Why are the ancient literati's behavior of "seclusion in the countryside" influenced by mainstream values?

Confucius said, Tao can't be done, but fork can float in the sea. In the traditional Confucian society, retiring from the world and pursuing noble interests are deeply affirmed by mainstream values.

The highest life ideal of traditional scholars is always to "level the world" and put their accumulated thoughts and wisdom into practice to save the world and help the people. If people are ungrateful, or the times are difficult and turbulent, and their ideals cannot be realized, then a gentleman should not pursue fame and fortune, but should retire and safeguard his personal dignity.

The retirement of scholars also includes another consideration: in traditional society, if a person has good knowledge, he can often become famous after seclusion, attract the attention of rulers for a long time, and then get the opportunity to be reused. Such examples are common in history.

Most of the traditional intellectuals in China are aggressive when they are proud, and practice the ideal of "cultivating oneself, governing the country and leveling the world" put forward by Confucianism, and regard Tao Yuanming and Lin Bu as spiritual confidants when they are frustrated. There are very few hermits who really break away from fame and fortune and settle in the countryside ~