Dongfang Shuo’s Self-Recommended Memorial: The Art of Self-Marketing for Han Dynasty Strategists

Introduction

"Dongfang Shuo Submitting a Memorial to Recommend Himself" is a highly dramatic episode in the Biographies of Dongfang Shuo from the Book of Han (Hanshu). It serves as a classic case study of how literati in the Han Dynasty gained access to the core of power. When Dongfang Shuo first arrived in Chang'an to meet Emperor Wu (Liu Che), he did not directly seek employment. Instead, he submitted a "sealed memorial" exceeding 3,000 characters. This document not only showcased his literary talent but also employed unique rhetorical strategies to probe the emperor's psychological state. Ultimately, it bypassed the conventional system of official recommendation, securing him an audience with the emperor.

Core Concepts

1. The Psychological Game of Political Marketing
Dongfang Shuo’s memorial was not merely a display of talent; it was a meticulously designed psychological strategy. In the text, he described himself as having a "height of seven chi [approx. 1.5m] and a shadow of ten chi [approx. 2.1m]"* (Note: This is a hyperbolic expression used for humor). Using humor and exaggeration, he piqued Emperor Wu’s curiosity. This bold, unapologetic self-presentation was intended to create differentiation among the court officials, leveraging the emperor’s taste for novelty to break through the existing bureaucratic vetting mechanisms.

2. Positioning as an "Intelligence Advisor"
In the memorial, Dongfang Shuo did not emphasize specific administrative competence. Instead, he focused on showcasing his encyclopedic knowledge and oratorical skills. This reflected the demand for ministers who were "humorous and intelligent" during Emperor Wu’s reign. In his later years, Emperor Wu sought to break free from the constraints of Confucian orthodoxy. He needed advisors who could deconstruct serious political discourse and provide diverse perspectives. Dongfang Shuo positioned this capability as his key selling point.

3. Transmission and Preservation of the Text
The full text of this memorial is included in the Book of Han, making it an important sample for studying the genre of memorials (shangshu) in the Han Dynasty. It broke from the tradition established since the Qin Dynasty, where memorials were typically brief policy suggestions. Dongfang Shuo pioneered a style combining long-form self-narrative, lyrical expression, and argumentation, which exerted a profound influence on the writing styles of strategists (ce literati) in subsequent generations.

Connection to the Content of the Book of Han

In the Biographies of Dongfang Shuo within the Book of Han, this event marks a crucial turning point in the narrative. Prior to this, the text detailed Dongfang Shuo’s early years of traveling to various regions without being recognized or employed, laying the groundwork for his background of unfulfilled talent. After the memorial was submitted, Emperor Wu opened and read it. Although he found the language frivolous, he appreciated the author’s brilliance and summoned him for an audience.

The text subsequently describes Dongfang Shuo’s "wild and unruly" demeanor when meeting the Emperor, such as responding to serious court matters with "humor and jests." This plot point not only enriches the character’s image but also reflects Ban Gu, the author of the Book of Han, with profound insight into the political ecology of the Han Dynasty: In Emperor Wu’s court, there were pragmatic generals like Wei Qing and Huo Qubing, but also sycophantic ministers like Dongfang Shuo who served the emperor through words and wit.

Through the node of "submitting a self-recommended memorial," the Book of Han illustrates how individual talent could seek survival space within the structure of imperial power. Although Dongfang Shuo ultimately did not obtain high office or thick rewards, serving mostly as a Gentleman of the Household (Guanglu), his actions broke the rigid paths of social mobility. He became a typical paradigm of how Han Dynasty intellectual elites intervened in politics through text and charisma. For modern readers, understanding this historical detail helps in grasping the complex and subtle interactive relationship between Han Dynasty scholars and imperial power.