Calling in Sick during the Reign of Gongsun Shu

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Fan Ye adds that the envoy accepted the bribe, Qiao Xuan fled and hid in the wilds, and later died, apparently naturally, in 36 ce.

“Fan Ye expands this account to note that the envoy accepted the bribe and Qiao Xuan fled and hid himself in the wilds, later dying, apparently of natural causes, in 36 ce.”

• cites HHS 81.2667-68.Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

After Gongsun Shu's death, the restored Han court honored and recruited local worthies: the dead received posthumous honors, and those who had fled were rewarded and offered appointments.

“Following this narrative, Chang Qu shifts his attention to the newly restored Han court's efforts to honor and recruit local worthies of the southwest after the death of Gongsun Shu.Posthumous honors were bestowed upon those who lost their lives during Gongsun's reign, and those who had fled were rewarded and offered official appointments.”

May combine two claims.

While the three men above refused without excuses, four others claimed illness to avoid serving Gongsun Shu.

“While the three individuals discussed above offered no excuses for their refusals, four others claimed illness to avoid service in Gongsun Shu's administration.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Chang Qu concludes that the western lands were at peace and everyone was delighted.

“Chang Qu concludes, “because of this, the western lands were at peace, and there were none who were not like ducks among pondweed [i.e., delighted]”

• cites HYGZ 5.337.Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Hou Hanshu reports that when Wang Mang acted as regent, Li Ye left office because of illness, closed his gate, and ignored summonses from province and commandery.

“Additionally, Hou Hanshu reports that “when Wang Mang acted as regent, Li Ye left office due to illness, closed his gate, and did not respond to the summonses from the province or commandery””

• cites HHS 81.2669.Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Fan Ye adds dialogue to the Wang Hao and Wang Jia accounts, but the basic plot is unchanged.

“Fan Ye adds additional dialogue to his account of Wang Hao and Wang Jia, but the basic plot remained unchanged.”

• cites HHS 81.2670.Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Fascicles 5-9 of the Huayang guo zhi cover several separatist regimes in southwest China, including Gongsun Shu's Dacheng, the Liu Yan and Liu Zhang administrations, Liu Bei and Liu Shan's Shu Han, and the Li family's Cheng-Han.

“Fascicles 5-9 of Chang Qu's Huayang guo zhi present the histories of various separatist regimes in southwest China, including Gongsun Shu's state of Dacheng 大成 (25-36 ce), the administration of Liu Yan 劉焉 (d.194) and his son Liu Zhang 劉璋 (d.219), Liu Bei 劉備 and Liu Shan's 劉禪 state of [Shu] Han 蜀漢 (221-264), and the Li family's state of Cheng-Han 成漢 (302-352).”

May combine two claims.

Qiao Xuan served Emperors Cheng and Ai as grandee remonstrant and consultant, left office and returned to Ba after Wang Mang took the throne, and later refused a summons from Gongsun Shu.

“Qiao Xuan 譙玄, appellative Junhuang 君黃, served Emperors Cheng 成 (r.33-6 bce) and Ai 哀 (r.6 bce-1 ce) as grandee remonstrant and consultant (jianyi daifu 諫議大夫), but left office and returned to Ba after Wang Mang took the throne.Later, he refused a summons from Gongsun Shu.”

May combine two claims.

Li Ye of Zitong prefecture in Guanghan commandery held to pure ambitions from youth and declined office.

“In the first of these cases, Li Ye 李業, appellative Juyou 巨遊, of Zitong 梓潼 prefecture in Guanghan 廣漢 commandery, “as a youth, held to his pure ambitions” 少執志清白, 28 that is, declined to take office.”

May combine two claims.

Chang Qu's early Li Ye account does not mention illness; it only says he held firm to his pure intent and never accepted public office.

“Chang Qu's early account of Li Ye makes no mention of illness, only that he held firm to his pure intent and never accepted public office.”

May combine two claims.

