The four great poets of the Southern Song Dynasty are also known as the four great poets of the Zhongxing Dynasty.
1. Lu You
Lu You (1125-1210), named Wuguan, nicknamed Fangweng, Han nationality, a native of Shanyin, Yuezhou (now Shaoxing, Zhejiang), Minister Youcheng The grandson of Lu Dian, a writer, historian and patriotic poet in the Southern Song Dynasty. One of the "Four Great ZTE Poets" in the Southern Song Dynasty.
Lu You was born when the Northern Song Dynasty was destroyed, and he was deeply influenced by his family's patriotism when he was young. During the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Song Dynasty, he participated in the examination of the Ministry of Rites, but his official career was not smooth because he was rejected by Qin Hui.
After Emperor Xiaozong of the Song Dynasty came to the throne, he was granted a Jinshi background and served successively as the registrar of Ningde County in Fuzhou, the official of the imperial edict, and the general magistrate of Longxing Prefecture. Because of his persistence in resisting the Jin Dynasty, he was repeatedly rejected by the Zhuhe faction.
In the seventh year of Qiandao (1171), at the invitation of Sichuan Xuanfu envoy Wang Yan, he joined the army and served in the Nanzheng shogunate. The following year, the shogunate was dissolved, and Lu You was ordered to enter Shu, where he became acquainted with Fan Chengda. After Emperor Guangzong of the Song Dynasty succeeded to the throne, he was promoted to be a doctor in the Ministry of Rites and a reviewer of the Academy of Records. Soon after, he was dismissed from office and returned to his hometown for "mocking and chanting the wind and moon".
In the second year of Jiatai (1202), Emperor Ningzong of the Song Dynasty ordered Lu You to go to Beijing and take charge of the compilation of Xiaozong and Guangzong's "Records of the Two Dynasties" and "History of the Three Dynasties". The official went to Baozhang Pavilion to prepare it. After the book was completed, Lu You lived in seclusion in Shanyin for a long time. He passed away in the second year of Jiading (1210) and left his last work "Shi'er".
2. Yang Wanli
Yang Wanli (October 29, 1127 - June 15, 1206), named Tingxiu and Chengzhai. A native of Jishui, Jizhou (now Kuantang Village, Huangqiao Town, Jishui County, Jiangxi Province).
A famous poet and minister in the Southern Song Dynasty, together with Lu You, You Miao and Fan Chengda, are known as the "Four Great Poets of the Zhongxing Dynasty". Because Song Guangzong once personally wrote the word "Chengzhai" to him, scholars called him "Mr. Chengzhai".
In the twenty-fourth year of Shaoxing (1154), Yang Wanli became a Jinshi and served in the four dynasties of Song Dynasty: Gaozong, Xiaozong, Guangzong, and Ningzong. He served as Doctor of the State, Guangdong Tidian Prison, Prince's Attendant, and Secretary. He held the post of supervisor and other positions, and was promoted to Baomo Pavilion as a bachelor, and was granted the title of Marquis of the founding of Luling County. In the second year of Kaixi (1206), Yang Wanli died of illness at the age of eighty. He was awarded Doctor Guanglu and was given the posthumous title "Wen Jie".
3. Fan Chengda
Fan Chengda (June 26, 1126-October 1, 1193), with the courtesy name Zhi Neng and You Yuan, was named himself in his early years. This mountain layman was later called Shihu layman. Han nationality, from Wuxian County, Pingjiang Prefecture (now Suzhou, Jiangsu Province). Famous official and writer of the Southern Song Dynasty. One of the "Four Great ZTE Poets" in the Southern Song Dynasty.
In the 24th year of the Shaoxing reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Song Dynasty (1154), Fan Chengda was promoted to Jinshi. In the third year of Qiandao's reign (1167), he learned about Chuzhou. In the sixth year of Qiandao (1170), he went to the Kingdom of Jin as an envoy. He was not afraid of violence and fulfilled his mission. He returned to the court and eliminated the people of Zhongshushe.
In the seventh year of Qiandao (1171), he came out of Jingjiang Mansion. In the second year of Chunxi's reign (1175), he was appointed envoy of Fu Wenge and Sichuan. In the fifth year of Chunxi (1178), he paid homage to the government affairs minister.
In his later years, he retired to Shihu and became a bachelor of Zhengdian University. Shaoxi died in the fourth year of his reign (1193) at the age of sixty-eight. He was given the posthumous title "Wenmu" as a gift to the young master and Duke Chongguo, and later generations called him "Fan Wenmu".
4. You Miao
You Miao (mào) (April 2, 1127 - 1194), with the courtesy name Yanzhi, the diminutive Ji Chang, the nickname Sui at the beginning, and the late name at the end. The old Yimin of Lexi and Mushi were from Wuxi, Changzhou (now Wuxi, Jiangsu). A famous poet, minister and bibliophile in the Southern Song Dynasty. One of the "Four Great ZTE Poets" in the Southern Song Dynasty.
