Table of contents : Contents Acknowledgments A Note on Transliteration Introduction Reading Wang Ji 1 .Wang Ji and Sui-Tang Literati Culture 2. The Recluse as Philosopher 3 .The Recluse as Farmer-Scholar 4. The Recluse as Drunkard 5. “You Beishan fu” and the Problem of Knowing Conclusion The Idealization of the Recluse Notes Bibliography Index Index of Titles in English Index of Titles in Chinese