Recognizing "Recluses" (yinshi 隱士) in 7th–14th Century China

In 7th–14th century China, reclusion was broadly accepted as a praiseworthy alternative lifestyle for respectable “gentlemen” (shi 士) who sought to disengage with worldly affairs, cultivate themselves, and find pleasure in living rustic lives. These consistent features made the “recluse” (yinshi 隱士) an easily recognizable social role; however, this did not mean that individuals were easily able to recognize a “recluse” when encountering one in person. “Recluses” often wore rustic clothing, and engaged in activities like farming and fishing that were traditionally understood to be defining traits of lower-status categories like “farmers” (nong 農) and “fishermen” (yuren 漁人, yufu 漁父, etc.); as a result, observers of these men sometimes felt uncertain about what kind of person they were observing. The decisions they made were consequential, not only because they affirmed or denied individuals’ identities, but also because it was more beneficial for men to be categorized as an esteemed “recluse” than it was to be categorized as a rustic commoner. The problem of recognizing “recluses” thus serves as a valuable focal point for studying historical modes of social classification and their consequences. To consciously or unconsciously present oneself as a “recluse,” and be perceived that way by others, men drew from repertories of norms, behaviors, values, worldviews, objects, and manners of speaking, which served as signals of a “recluse” identity when displayed to others. However, these signals did not guarantee that observers would categorize men as “recluses:” some signals were stronger than others; some were also associated with other social categories; some were more or less effective when showcased in different moments and social contexts. By examining the display and interpretation of “recluse” identity signals among “mountains and waterways” (shanshui 山水) and “fields and gardens” (tianyuan 田園), this article offers an understanding of the processes of social categorization that shaped senses of self and other in 7th–14th century China.