Investigative Study on the Birth and Death Years of Wu Zhongfan,a Survivor from Central Guizhou,and His Entry into Wu Sangui's Service
During the late Ming and early Qing dynasties,the historical records of Wu Zhongfan,a poet from the remnant population of central Guizhou,are relatively sparse.His family genealogy was discovered later,leading to some scholarly disagreements regarding his life.Through verification,it has been established that he was born in 1618 and died in 1696,living to the age of 78.Wu Zhongfan served in the court of Wu Sangui and is noted for refusing an offer from Wu Shifan by breaking an inkstone,only to repair it later to maintain his scholarly integrity.His poetic achievements have earned him the title of master craftsman of central Guizhou,and he is recognized as an outstanding representative of cultural heritage in the Guizhou region,often praised as a lost pearl of the heavens.