Hou Hanshu closely follows Huayang guo zhi, omits the popular song, and adds that after feigning madness Fei Yi fled to a remote mountain for more than ten years.

“The Hou Hanshu account follows closely that of Huayang guo zhi, omitting the popular song and adding a brief comment that after feigning madness, Fei Yi “fled to a remote mountain for over ten years” 退藏山藪十餘年.”

• cites HHS 81.2670.Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Chen Shou's Sanguo zhi mentions three people 'claiming illness' and one 'pleading illness'.

“Chen Shou's 陳壽 Sanguo zhi 三國志 only makes mention of three persons “claiming illness” and one person “pleading illness.””

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

After declaring himself emperor of Dacheng, Gongsun Shu summoned several local scholars to serve in his administration.

“After proclaiming himself emperor of Dacheng, Gongsun Shu summoned a number of local scholars to serve in his administration.”

May combine two claims.

Wang Hao served as prefect of Meiyang, left his post and returned to Shu when Wang Mang took the throne; later Gongsun Shu sent an envoy to appoint him, Wang Hao slit his throat and had his head presented to the envoy, and Gongsun Shu, ashamed and angry, executed Wang Hao's wife and son.

“Wang Hao, appellative Zili 子離, served as prefect of Meiyang 美陽, 24 but left his post and returned to Shu when Wang Mang took the throne.Later, Gongsun Shu sent an envoy to appoint Wang Hao to office.Wang Hao thereupon slit his own throat and had his head presented to the envoy.Gongsun Shu was “ashamed and angry, so he executed [Wang Hao's] wife and son””

• cites HYGZ 10A.538.Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Hou Hanshu says Li Ye was chronically ill and did not get up.

“The Hou Hanshu account says, “Li Ye was chronically ill and did not get up” 業固疾不起.”

• cites HHS 81.2669.Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

Sima Qian's Shiji has thirty-eight occurrences of the term 'claiming illness' (cheng bing).

“Sima Qian's (c.145-86 bce) 司馬遷 Shiji 史記 contains thirty-eight mentions of persons “claiming illness” (cheng bing 稱病)”

May combine two claims.

Grand administrator Liu Xian admired Li Ye and appointed him to the bureau of merit ten times, but Li Ye did not report; Liu Xian grew angry and wanted to kill him; Li Ye turned himself in at the jail, and Liu Xian released him.

“The grand administrator Liu Xian admired his reputation and appointed him to serve in the bureau of merit ten times, but Li Ye did not report.Liu Xian became angry and wanted to kill him.Li Ye turned himself in at the jail.Liu Xian released him.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Angered by Qiao Xuan's refusal, Gongsun Shu sent an envoy with poisoned alcohol to fetch him; Qiao Xuan laughed at the envoy and took the poison, and his son Qiao Ying offered eight million cash for a pardon.

“Angered by Qiao's refusal, Gongsun Shu dispatched an envoy bearing poisoned alcohol to fetch the reluctant scholar.Qiao reportedly laughed at the envoy and received the poison, upon which Qiao Xuan's son, Qiao Ying 譙瑛, kowtowed and offered the envoy eight million cash to obtain a pardon for his father.”

May combine two claims.

The illnesses in these accounts are often vague, and powerful figures being avoided frequently did not directly challenge the excuses.

“The illnesses cited are frequently vague, and in many cases, the powerful figures being avoided did not directly challenge the excuses.”

May combine two claims.

Fan Ye's Hou Hanshu has twenty-eight references to 'claiming illness' and twelve to 'pleading illness' (tuo bing).

“Fan Ye's 范曄 Hou Hanshu 後漢書 contains twenty-eight references to “claiming illness” and an additional twelve to “pleading illness” (tuo bing 託病).”

May combine two claims.

For worthies who simply refused to report, Gongsun Shu applied pressure, forcing Wang Hao and Wang Jia to commit suicide and attempting to do the same to Qiao Xuan.

