Foreword The two Jin Dynasties were a period of turmoil and war in the history of our country. In the long-term turbulent confrontation with each other, on the one hand, the social and economic order was severely damaged, on the other hand, literature and art miraculously prospered and developed. Therefore, just like the Three Kingdoms era when heroes emerged from troubled times, the Jin and Jin Dynasties never lacked celebrities. Speaking of celebrities in the Jin Dynasty, in addition to Liu Kun, the passionate young man who made great achievements in the military field in ""Wen Ji Qi Dan"", and Tao Yuanming, one of the literary giants who wrote the popular ""Peach Blossom Spring"", there is another person who is also famous in our country. He is a household name, and his works have been regarded as peerless treasures by all dynasties. From wealthy businessmen to emperors and ministers, they have been obsessed with them and highly praised them. Yes, this man wrote the eternally famous "Preface to the Lanting Collection". Wang Xizhi, known as the "Sage of Calligraphy". △"Sage of Calligraphy", the dovish politician Wang Xizhi. But in my opinion, the birth of the Lanting Collection Preface is actually an unexpected derivative of Wang Xizhi's officialdom and political frustration. Why do you say that? Let me tell you slowly. 1. Xian Yi: The talented man Wang Xizhi came from a prominent family in the Eastern Jin Dynasty. When he was young, Wang Xizhi showed amazing talent in calligraphy. When he grew up, he became famous for his free and elegant calligraphy, which was very admirable. The best in ancient and modern times, commentators say that his writing style is as floating as a floating cloud and as powerful as a startling dragon - "Book of Jin·Biography of Wang Xizhi" Wang Xizhi, who came from a wealthy family, was talented and famous, and soon attracted the attention of those in power. As the saying goes, " "Those who excel in learning will become officials." He was recruited as a soldier of the general Yu Liang. Yu Liang was particularly optimistic about this young man, so before his death, he recommended Wang Xizhi as the governor of Jiangzhou. From then on, the imperial court recruited him to Beijing for important positions. They were all rejected by him repeatedly. △The beautiful scenery in the south of the Yangtze River often called him as a minister, and he was not the official minister. - "Book of Jin·Biography of Wang Xizhi" In this regard, Yin Hao, the governor of Yangzhou, also wrote a letter out of his respect for Wang Xizhi. Wang Xizhi advised Wang Xizhi to accept the appointment of the imperial court. After reading the letter, Wang Xizhi replied: "I have never been interested in becoming an official in the imperial court." Therefore, when Prime Minister Wang wanted me to serve in the palace, I refused on oath. Therefore, my repeated failure was not just a whim and a pretense. "" "Even so, I still have the ambition of my family and my country and want to serve the imperial court." If I am asked to go as an envoy to Guanlong and Bashu, I will not hesitate to do so even if the road is dangerous." ...If driven, Guanlong and Bashu will not hesitate." - "Book of Jin·Biography of Wang Xizhi" 2. Political views: Rational doves - Opposition to the Northern Expedition The above letter actually implies Wang Xizhi's political views: he hopes to do it personally To appease all parties through diplomatic means, rather than a bloody war with swords and swords, △In ancient times, fighting for political purposes was Wang Xizhi’s consistent pursuit to strive for a stable external environment and secure development of domestic economy and politics. . Therefore, when faced with the discord among imperial officials and the endless wars against various northern regimes, Wang Xizhi expressed his advice and worries deeply in his letters: At that time, Yin Hao and Huan Wen were not in harmony, and Xizhi believed that the security of the country lies in internal harmony. , because he used Hao Shu to warn him - "Book of Jin·Biography of Wang Xizhi" Yin Hao turned a deaf ear. When Wang Xizhi came to the first northern expedition, he also learned about it and persuaded him to give up the military operation with emotion and reason. Yin Hao still refused. As expected, the Jin army returned in defeat. Not long after, the unwilling General Yin organized the second Northern Expedition. After receiving the news, Wang Xizhi could no longer sit still. This time, he wrote a lengthy letter. He bluntly pointed out the various problems faced by the Eastern Jin Dynasty, hoping that the former would return to its lost ways: ① He pointed out that the powerful internal and external officials in the court had extremely improper attitudes towards politics, and lacked long-term planning and foresight in doing things. Not only that, but they also engaged in intrigues. Each has his or her own little-known plan: Since the rebellion, those who have been appointed internally and externally have not thought far and comprehensively, but have exhausted their roots and followed their own ambitions - "Book of Jin·Biography of Wang Xizhi" This has led to this. What are the serious consequences? △Jiangnan Misty Rain first of all wasted time, energy, money, manpower and material resources but failed to accomplish anything decent: There is no achievement to be judged and nothing to be recorded - "Book of Jin·Biography of Wang Xizhi".
