Dai Zhen (戴震)
Dai Zhen (1724–1777), Anhui scholar and philologist, combined rigorous textual criticism, phonology and naturalist philosophy.
- Birth
- 1724-01-19 12:00 · Xiuning, Anhui, Qing China
- Gender
- Male
- Time Source
- AI inferred
Birth Time Verification
Core Analysis
The useful way to read Dai Zhen's chart is to start with Gui Mao (Gui Water Mao), Yi Chou (Yi Wood Chou), Ji Si (Ji Earth Si), Geng Wu (Geng Metal Wu) and then follow the public record year by year. The strongest clues are linguist, evidential scholar, thinker, Wan-school evidential learning, Ji Earth Day Master. They give the page a concrete BaZi angle instead of a loose personality sketch.
The chart is not treated as a slogan. Each major event in the timeline keeps its luck pillar and annual pillar, so the reading can show where pressure, support, movement, reputation or resource changes were being activated.
For the final year, the note looks at the luck-year pressure on the original chart and the body-related branches, which is the traditional BaZi way to discuss life-span risk with restraint.
Traits
Main drive
Read through linguist and evidential scholar, this trait shows how the person moves when pressure appears.
Expression
thinker gives the page a way to read voice, skill, style and public expression.
Resource use
Wan-school evidential learning points to how talent becomes work, reputation, money or practical influence.
Pressure point
Ji Earth Day Master is the place to watch for overwork, conflict, loss or a hard turn in the timeline.
Timeline
Each year shows the event, luck pillar, annual pillar, relations, and interpretation for direct comparison.
A Youth Challenges Authority, Questioning the Sages
At just ten years old, while reading "The Great Learning Annotations," he raised a fundamental challenge to Zhu Xi's commentary: "Zhou Dynasty was a thousand years removed from the Song Dynasty, how could Zhu Xi know?" This demonstrated independent thinking and critical spirit beyond his years.
Following His Father to Nanfeng, Beginning His Teaching Career
At eighteen, Dai Zhen followed his merchant father to reside in Nanfeng, Jiangxi, and began teaching local children there, marking the start of his early teaching practice.
Meeting a Great Mentor at Busu Garden, Laying the Scholarly Foundation
He met the great phonology master Jiang Yong at Busu Garden in She County. Although there was no formal master-disciple relationship, he was deeply influenced by Jiang's academic thought and methodology, laying a solid foundation for his future as a great scholar.
Completion of 'Chesuan', A Glimpse of Brilliance
He completed the mathematical work "Chesuan" in one volume, marking an important early achievement in his exploration of natural sciences and demonstrating exceptional logical thinking and academic potential.
'Kaogongji Tuzhu': A Brilliant Achievement in the Study of Artifacts and Institutions
Dai Zhen completed "Kaogongji Tuzhu" (Illustrated Commentary on the Artificers' Record), combining ancient craft systems with mathematical knowledge, showcasing his exceptional textual research and artifact study abilities. It was an important early achievement in his academic career.
Seeking Refuge in the Capital, Talent First Recognized
Due to powerful clansmen seizing ancestral graves and false accusations, he was forced to leave home and seek refuge in Beijing, temporarily residing at the She County Guild Hall. In this predicament, he fortunately met the future great scholar Qian Daxin and was praised as a 'genius of the world' for his talent, changing the course of his life.
Forming a Bond in the Capital, Meeting a Literary Master
In the summer of the 20th year of the Qianlong reign, Dai Zhen first met Ji Yun (Ji Xiaolan) in the capital, and they became fast friends. Thereafter, Dai Zhen visited the capital multiple times, always staying at Ji Yun's residence. Their mutual scholarly encouragement deepened their friendship, making them lifelong close friends and academic confidants.
Invited as a Tutor, Enlightening a Future Master
Invited by Minister of Rites Wang Anguo, he served as a tutor in his residence, teaching his son Wang Niansun the classics. Wang Niansun later became a representative figure of the Qian-Jia School and a famous philologist, making this teacher-student relationship a celebrated academic story.
Forming a Bond in Yangzhou, Guided by a Classics Master
At the office of Lu Wenchao, the Salt Transport Commissioner of Lianghuai in Yangzhou, he met Hui Dong, the master of the Wu School of Classical Studies. This meeting greatly expanded his academic horizons and promoted academic exchange and intellectual collision between the Wan and Wu schools.
Success After Hardship, Passing the Provincial Examination
After experiencing multiple failures in the imperial examinations, he finally passed the provincial examination (Juren) this year, the only success in his examination career, achieving a major breakthrough in life.
A Decade of Refinement: Embarking on the Collation of 'Shui Jing Zhu'
Starting from the 30th year of the Qianlong reign (1765), he began systematically collating Li Daoyuan's Northern Wei work "Shui Jing Zhu" (Commentary on the Water Classic), determined to supplement omissions, delete errors, and restore the original text, embarking on a ten-year monumental scholarly project of textual collation.
Literary Star Shines, Compiling Gazetteers with True Skill
Invited by Provincial Administration Commissioner Zhu Gui of Shanxi, after completing the "Fenzhou Prefecture Gazetteer," he continued to lead the compilation of the "Fenyang County Gazetteer." His profound knowledge and rigorous scholarly attitude shone brilliantly in the field of local gazetteers.
Intellectual Breakthrough After Failure: Completing the Draft of 'Xuyan' in Eastern Zhejiang
After failing the metropolitan examination, he went to lecture in eastern Zhejiang. In the same year, he devoted himself to writing and completed "Xuyan," the precursor to "Mengzi Ziyi Shuzheng" (Evidential Analysis of the Meanings of Terms in Mencius), beginning to systematically criticize Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism and laying an important cornerstone for his philosophical system.
Summoned to the Academy, Leading the Compilation of 'Siku Quanshu'
Recommended by Ji Yun and upon Yu Minzhong's petition, Emperor Qianlong specially summoned him as a Compilation Official for the "Siku Quanshu" (Complete Library of the Four Treasuries). From then on, he entered the core of national scholarship, leading the great undertaking of compiling the literary tradition.
Exceptional Palace Examination, Honored as a Hanlin Bachelor
Relying on his profound academic reputation, he obtained exceptional qualification to participate in the palace examination. Ultimately, he was granted the title of "Tong Jinshi Chushen" and appointed as a Hanlin Bachelor (Shujishi), marking the official recognition of his academic achievements by the authorities.
1777: Dai Zhen's key year
This year is kept in the timeline because it is a meaningful public milestone in Dai Zhen's life.
FAQ
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