“For those who simply snubbed Gongsun Shu by refusing to report to duty, the ruler applied pressure, forcing Wang Hao and Wang Jia to commit suicide, and Gongsun Shu attempted to do the same to Qiao Xuan.”

• cites HHS 81.2670Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Ren Yong, like Feng Xin, claimed a specific type of blindness and ignored dramatic events in his presence.

“Like Feng Xin, he reported suffering from a particular type of blindness.Additionally, he was also able to ignore dramatic events that were said to have taken place in his presence.”

• cites HYGZ 10B.583Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Both Feng Xin and Ren Yong claimed to suffer from qingmang, or green-blindness.

“Both claimed to suffer from qingmang 青盲, or green-blindness.”

May combine two claims.

Chang Qu does not mention Feng Xin recovering eyesight or recanting blindness, and ends with him remaining in lifelong reclusion.

“Chang Qu makes no mention of Feng Xin ever recovering his eyesight or recanting his claim of blindness, but rather concludes with Feng Xin maintaining his lifelong reclusion.”

• cites HYGZ 10B.564Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Chang Qu's account of Gongsun Shu's rise and fall echoes Dongguan Han ji and supplements it with a summary of efforts to commemorate, reward, and recruit the worthies of Shu after Gongsun Shu's demise.

“It echoes the main events found in Dongguan Han ji, and supplements that record with a summary of efforts to commemorate, reward, and recruit the worthies of Shu after Gongsun Shu's demise.”

• cites Dongguan Han jiNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Li Ye's claims of unspecified illness also led to pressure from Gongsun Shu and another suicide.

“Even Li Ye's claims of some unspecified illness resulted in pressure from Gongsun Shu, leading to another suicide.”

• cites HHS 81.2668-70Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Chang Qu places the Feng Xin and Ren Yong cases in fascicle 10B but not consecutively, while Fan Ye treats them together in one anecdote.

“Chang Qu presents both cases in fascicle 10B, but not consecutively; Fan Ye treats them together in a single anecdote.”

May combine two claims.

The cure for Ren Yong and Feng Xin's green-blindness was simply washing their eyes, though the Hou Hanshu gives no specific date for the bathing.

“Perhaps not coincidentally, the cure for Ren Yong and Feng Xin's green-blindness was simply washing their eyes, though no specific date of the bathing was given in the Hou Hanshu account.”

• cites HHS 81.2670Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

The popular song in Huayang guo zhi says Fei Fengjun did not serve in a chaotic age and did not shun a bad reputation.

“The popular song recorded in the Huayang guo zhi account quoted above says, “Fei Fengjun / Did not serve in a chaotic age, / Did not shun a bad reputation.””

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Feng Xin declined numerous local and regional appointments before Gongsun Shu took power.

“The commandery thrice recommended him as filially pious and incorruptible, the province recommended him as a flourishing talent, the court appointed him ten times, and official carriages repeatedly came to fetch him, but he declined.”

• cites HYGZ 10B.564Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Fan Ye's account largely echoes Huayang guo zhi but adds washing as the cure and notes the suicide of Feng Xin's maidservant, paralleling Ren Yong's wife.

“The account largely echoes those of the Huayang guo zhi with two notable exceptions: first, the manner in which their blindness was cured.Here, Fan Ye adds the element of washing to effect the cure.Second, Fan Ye notes the suicide of Feng Xin's maidservant, paralleling that of Ren Yong's wife.”

• cites HHS 81.2670Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Cash appears in Li Ye's case too, but there it compensated his family for his death, unlike Qiao Ying ransoming his father Qiao Xuan from forced suicide.

“We also see the exchange of cash, though in the case of Li Ye, payment was offered to the family to compensate for Li Ye's death (as opposed to Qiao Ying ransoming his father, Qiao Xuan, from forced suicide).”

May combine two claims.

Although lacquer exposure could have caused stupor and brain damage, Fei Yi's madness claims should not be accepted at face value.