In 1148 AD (Wuchen, the 18th year of Shaoxing in the Southern Song Dynasty), he was promoted to Jinshi. It was originally ordered by Taixing. In the Xiaozong Dynasty, he was the Prime Minister of Dazong. He moved to Taichang Shaoqing. Quan served as the minister of the Ministry of Rites and compiled the history of the country. He also served as a scholar in the middle school and a direct bachelor. In the Guangzong Dynasty, he was appointed as the minister of Huanzhang Pavilion and was given the title of Shizhong. After his death, he was given the posthumous title "Wen Jian".
Extended information:
Character achievements:
1. Lu You
Lu You has been writing non-stop throughout his life and has achieved high achievements in poetry and prose. The language of his poems is easy to understand and the composition is rigorous. It combines Li Bai's majesty and unrestrainedness with Du Fu's melancholy and desolation. It is especially full of patriotic enthusiasm and has a profound influence on later generations.
His achievements in poetry and prose are also high. Liu Kezhuang's "Houcun Poetry Sequel" said that his poetry "is passionate and generous, and Jiaxuan cannot pass it." There are 85 volumes of "Jiannan Poetry Draft" compiled by hand, containing more than 9,000 poems.
There are also 50 volumes of "Collected Works of Weinan" (including 6 volumes of "Records of Entering Shu" and 2 volumes of Ci), 10 volumes of "Notes of Laoxue'an" and "Book of the Southern Tang Dynasty". His calligraphy is vigorous and unrestrained, and some of his extant ink writings include "Bitter Cold Tie" and so on.
2. Yang Wanli
Yang Wanli wrote more than 20,000 poems in his life, and has 4,200 handed down works. He is known as the great poet of his generation. He created the "Chengzhai style" with simple, clear, fresh and natural language and full of humor.
Most of Yang Wanli's poems describe natural scenery, and he is famous for this. He also has many works that reflect the sufferings of the people and express patriotic feelings. He is the author of "Chengzhai Collection" and so on.
3. Fan Chengda
Fan Chengda is known for his literary fame, especially for poetry. He started from the Jiangxi School, then studied the poetry of the Middle and Late Tang Dynasties, inherited the realism spirit of the New Yuefu poets such as Bai Juyi, Wang Jian, and Zhang Ji, and finally became his own school. The style is simple, fresh and charming. Poetry has a wide range of themes, and the works that reflect the content of rural social life have the highest achievements.
His works had a significant impact in the late Southern Song Dynasty, and had an even greater impact in the early Qing Dynasty. There is a saying that "the family's sword is in the south and the home is in the stone lake". He is the author of "Shihu Collection", "Raider Record", "Wu Chuan Record", "Wu Jun Chronicle", "Guihai Yu Heng Chronicle", etc.
4. You Miao
You Miao’s achievement lies in his poetry creation. Fang Hui of the Yuan Dynasty once said that in the Southern Song Dynasty, "since the ZTE, poets must be called You, Yang, Fan, and Lu". You Miao, Yang Wanli, Fan Chengda and Lu You are collectively known as the four great poets of the Southern Song Dynasty.
Unfortunately, a large number of You Kuang's poetry manuscripts and other works, as well as more than 30,000 volumes of books, were all burned in a fire. The fifty-nine poems I have seen were collected by You Dong, his descendant from the Qing Dynasty, from some local chronicles and similar books.
Judging from the ideological content of these remaining poems, You Miao, like the three poets Lu, Yang, and Fan, expressed dissatisfaction with the small imperial court of the Southern Song Dynasty at that time for its insistence on peace and surrender, and their dissatisfaction with the broken mountains and rivers. , the people are very worried and angry when they are oppressed by foreign races.
You Miao once compiled the books in his family collection into a volume called "Suichutang Bibliography". This is the earliest version catalog in China and has considerable reference value for the study of Chinese ancient books.
The "Suichutang Bibliography" divides books into forty-four categories. From this bibliography, it can be seen that Youmao's collection of books includes classics, histories, zis, collections, barnyard official novels, and exegetical classics Taoism, miscellaneous arts, music records, etc.
It is particularly worth mentioning that You Kuang attached great importance to collecting books from this dynasty, accounting for about one-third of the total historical books he collected. His collection of "National History" of the Northern Song Dynasty was available in the Nine Dynasties, and "Records" of the Northern Song Dynasty was not only complete, but also had multiple versions. Unfortunately, You Miao's collection of books was burned down due to a fire in his residence after his death. Only one "Suichutang Bibliography" remains.
Baidu Encyclopedia - Four Great Masters of the Southern Song Dynasty
Baidu Encyclopedia - Fan Chengda
Baidu Encyclopedia - Lu You
Baidu Encyclopedia - —Yang Wanli
Baidu Encyclopedia——You Miao