可以有读书沙龙。：） -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:26:43

• 这是我看有关当年学运文献而得知的。 -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. 读书的乐趣。 -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 20:23:47

• 请盈盈不要过度解读这个job字。Job 可以含有“使命”的意思。至于 fun, 无疑是不可或缺的。在我而言，汲取知识也是 -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 20:47:02

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

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

• 趣味在心头，尽量帶知识性，不妨也带争议性。中英不拘，长短不限，自由取向，自由发挥。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

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

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

• 完全同意！那就这样说定了！太好了！ -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (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！谢谢秋兰。 -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (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

• 我读书不多，读得懂的更少。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

• 秋兰真是博古通今啊，连古代的社交媒体都被你挖掘出来了！ -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 19:04:10

• They "tweeted" or "posted" on bamboo slips (竹简)！谢谢秋兰分享好文。 -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

• 所谓“大胆假设，小心求证”。 -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:02:10

• 小西请不要夸我。知识是大树，我只是小蜉。小蜉如何能撼大树呢？ -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

• 先秦的社交媒体就是一个公共论坛。KOL 在竹简上 "发推特 "传达他们的观点。这写得太有趣了！好棒！ -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (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

• 选一本大家都感兴趣的英文书，一起读。每周讨论一次？如何？：） -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 20:09:02

• 盈盈，我个人认为你的这个提议难度比较大，因为每个人的兴趣不同，读书的进度也不同。 -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:06:12

• 小西，愿闻其详。 -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:11:22

• 我认为坛友们可以先读你写的书评（读后感），然后由他们自己决定是否要把原著找来看，这是一个向你学习的捷径。 -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:17:30

• 我就是有那么一个简单的想法。在美坛咱们一起读读英文原版书。具体细节大家可以再讨论。我都可以的。：） -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:23:04

• 我的意见仅供盈盈和秋兰参考 ：） -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:30:41

• Are you in? If yes, we may have more discussion on this :)) -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (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，看见了。 ：） -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (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 -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/07/2023 postreply 15:26:38

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

• Times Literary Supplement 啦。真是珠玉纷呈。当然，我辈学子效颦，也无不可。 -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:40:23

• 我一般都是先看书评，再决定是否去看书，节省时间 ：） -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:40:52

• 另外，我是一个自由散漫主义者，有些方面不太习惯统一行动。That's my problem :) -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:42:39

• 看看别人书评，蛮不错的。 -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:50:40

• 如果秋兰有精力和时间的话，建议他可以把他看过的某些书写一写书评（读后感），用帖子的方式发在美坛，分享给大家。 -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:12:42

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

• 你们支持，我就试试看吧。盈盈、小西两位晚安，大家晚安！ -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:54:50

• 秋兰根据自己的时间和精力灵活掌握，我们不要为了fun而累着自己。Otherwise, not fun at all :) -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:59:05

• 下星期发书评帖，弄洋文的。哈哈！ -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 22:02:28

• 洋文的或者中文的，都是你的强项，都欢迎！期待秋兰的书评，谢谢秋兰。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！ -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/07/2023 postreply 15:26:08

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

• 所谓竹简，指的是薄竹简，汗青了，就不怕虫蛀。 -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:05:00

• 百家如何争鸣呢？需要的是论坛。 -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:09:56

• 手持竹简的KOL就像吟游诗人一样在城乡广传自己的思想，希望得到草根阶层的支持。 -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 19:59:23

• 这段历史我居然不太清楚。我是谁？我在哪里？哈哈。晕死了。 -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (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。士大夫阶层有经济实力去雇人。 -盈盈一笑间- ♀ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 20:13:43

• 试想，交通不发达，城乡隔阂又大，偌大一个中原，大师不派众徒四出传道，可以吗？ -renqiulan- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:00:17

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

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

• 引经据典，融贯中西，赞秋兰 -颤音- ♂ (0 bytes) () 10/06/2023 postreply 21:12:11

• 颤音这样夸我，害得我颤抖起来。太感谢了。颤音晚安！ -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的类比。 -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