“While Fei Yi's exposure to the lacquer could have actually caused “stupor” and “brain damage,” his claims to madness should not be taken at face value.”

May combine two claims.

Chang Qu's account generally follows the earlier Dongguan Han ji outline, but each narrative contains details absent from the other, which supports Chang Qu's aim of supplementing earlier historical accounts of the southwest.

“In general, Chang Qu's account follows the outline of the earlier Dongguan Han ji account; however, the Huayang guo zhi and Dongguan Han ji narratives contain details not included in the other, supporting Chang Qu's intent of supplementing previous historical accounts of the affairs of the southwest.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

A considerable number of these visits ended in near-miraculous cures that let the official return to duty.

“Not a small number of these visits resulted in near miraculous cures, allowing the “sick” official to return to duty.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

It is unclear what additional sources Fan Ye used to add details missing from Chang Qu's earlier account.

“It is unclear what additional sources Fan Ye may have consulted in order to add the details missing from Chang Qu's earlier account.”

May combine two claims.

Pei Yin's Shijie jijie and Sima Zhen's Shiji suoyin gloss li as lai.

“Both Pei Yin's 裴駰 (fl.438) Shijie jijie 史記集解 and Sima Zhen's 司馬貞 (ca.656-720) Shiji suoyin 記索隱 gloss li 厲 as lai 賴.”

• cites Shijie jijieNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Shiji suoyinNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Early and medieval Chinese texts contain many cases of people using illness claims to leave posts or avoid appointments, a practice tied to reclusion rhetoric.

“Early and medieval Chinese texts are full of instances of individuals claiming illness to either excuse themselves from current positions, or to avoid appointments to office, a practice firmly situated in the rhetoric of reclusion.”

May combine two claims.

Li Jianmin's study finds that Han officials commonly used illness claims as socially acceptable ways to navigate unequal power relations, often to escape work or express dissatisfaction.

“He notes that claims to illness were common during the Han because they were socially acceptable methods for officials to navigate unequal social power relationships, often allowing the less powerful figures to get what they wanted (usually, out of a work assignment) or express dissatisfaction with the status quo.”

• cites Li Jianmin, “Han dai ‘yibing’ yanjiu,”Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

The next case shows a more specific illness claim and the lengths taken to make that claim convincing.

“The next case illustrates not only a more specific claim to illness, but the lengths one might go to in order to make that claim convincing.”

May combine two claims.

The two historians' narratives differ on Li Ye's early life and converge only on his rejection of Gongsun Shu's appointment.

“The two historians' narratives diverge in the details of Li Ye's early life, and only come together again in the matter of his rejection of Gongsun Shu's appointment.”

May combine two claims.

Sending poison to Qiao Xuan and detaining Wang Jia's family indicate that Gongsun Shu knew how his summonses would be received and was desperate to secure these men's service.

“The dispatch of an envoy with poison to appoint Qiao Xuan and the preemptive detainment of the wife and son of Wang Jia would seem to indicate that Gongsun Shu was already aware of how his calls to serve would be received by the local worthies, as well as hints at his desperation to secure the services of these men.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Many examples show state representatives, including emperors, visiting the supposedly sick official with food, medicine, supplies, and sometimes a physician.

“Numerous examples show a representative of the state, including the emperor himself, calling on the “sick” official (wenbing 問病), often with food, medicine, supplies, and even an attending physician to aid in the recovery.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Sima Zhen explains that lai is a severe ulcer; lacquer is toxic and contact causes ulcers and swelling resembling leprosy, so Yu Rang painted himself with lacquer to appear leprous.

“As for lai, it is a severe ulcer.Lacquer is toxic and contact with it causes ulcers and swelling, and it resembles leprosy.Therefore, Yu Rang painted his body with lacquer to cause himself to look as if he had leprosy.”

• cites Shiji suoyinNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Li Ye's case strongly resembles those of Qiao Xuan, Wang Hao, and Wang Jia: Gongsun Shu coerced men into service, often leading to suicide as refusal.

