"Liu Hou Lun" is a historical essay mainly based on discussion, not a travelogue.
Introduction to "Lun on Liuhou":
"Lun on Liuhou" is a historical essay mainly focused on discussion. "Lun on Liuhou" is one of the representative works of Su Shi's early essays, and it also embodies the style of Su Shi's early essays. This style means that the arguments are surprisingly groundless, and the writing has the momentum of a political strategist.
Travel writing is a literary style that records travel, and "On Liuhou" is an essay written by Su Shi based on "The Family of Liuhou" in Sima Qian's "Historical Records". It is a historical essay, not a travelogue. .
Content summary:
In this article, Su Shi put forward a different explanation from his predecessors on why Zhang Liang was able to assist Liu Bang in pacifying the world. The author overthrows the old theory and does not comprehensively evaluate Zhang Liang's life and achievements, but only discusses the subjective and fundamental reasons for his success - his extraordinary ability to "endure".
The author points out that the old man Qianshang was a "hidden gentleman" in the Qin Dynasty. Seeing that Zhang Liang was talented but insufficient, he deliberately humiliated Zhang Liang and knocked off his youthful spirit, making him "able to endure." ". Later, Zhang Liang used this to influence Liu Bang, and Liu Bang was able to "endure small anger and pursue big plans", and finally established the Han Dynasty.
The article attributes Liu Bang's victory and Xiang Yu's defeat only to tolerance and intolerance, which is not comprehensive, but it emphasizes the importance of using strategies and waiting for opportunities in the struggle, which is reasonable.
The writing background and author's introduction of "Liuhou Lun":
Writing background:
This article is written by Su Shi in the sixth year of Jiayou (1061). One of the twenty-five chapters of "Jin Lun" written during the examination. He was twenty-five years old at the time. Since he was seeking an official position and showing his talents to the emperor and examiners, his style was highly targeted and it was one of the representative works of Su Shi's youth.
About the author:
Su Shi (1037-1101), courtesy name Zizhan and Dongpo Jushi, was a writer, calligrapher, gourmet and painter in the Northern Song Dynasty. Su Shi was a literary leader in the mid-Northern Song Dynasty and made great achievements in poetry, lyrics, prose, calligraphy, and painting. The writing is vertical and unbridled; the subject matter of the poem is broad, fresh and vigorous, good at using exaggerated metaphors, and has a unique style. Together with Huang Tingjian, he is also known as "Su Huang".
Ci Kai belongs to the bold and unrestrained school, and together with Xin Qiji, he is a representative of the bold school, and is also called "Su Xin"; his prose writings are grand and bold, and he is called "Ou Su" together with Ouyang Xiu, and is one of the "Eight Great Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties" one. Su Shi was good at calligraphy and one of the "Four Masters of the Song Dynasty". He was good at literati painting, especially ink bamboo, strange rocks, dead wood, etc.