During the Cultural Revolution, Wu Xun was labeled as a “traitor of the working people.” In the summer of 1966, Red Guards in Guan County, Shandong, smashed open Wu Xun’s tomb, destroyed his statue, and paraded his coffin through the streets. His bones were shattered by hammers and, along with the coffin, were ultimately burned to ashes. A unique character through the ages was reduced to smoke and ashes.
A legend among us
We have heard many legendary stories, but some legends are replicable while others are unique and irreplaceable. Wu Xun was often referred to as the “first unique beggar in history” because he was the only beggar to be honored with a memorial and an official biography.
By today’s standards, it’s no exaggeration to say that Wu Xun could have qualified for the Nobel Peace Prize. There’s no one quite like him in the world. If you ask me to choose a perfect combination of tenacity and great ideals, I would choose Wu Xun. Yet, this extraordinary and unique “beggar” was ultimately destroyed in China.
Wu Xun’s profession: Begging
Wu Xun, originally named Wu Qi, was a native of Tangyi County in Shandong during the Guangxu reign. A professional beggar by trade, he devoted his life to this occupation until his death. Starting his begging career at the age of 21 and continuing until he fell ill and died at 59, Wu Xun was a “beggar” for a full 38 years. It is rare to find individuals like Wu Xun in reality, who truly treat begging not just as a desperate choice forced on them by life’s circumstances, but as a technical profession.
To make himself more eye-catching, he cut off his braid, leaving only a small tuft on his forehead, dressing himself like a clown from a play. Appearance alone was not enough; he also performed. Wu Xun was particularly adept at storytelling and singing, capable of improvising songs to make people laugh based on the situation. He even performed feats like body piercing with an awl, akin to a traveling street performer. To evoke sympathy and generosity from the onlookers, he would even offer himself as a mount for others to ride, presenting himself for others’ amusement
In his travels, Wu Xun also took short-term labor jobs, all to earn more money. Over 30 years, he amassed a considerable fortune, making others wonder why a beggar would work so hard to save money.
A life that led to begging
Wu Xun was the youngest of seven siblings, raised in poverty after his father’s death. When he was 15, his mother found him work through acquaintances, sending him to his distant uncle Zhang Bianzheng’s home in Guantao County to become a servant. Wu Xun was responsible for tending the orchard and feeding the pigs.
Zhang Bianzheng was an unequivocal scoundrel. Not only did he regularly bully and beat Wu Xun, but he also withheld wages. Knowing that Wu Xun was illiterate, he fabricated an account book and tricked him into signing it. In this way, Wu Xun worked for three years without receiving a penny. On paper, he even ended up owing a debt. When he argued, Wu Xun was falsely accused of “fraud” and was savagely beaten until he foamed at the mouth, resulting in a severe illness. This illness completely changed his life.
Ordinary people who suffer such injustice and indescribable agony may either become bitter and vengeful, silently endure, or, in rare cases, turn resentment into great compassion, seeking to help others instead of themselves. Wu Xun was the latter type of person. He felt that the deception and fraud he suffered were due to his illiteracy and lack of education, leading him to appreciate the importance of education deeply. In his profound pain, he formed a grand vow to raise funds for schooling. In his words, it was to “enable them to study even without money, so that after learning to read, they could no longer be deceived by others.” But what could a penniless and illiterate man like him use to fulfill this vow?
A dream realized through begging
At 21, Wu Xun decided to beg to fulfill his dream. Despite his family’s strong opposition, he persisted, spending over 30 years begging across various provinces. Though people considered him mad for constantly talking about “free schools,” some were inspired by his grand vision.
After communicating with Wu Xun, Yang Shufang, a local landowner was moved by his ambition. Yang Shufang promised to help Wu Xun save and manage his finances; help him buy land and make some profit so that Wu Xun’s hard-earned income was not only guaranteed, but also continued to increase in value.
Birth of the “free schools”
In 1888, Wu Xun was already 50 years old. Without a wife or children, all alone, he had been begging for exactly 30 years. This man, who appeared like a clown, ate leftover food, and lived in ruined temples, was in reality the owner of 230 acres of land and had amassed 3,800 taels of silver. This wealth was equivalent to the holdings of a large landowner at the time. Many people coveted this fortune, including Wu Xun’s relatives. But not a single person could persuade Wu Xun to part with it.
That year, with the assistance of the local gentry, Wu Xun finally took the first step toward realizing his dream. He exhausted his savings to establish the first charitable school just outside the east gate of Liulin town in Tangyi County, naming it “Chongxian Free School.”
Once the school was built, he went to the homes of local scholars, including those who had passed the imperial examinations, to kneel and beg them to teach. He also went to the homes of impoverished families, imploring them on his knees to send their children to school. That year, more than 50 students were enrolled, with tuition fully waived, and the expenses for running the school were funded by the income from his own land. The fame of the “free school” began to spread from mouth to mouth.
Three years later, Monk Liaozheng from Yang Erzhuang village in neighboring Guantao County, upon hearing Wu Xun’s story and moved by his great compassion, donated his incense money and part of the temple’s property, teaming up with Wu Xun to found the second charitable school — the “Yang Erzhuang Free School” in Guantao.
Assistance from the governor and recognition by the emperor
After three more years passed, Yu De, the Minister of Education, came to Shandong to inspect educational affairs and, upon hearing the story of the free schools, donated 200 taels of silver to Wu Xun. With additional support from some local landowners, Wu Xun founded the third free school in Linqing County — the Yushi Xiang Free School.
For this reason, Zhang Yao, the Governor of Shandong, specially summoned Wu Xun, exempting the free schools from land taxes and labor services, and further donated 200 taels of silver, all as a lesson to the world. After reporting to the Qing court, the emperor himself bestowed upon him a plaque with the inscription “Joy in Kindness, Fond of Charity,” and honored him with the title “Righteous Founder of Free Schools.”
See Part 2 here.
Translated by Chua BC
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