“Here, we see striking similarities to the cases of Qiao Xuan, Wang Hao, and Wang Jia, in that Gongsun Shu was willing to coerce individuals into public service, often resulting in rejection by suicide.”

May combine two claims.

Lunyu 18 mentions two early worthies, the Viscount of Ji and Jie Yu, who claimed madness to avoid service; later sources say they let down their hair, feigned madness, and refused to serve.

“For example, in Lunyu 18 we find mention of two early worthies who claimed madness to avoid service: the Viscount of Ji 箕 子 and Jie Yu 接輿, both of whom are mentioned in later sources as having let down their hair, feigned madness, and refused to serve.”

• cites Lunyu 18Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

Regardless of historical accuracy, these accounts reflect poorly on Gongsun Shu from a historiographical perspective.

“Whether or not these accounts are historically accurate, from a historiographical perspective, they do not reflect well upon Gongsun Shu.”

May combine two claims.

The cases of Qiao Xuan, Wang Hao, and Wang Jia suggest that Gongsun Shu wanted noted recluses in his service as a sign of sage rule, but did not care how they were obtained.

“From the cases of Qiao Xuan, Wang Hao, and Wang Jia, it seems that while Gongsun Shu was interested in bringing noted recluses into his service-a sign of a sage ruler-he was not so concerned with how these worthies were obtained.”

May combine two claims.

Chang Qu portrays Li Ye as a lifelong recluse, while Fan Ye places him among officials who left Han court posts to protest Wang Mang's seizure of power.

“Chang Qu presents Li Ye as a lifelong recluse; while Fan Ye adds Li Ye to the list of officials who left posts at the Han court to protest Wang Mang's seizure of power.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

For illness claims to succeed, confirmation of illness was generally needed.

“For these claims to work, however, a confirmation of illness was generally required.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Fei Yi's actions recall the famed assassin Yu Rang.

“Fei Yi's actions immediately bring to mind the case of the famed assassin Yu Rang 豫 讓.”

May combine two claims.

It is unclear whether Li Ye was actually ill, although he had himself carried on his sickbed to meet an envoy with an official summons.

“It is unclear in this instance whether Li Ye was actually ill, though he had himself carried to the door on his sickbed to meet an envoy bearing an official summons.”

May combine two claims.

Gongsun Shu did not believe Li Ye's illness claim and was willing to force him into service whether or not he was ill.

“The facts of the matter, however, are ultimately irrelevant: Gongsun Shu did not believe the claim and was willing to force the worthy into service, ill or not.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Chang Qu stated that his aim in these fascicles was to integrate local historical records into broader official accounts, giving local perspectives on imperial matters concerning his home region.

“Chang Qu's self-stated intent in these fascicles was to incorporate local historical records into the broader official accounts of the area, thus providing local perspectives on imperial issues involving his home region.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Li notes that illness was often used to display humility and could help one obtain a higher, more prestigious appointment.

“Finally, Li notes that illness was often deployed as a show of humility, and could be used to launch oneself to a higher, more prestigious appointment.”

• cites Li Jianmin, “Han dai ‘yibing’ yanjiu,”Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

In these anecdotes, Chang Qu establishes gendered categories of virtuous conduct: loyalty for men and chastity for women.

“In these anecdotes, Chang Qu establishes gendered categories of virtuous conduct: loyalty for men and chastity for women.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The earliest efforts to distinguish types of blindness appear in several Tang dynasty texts.

“The earliest efforts to distinguish between various types of blindness can be seen in several Tang dynasty texts.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

In Shiji, Fan Sui tells the King of Qin that the Viscount of Ji and Jie Yu lacquered their bodies to form sores as if leprous and let their hair down as if mad, without benefiting their lords.

