Lun Wenxu

Lun Wenxu (1467-1513)Lun Wenxu (Chinese: 倫文敘; Cantonese: Leon Man-zeoi; 1467–1513), also known as Lun Wen‑sui and Lun Man‑sui, courtesy name Bozhou (伯疇), style name Yugang (迂岡) , was a native of Nanhai County (南海縣) in Guangdong, present-day Shiwan Town (石灣鎮), Chancheng District (禪城區), Foshan City, Guangdong Province. He was a renowned zhuangyuan (狀元; top scorer in the imperial examinations) and a celebrated man of letters during the Ming dynasty, widely praised as a "ghostly genius" (鬼才) for his extraordinary wit. Though born into poverty, he applied himself diligently to his studies from a young age and displayed literary talent early on. In popular folklore, he is remembered for his quick thinking, humor, and poetic talent, and his legendary contests of wit with Liu Xiankai (柳先開) have been retold for generations.

Life In the 2nd year of the Hongzhi reign (1489 AD; 弘治二年), Lun Wenxu placed 11th in the provincial examination for Guangdong in the jiyou circle (己酉科), earning the degree of juren (舉人). In the 12th year (1499 AD), he ranked first in the metropolitan examination for the jiwei cycle (己未科), becoming the huiyuan (會元, lit. top scorer). In the palace examination, he again took first place in the first class, attaining the title of zhuangyuan (狀元). His examination mentor was Xu Mu (徐穆), and he was appointed Compiler (修撰) in the Hanlin Academy (翰林院). In the 18th year of Hongzhi (May 1505), when the Zhengde Emperor (武宗) ascended the throne, Lun Wenxu was dispatched as chief envoy to announce the new reign to Annam (安南). The following year, while en route, he received news of his father’s death and returned home for mourning.

Family Lun Wenxu’s ancestor Lun Cilu (倫次陸) was originally from Nanxiong Prefecture (南雄州) in the Eastern Circuit of Guangnan (廣南東路) in Song dynasty. He rose to the rank of Rulin Lang (儒林郎), served as Instructor (教諭) of Guangzhou Prefecture in Guangdong, and later moved to Kuigang (魁岡) in Nanhai, present‑day Liyong Village (黎涌村), Shiwanzhen, Foshan. His descendants thereafter became residents of Nanhai.

His grandfather was Lun Yu (倫敔), and his grandmother was of the Pang clan. His father was Lun Ming (倫明), and his mother was of the He clan. Under this household were four sons: Lun Wenxu, Lun Wenjing (倫文敬), Lun Wenfu (倫文敷), and Lun Wenze (倫文澈), with Lun Wenxu being the eldest. Lun Wenxu himself had five sons. The eldest, Lun Yiliang (倫以諒)

The eldest son, Lun Yiliang, placed first in the Guangdong provincial examination (解元; jieyuan) in the bingzi cycle (丙子科) of the 11th year of Zhengde (1516), and later became a jinshi (進士) in the xinsi cycle (辛巳科) of the 16th year (1521 AD). The second son, Lun Yixun, ranked first in the metropolitan examination (會元; huiyuan) in the dingchou cycle (丁丑科) of the 12th year of Zhengde (1517 AD), and in the same year placed second in the first class of the jinshi (榜眼; bangyan). The third son, Lun Yishen, became a jinshi in the wuxu cycle (戊戌科) of the 17th year of Jiajing (1538).

Works Lun Wenxu authored The Yugang Collection (迂岡集) and The Baisha Collection (白沙集), among other writings. 。

Spin-offs

The Gifted Lun Wen‑sui The Gifted Lun Wen‑sui (鬼才倫文叙) is a 1976 Cantonese opera historical comedy-drama film, starring Leung Hon‑wai (梁漢威) as Lun Wen‑sui; Chan Ho-kau (陳好逑), Lam Kar‑sing (林家聲), among others.

The Cunning Hustler The Cunning Hustler (倫文敘與沙三少) is a classic comedy film released in Hong Kong on July 30, 1978. Directed by Wang Feng (王風) and written by Situ An (司徒安), the film revolves around the humorous adventures of its two protagonists, Lun Wenxu and Sha Sanshao. The main cast includes Chan Sze‑ka (陳思佳), Lo Kwok‑hung (盧國雄), Pan Bing‑chang (潘冰嫦), Ho Lin‑tai (何蓮蒂), and Lou Wan‑yin (盧宛茵), among others.

Lun Wenxu outwits Liu Xiankai Lun Wenxu outwits Liu Xiankai (倫文敘智鬥柳先開, 1979) is a film directed by Wang Feng and written by Sita An. In the film, Lun Wenxu (played by Leung Tin, 梁天) and Liu Xiankai (played by Ku Kuan‑chung; 顧冠忠) not only trade wits and barbs, but also become entangled in a number of exaggerated, farcical romantic episodes typical of the era’s comedy style.

The Kung Fu Scholar The Kung Fu Scholar (倫文敘老點柳先開, alt. 流氓狀元) is a 1993 Hong Kong comedy film, starring Dicky Cheung (張衛健) as Lun Wenxu and Aaron Kwok (郭富城) as Liu Xiankai (柳先開). This film is the best‑known cinematic portrayal, depicting their rivalry in the academy and their journey to the capital for the examinations.

Anecdote It is said that one day, Lun Wenxu delivered vegetables to the home of a local gentryman. Impressed by the young man’s talent, the gentryman invited him to compose a poem for his treasured painting—Su Dongpo’s authentic masterpiece Hundred Birds Returning to the Nest. Heaven gives one bird and then another; Three four five six seven eight birds.天生一隻又一隻， 三四五六七八隻。 Those watching were deeply disappointed. The lines seemed plain, lacking elegance or poetic charm.

Lun Wenxu merely smiled at their reaction. Calm and unhurried, he added another couplet: Hundred Birds Returning to the Nest—the word ‘nest’ (巢; Chao) sounds the same as ‘court’ (朝; Chao) [in Chinese]. The whole poem is saying that loyal and virtuous ministers are few, while treacherous officials dominate the court, draining the people’s wealth until they can no longer survive.百鳥歸巢圖，巢、朝字同音，整篇文意是說，忠良賢士不多，奸佞當朝，搜括民脂民膏，以致民不聊生。 As for the earlier lines—"Heaven gives one bird and then another; three four five six seven eight birds"—what did they mean?

The answer lay in arithmetic: "One bird and then another" is 2 birds; "three four" means 3 times 4, equal to 12; "five six" means 5 times 6, equal to 30; "seven eight" means 7 times 8, equal to 56. And add them altogether is 100 — the exact number of birds in Su Dongpo’s Hundred Birds painting.

At this, everyone suddenly understood and praised him with raised thumbs, marveling at the brilliance of the poem.