After a short stint as a goat herder, he went to a private school at the Mawang Temple in Yangfu and studied under Mr. Diwu. In 1889, he returned with his aunt to Sanyuan and entered the school of Mao Banxiang, under whom he began to study archaic and modern forms of poetry. On occasion, he also had the chance to read a few poems by such Southern Song patriots as Wen Tianxiang and .
After a brief period as a goat herder, he attended a private school at the Mawang Temple in Yangfu and studied under Mr. Diwu. In 1889, he returned home with his aunt and enrolled in the school of Mao Banxiang, where he began studying poetry, including both ancient and modern forms. He also had the opportunity to read some poems by Southern Song patriots like Wen Tianxiang.