The Escapes of Yuan Hongdao

Thanks to Reader B for sending us this from the Globe & Mail.

Like employees today, [workers] of the 16th century felt pressure to be perpetually productive as state officials who faced crushing workloads and operated under performance reviews that were similar to modern-day key performance indicators, or KPIs.

Urgh. But:

In response, they found small, personal ways to rebel against toxic workplaces, such as focusing on nature and enjoying simple acts such as sipping tea.

Hooray!

And in particular:

Yuan Hongdao, a state official who became a popular writer during the Ming dynasty, is a centuries-old version of what would now be considered a quiet quitter … There are records of him attempting to resign from his position seven times, sometimes faking illness … He was believed to be successful in three of his attempts. Why was he so determined? Yuan wanted to travel around what is now Eastern China, spending his time writing poetry or essays, painting and meeting with people in literary circles. His goal was idleness … Taking time, not to be lazy, but to be unproductive.

Thank you, Reader B, for introducing us to the admirably slippery poet Yuan Hongdao.

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