才得以拜入师门 朱夫子可是文典博士
“you curried favor with a fellow villager of Master Zhu to secure admission. Master Zhu is a literary authority.”
THE DIALOGUE REEL
当初在扬州 杨执事托朱夫子的同乡
“Back in Yangzhou, you curried favor with a fellow villager of Master Zhu to secure admission.”
才得以 拜入师门 朱夫子 可是 文典博士
“you curried favor with a fellow villager of Master Zhu to secure admission. Master Zhu is a literary authority.”
“Would he lie just to claim a relationship with you?”
“Entering his tutelage was an enormous privilege; his reputation is undisputed.”
In imperial China, entering the tutelage of high-ranking scholar-officials was essential not just for learning, but for building crucial political patronage and social capital.
LEARNING CHUNKS & PARTICLES
only then was one able to; only through this could one
A formal grammatical connective indicating that an opportunity was achieved only after fulfilling a difficult condition.
to formally enter someone's tutelage / become an apprentice
A traditional, respectful phrase referring to formal discipleship under an esteemed teacher or master.
