A Probe into the View of Talent in Records of Personages

In Recordsof Personages, the writer LIU Shao explains human nature with“materials”. And Yin-yang and five elements determine a man’s talent. His nine external characteristics can show people’s different talent of natural endow- ment. Only the people in high status have various abilities and can distinguish and recommend others with such abilities and particular talent. Family tradition exerts certain influence on the talent’s official career. The book has accepted the thoughts of Confucianism, Taoism, legalism and logicians. In addition, it has some summary of people’s life experience by the writer which aims to find solutions to some practical problems.