Guan Ning 管寧 You'an 幼安

Contents

Biography

Background and youth

Guan Ning was from Zhuxu, Beihai (in present-day Linqu, Shandong). His courtesy name was You’an. He was a descendant of Guan Zhong, chancellor of Qi. In his youth he studied with Hua Xin and Bing Yuan; the three were known as “one dragon” (Hua as head, Bing as belly, Guan as tail). At sixteen his father died; relatives offered help with the funeral, but Guan Ning declined and buried his father according to his own means. He was tall (eight feet) with a fine beard. He was friendly with the scholar Chen Ji.

Flight to Liaodong

When the realm fell into disorder, Guan Ning went north to Liaodong rather than south, to show he would not leave the north. He went with Bing Yuan and Wang Lie. The Administrator of Liaodong, Gongsun Du, welcomed them and set aside lodgings, but after meeting Gongsun Du, Guan Ning built a thatched retreat in the hills. He spoke only of the classics and did not discuss current affairs. Many refugees gathered around him; he taught the Poetry and Documents, explained ritual and deportment, and promoted yielding. The people were glad to follow his teaching. When Gongsun Kang (Du’s son) wanted to appoint him to help establish an independent regime, he did not dare broach the subject out of respect. After Cao Cao became Minister over the Masses he summoned Guan Ning, but Gongsun Kang intercepted the order and did not inform him.

Return and repeated refusals of office

When the Central Plain grew calmer, many who had fled to Liaodong returned; Guan Ning alone stayed. In 223 the Director of the Masses Hua Xin recommended him, and Cao Pi sent a carriage to summon him. Guan Ning, judging that the weak Gongsun Gong would be ousted by his capable nephew Gongsun Yuan, then left with his family. Gongsun Gong saw him off and gave gifts; on reaching the shore Guan Ning returned all presents from Gongsun Du, Gongsun Kang, and Gongsun Gong. Cao Pi appointed him Grand Master of Palace Leisure; Guan Ning firmly declined. When Cao Rui succeeded, Hua Xin asked to retire and yield his post to Guan Ning. Cao Rui did not accept but had Guan Ning summoned as Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and ordered the Inspector of Qing Province to send officials to escort him with a carriage and attendants. Guan Ning submitted that he lacked virtue, merit, and talent, was old and weak, and begged to remain at home. Through the Qinglong era he was summoned again and again and did not accept. In 241 the Grand Coachman Tao Qiu Yi, the Commandant of Yongning Wei Meng Guan, the Palace Attendant Sun Yong, and the Gentleman of the Masters of Writing Wang Ji recommended him; Cao Fang had him summoned with a comfortable carriage and gifts. Guan Ning died that year at eighty-four. His son Guan Miao was later appointed Gentleman of the Palace and then Erudite.

Character and anecdotes

Guan Ning was frugal and strict with himself. After his wife died he was urged to remarry; he said he agreed with Zengzi and Wang Jun and would not go against his heart. For over fifty years after returning to the north he sat on a single wooden couch and never sat with knees spread (which was deemed rude); the spot where his knees rested wore through the wood.

The Shishuo Xinyu records that when Guan Ning and Hua Xin were hoeing in a garden they saw a piece of gold; Guan Ning treated it like a tile and kept hoeing, while Hua Xin picked it up and then threw it away. Once they shared a mat reading; a man in a fine carriage passed; Guan Ning read on, Hua Xin went to look. Guan Ning cut the mat in two and said: “You are not my friend.” This is the origin of the phrase “cutting the mat” (割席).

Historical evaluations

Chen Shou: “Guan Ning was profound, refined, and lofty, firm and unshakable.”
Cao Rui: “Grand Master of Palace Leisure Guan Ning devotes himself to the Way and virtue, holds to the Six Arts; his purity matches the ancients, his integrity fits the age.”
Chen Qun: “Guan Ning’s conduct is a model for the age, his learning qualifies him to teach others; his clarity and frugality rouse the turbid, his correctness corrects the times.”

References

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Volume 11, Biography of Guan Ning
Shishuo Xinyu, “Virtuous Conduct”