“Moreover, in the Shiji account of Fan Sui 范 睢, Fan tells the King of Qin, “the Viscount of Ji and Jie Yu lacquered their bodies [to form sores] as if leprous and let their hair down as if mad, but without any benefit to their lords” 箕子、接輿 漆身為厲，被髮為狂，無益於主.”

• cites ShijiNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

Chang Qu presents the men and women of Shu as the utmost virtuous, even in times of political independence.

“As such, Chang Qu presents the men and women of the Shu region as the utmost virtuous, even in times of political independence.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Chang Qu's depiction of the recruitment of Shu worthies to Gongsun Shu's administration serves to paint Gongsun Shu in a most unfavorable light.

“Chang Qu's depiction of recruitment of the worthies of Shu to Gongsun Shu's administration, presented in the later biographical fascicles of Huayang guo zhi, however, serves to paint Gongsun Shu in a most unfavorable light.”

May combine two claims.

Fei Yi survived his efforts to appear unfit for duty; both Huayang guo zhi and Hou Hanshu say he returned from hiding after Gongsun Shu's death and took office under the restored Han with his body intact and reputation enhanced.

“At any rate, Fei Yi is fortunate to have survived his efforts to make himself appear unfit for duty, and as both Huayang guo zhi and Hou Hanshu note, he returned from hiding after the death of Gongsun Shu and took office under the restored Han, his body intact and reputation enhanced.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Chang Qu's intent for the middle fascicles of Huayang guo zhi was to use local sources to add local perspectives to national history.

“As noted earlier, Chang Qu's intent for the middle fascicles of Huayang guo zhi was to apply local sources in order to add local perspectives to national history.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Kong Yingda equated Zheng Xuan's category of meng (pupils but no sight) with qingmang.

“Kong Yingda equates Zheng Xuan's category of meng (pupils but no sight) with the term qingmang.”

• cites Mao shi zhushuNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims. The quote only partly states this claim.

Ren Yong claimed blindness during Wang Mang's time, before Gongsun Shu, and continued the ruse throughout Gongsun Shu's regime.

“In this case, Ren Yong's claims of blindness predated the Gongsun Shu regime, but his ruse continued throughout it.”

• cites HYGZ 10B.583Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

In common usage, qingmang referred to a variety of ailments, including cataracts, glaucoma, and color blindness.

“In common usage, the term qingmang seems to refer to a variety of different ailments, including cataracts, glaucoma, and color blindness.”

• cites Kovacs and Unschuld, Essential SubtletiesNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

The Feng Xin and Ren Yong cases are very similar and may derive from one historical episode or from separate uses of the same rhetorical trope.

“The cases of Feng Xin 馮信 and Ren Yong 任永 are remarkably similar, and may either be based on a single historical episode or be separate applications of the same rhetorical trope.”

May combine two claims.

Because qingmang had no external symptoms, Feng Xin and Ren Yong could claim a form of blindness that was believable and could not be disproved by medical examination.

“As such, Feng Xin and Ren Yong were able to claim a form of blindness with no external symptoms, making their claims both believable and unimpeachable by medical examination.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Taken at face value, the anecdotes illustrate Gongsun Shu's strong desire to recruit worthies and his lack of scruples about how talents were obtained.

“Taken at face value, these anecdotes illustrate Gongsun Shu's strong desire to recruit worthies into the service of his regime, as well as his lack of scruples about how these talents were obtained.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

If their accounts are read as two men dutifully maintaining claims of medical ailments to avoid serving an immoral and illegitimate ruler, then Ren and Feng join the ranks of worthy men and reinforce Chang Qu's main objective: depicting Shu as a cradle of loyal and worthy, chaste and filial men and women.

“If we read their accounts as two men dutifully maintaining claims of medical ailments in order to avoid serving an immoral and illegitimate ruler, then Ren and Feng take their places among the ranks of the worthy men of past and present ages, further reinforcing Chang Qu's main objective: depicting Shu as a cradle of loyal and worthy, chaste and filial men and women.”

May combine two claims.