②The rulers are arrogant, self-willed, and self-righteous, blocking their own opinions, thereby pushing the country into a dangerous situation. For this reason, ""meat eaters" must bear leadership responsibility for this: If loyal advice and advice are discarded and not used, the world will collapse... Those who do nothing will have no responsibility for the world - "Book of Jin" ·The Biography of Wang Xizhi" ③The country's military strength has become weak due to years of war, and the lack of supplies has further led to a decline in combat effectiveness and control: Today's army is defeated externally and its resources are exhausted internally, and its ambition to protect the Huaihe River is out of reach...Since then Beyond the Yangtze River, there is only Jisi - "Book of Jin·Biography of Wang Xi" ④The results of military operations are unpredictable and the road is difficult, and military supplies are difficult to achieve: today's success is not expected...it has been difficult to transport supplies from thousands of miles away since ancient times. Shu Luo Xu - "Book of Jin·Biography of Wang Xizhi" ⑤ Corruption in officialdom, enriching the public and private pockets has become the norm: Warehouse supervisors have stolen official rice, and thousands of dollars have been stolen... all the counties near the inspection school -. "The Book of Jin: The Biography of Wang Xizhi" ⑥The taxes and servitudes of the imperial court were heavy, and harsh government was rampant, and the people were in dire straits: The imperial court imposed heavy taxes and levies, especially in Wu Hui...the people were in exile, and their household registrations were decreasing day by day - "The Book of Jin: The Biography of Wang Xizhi" After finishing the question, he continued to explain. The solution: Rest with the people, abolish tyranny, shrink defenses, quell wars, and pay full attention to the current thorny problems in the country: think about establishing a peaceful government, remove its burdens, and reduce taxes and servitude...temporarily abolish the emptiness of the future to save the country. The urgent situation - "Book of Jin: Biography of Wang Xizhi". Some of the quotes here are for Yin Hao, the governor of Yangzhou, and some are for Sima Yu, the king of Kuaiji (later Emperor Jian Wen) and the powerful minister Xie An. These heartfelt remarks failed to attract enough attention from the top management. Xie An, a powerful official in the Eastern Jin Dynasty who later organized and led the "Battle of Feishui", was not surprised. He hoped that the domestic politics would be harmonious, active defense, and efforts to develop, and Xu was seeking for the future. His political policy also determined that Wang Xizhi was an out-and-out dove in politics. Although this kind of dove was not a sign of weakness, nor was it a traitor to ceding territory and paying compensation, but it stemmed from his long-term exposure to local affairs. Although this idea was a rare ray of calmness in the frantic war mood of the entire core ruling class of the Eastern Jin Dynasty at that time, it was contrary to the mainstream consciousness of the country, so no one bothered to adopt it. It makes sense. Perhaps it was because he had been suppressed by the northern minority regime for too long since the founding of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. In August, as the Hou Zhao regime fell into the abyss of internal and external troubles, the rulers of the Eastern Jin Dynasty began to impatiently put the initiative of the Northern Expedition on the empire's military agenda in an edict: ...In the matter of the Central Plains, more efforts should be made - "Book of Jin: The Chronicles of Emperor Kangxi" Objectively speaking, this period was indeed the best period for the external environment of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. There were constant internal strife in the rear of the powerful enemy Zhao and fighting on the east and west fronts. The Li regime in the southwest was also trapped in the quagmire of fighting for power and profit, but the result was that it was difficult to extricate itself. What? During the seven Northern Expeditions in the ten years from 349 to 359, the Eastern Jin Dynasty did not actually gain much advantage, and even lost more than it won. Although everything Wang Xizhi said was reasonable, it was ignored and ignored, which undoubtedly increased the frustration of the arrogant Wang Xizhi in the political arena. △The best running script in the world: Preface to the Lanting Collection So he finally chose to live in seclusion without caring about worldly affairs. In the spring of the ninth year of Taihe (953 AD) of Emperor Mu of the Jin Dynasty, after struggling to speak several times to no avail, the depressed Wang Xizhi and his friends wrote an eternal masterpiece while traveling in the beautiful Kuaiji. Lanting's preface, known as "the best running script in the world": Xizhi wrote his own preface to express his ambition - "Book of Jin·Biography of Wang Xizhi". With the ambition of civilization. What ambition? No longer the ambition of being an official! In November of the same year, Yin Hao, who did not listen to the advice, returned in defeat again, but this time what happened to Wang Xizhi, who was in love with the leisurely landscape? I am Jiantang Fengyan in History. It is not easy to be original, and it is even harder to write. Friends who like it may like it. Collect, forward, comment and follow