Ren Yong's recovery of eyesight is presented as miraculous and linked to Han correlative cosmology: when political order was restored, the natural world, including his eyes, was restored.

“Ren Yong's recovery of his eyesight is presented in a miraculous manner, linked to the Han notions of correlative cosmology.Once the affairs in the political world had been restored to normal, the natural world, including Ren Yong's eyes, was also restored to normal.”

May combine two claims.

In Huayang guo zhi's female chastity accounts, women define chastity as loyalty to one husband, a view ahead of the general curve in traditional China.

“In all of these accounts, the women define female chastity as loyalty to one husband-a view that was ahead of the general curve for such views in traditional China.”

• cites Farmer, 'Chastity, Suicide, Art, and History'Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Maintaining the ruse in the face of family tragedy and betrayal required emotional sacrifices.

“however, the need to maintain the ruse in the face of family tragedy and betrayal required emotional sacrifices in order to see through to the end.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

If Gongsun Shu had sent an envoy to pressure Fei Yi, the envoy would have seen a clearly injured and unpresentable man.

“Had Gongsun Shu sent an envoy to pressure Fei Yi (and there is no textual claim that he did), the ruler's agent would have seen a man clearly injured and unpresentable at court.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Chang Qu presents the Shu region as a home to loyal and moral gentlemen willing to suffer rather than serve a usurping ruler.

“Taken as a whole, Chang Qu offers a view of the Shu region as a home to loyal and moral gentlemen, willing to suffer rather than serve a usurping ruler.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Although some did not commit suicide, they are depicted as having suffered physically or emotionally for their resolve.

“Although some did not commit suicide, they are depicted as also having suffered, either physically or emotionally, for their resolve.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable).

Given the formulaic nature of the anecdotes, we should be somewhat skeptical of their details.

“While not completely rejecting the possible historicity of these anecdotes, given their formulaic nature we should be somewhat skeptical of the details of these matters.”

May combine two claims.

After Gongsun Shu took over, Feng Xin declined further summonses by claiming blindness, though Chang Qu does not state this explicitly.

“Afterward, though not explicitly stated in Chang Qu's narrative, he declined additional summonses from Gongsun Shu by claiming to be blind.”

• cites HYGZ 10B.564Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

For Gongsun Shu, vague excuses were taken as falsehoods, while claims of specific medical ailments were accepted.

“For Gongsun Shu, vague excuses appear to have been taken as falsehoods, while claims of specific medical ailments were accepted.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Chang Qu paints Gongsun Shu as one of, if not the, worst rulers of the Shu region.

“In contrast, Chang Qu paints Gongsun Shu as one of, if not the, worst ruler of the Shu region.”

May combine two claims.

Vague or no excuses were insufficient to persuade Gongsun Shu to let worthies remain out of office; only specific medical ailments as excuses allowed summoned individuals to decline.

“In these cases, no excuses or vague excuses were insufficient to sway the ruler into permitting the worthies to remain out of office.Only with the deployment of specific medical ailments as excuses were the summoned individuals allowed to decline appointments.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

If Ren Yong and Feng Xin lost sight when Gongsun Shu illegitimately claimed the throne and regained it after his death, their afflictions and cure were manifestations of Heaven's will.

“If these two men lost their sight when Gongsun Shu illegitimately claimed the throne and mysteriously regained it after his death, then their afflictions and cure were manifestations of the will of Heaven itself.”

May combine two claims.

Early and medieval texts mention two cures for qingmang: ram horn and bathing on the eighth day of the first month.

“Two cures for qingmang are mentioned in early and medieval texts.”

• cites HHS 86.2858Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Chao Yuanfang, Zhubing yuanhou lunNot matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

These acts speak to Gongsun Shu's lack of character, as does the fact that many individuals chose death rather than serve in his illegitimate administration.

“These acts speak to Gongsun Shu's lack of character, as does the fact that many of these individuals chose death rather than serve in his illegitimate administration.”