Is it miserable to demote an official? -the world of flowers behind the demotion of officials in Tang and Song Dynasties

In the 10th year of Yuanhe in Tang Xianzong (AD 8 15), Liu Zongyuan, who had lived in Yongzhou for ten years, received an imperial edict and rushed back to Chang 'an.

Ten years ago, Tang Xianzong announced in the imperial edict that eight people, including Liu Zongyuan, "will be forgiven forever and will not be restricted by the amount of change", which was tantamount to politically sentencing them to death. Unexpectedly, ten years later, Liu Zongyuan miraculously returned to Chang 'an.

On the way back to Chang 'an, Liu Zongyuan returned with a full load. Although he is not confused, he still has high morale.

A month later, the court issued Liu Zongyuan's appointment: demoted to Liuzhou secretariat.

Liu Zongyuan's spirit suddenly collapsed. Liuzhou is more remote than Yongzhou, and there is hope to return to Chang 'an, but it has been hit harder than ten years ago.

Since then, Liu Zongyuan's body and spirit have gone from bad to worse, and he died in Liuzhou in a few years.

The "Lizi Monument" of Liu Hou Temple in Liuzhou was written by Su Shi, and the "Liuzhou Luochi Temple Monument" by Han Yu was sung by Liu Zongyuan, which was known as the "Three Wonders Monument". Source: Ctrip @ Highbury Years

0 1. The "king of efficiency" of demoted officials

Liu Zongyuan is unlucky, so many emperors have to stand on Xian Zong.

Officials have been demoted in all dynasties, but when they meet an enlightened emperor, they may be demoted today and recalled tomorrow; But if you meet Tang Xianzong, forget it.

Among more than 20 emperors in the Tang Dynasty, Tang Xianzong was the most keen to demote officials. His reign was only 15 years, but the total number of demoted officials was second only to Xuanzong, who had been in power for more than 40 years, and he was called the king of efficiency. For poets in the Tang Dynasty, the happiest time was different, but the worst time was undoubtedly the reign of Xian Zong.

In the tenth year of Yuanhe (AD 8 15), Liu Yuxi and Liu Zongyuan were recalled to Chang 'an together. Like Liu Zongyuan, Liu Yuxi, who once participated in the "Yongzhen Innovation", is also one of the eight people who "always forgive, not within the limit of quantity shift". His luck seems to be better than Liu Zongyuan's. He stayed in Chang 'an and did not immediately "demote Liuzhou".

However, Liu Yuxi has his own stubbornness. After returning to Chang 'an, he went to Du Xuan Temple, and then wrote the first song "Yuan He Ten Years from Langzhou to Beijing Opera as a Gift":

On the main road of the city, pedestrians are constantly flowing, and the dust is blowing on their faces. People say that they have just seen flowers coming back from Xuandu.

There are thousands of peach trees in the Xuanmiao Temple, all of which were planted after I was exiled to Beijing.

Ironically, I don't belittle you. What about the king? Therefore, the court quickly gave a handling opinion: demoting Lianzhou secretariat.

Demote, demote, who is afraid of who!

Liu Yuxi packed his bags and set off. Coincidentally, Liu Yuxi met Liu Zongyuan on his way to Lianzhou (now Qingyuan, Guangdong). On the occasion of parting, Liu Zongyuan wrote a poem "Hengyang and Dream Parting" for Liu Yuxi:

Yongzhou worked hard for ten years and came to the capital; On the third day of Chang 'an's reign, the emperor was escorted to the court by the imperial edict.

Take the old road of the Han Dynasty, remember General Ma Yuan; Where is the old stone man, idle grass trail.

You and I don't want to cling to entwine and slander loyal ministers; The poem should be unexpected, so I advise you to write a pseudonym.

Where are you going today? It's silence and silence. Why the river, tears can Zhuo Zhuo ying.

Talking too much is all tears. We were exiled to a remote place for ten years and finally recalled to Beijing. I didn't expect to return to the land of boils in Lingnan overnight. ...

A few years later, Liu Zongyuan died in Liuzhou, and Liu Yuxi continued to wait in the remote Lianzhou. He is waiting for a big news. Finally, shortly after Liu Zongyuan's death, the news came: Tang Xianzong is dead!

In the second year of Daiwa (AD 828), Liu Yuxi, who returned to the DPRK as a senior official, wrote a song "Visit Du Xuanguan again":

Half of the 100-acre courtyard is covered with moss and peach blossoms are in full bloom.

Where does Taoism return? Liu Lang came again today.

To tell the truth, if you meet an emperor who is keen on demoting officials like Tang Xianzong, the only way is to live longer than him.

Liu Zongyuan didn't wait for this day, but Liu Yuxi came and finally returned to his hometown, proudly announcing to the whole Datang: I'm Liu Yuxi back!

To make matters worse, the demoted officials are serious.

According to Wang Luobin Biography of Old Tang Dynasty, in the last years of Emperor Gaozong, Wang Luobin was "the chief bookkeeper of Chang 'an and moved to Linhai", which seemed to mean that Wang Luobin was exiled from Chang 'an to Linhai for corruption.

However, there are different records in The Book of the New Tang Dynasty: Biography of Wang Bin. It says that Wang "counts a lot, except Linhai Cheng".

Inconsistent records seem to contain an "ulterior story":-Wang "countless", gave opinions and suggestions to the court, offended some people, and was later charged with "corruption", expelled from Chang 'an and exiled to the sea.

Luo innocent was demoted and charged with "corruption". If it is not recorded in the Book of the New Tang Dynasty, it will be difficult for future generations to know the truth of his demotion. King Robin was poor enough. He cared about the world, but he was demoted and locked in the toilet.

However, in the Tang and Song Dynasties, Luo was definitely not the worst.

Li Deyu, the prime minister in the late Tang Dynasty, experienced the ups and downs of his official career and was recalled to Beijing as prime minister after Tang Wuzong succeeded to the throne. A few years ago, there were Uighurs outside Li Deyu and eunuchs inside, which were bustling. The Tang Dynasty was lifeless and quite auspicious.

But things change suddenly, that is, in a few days.

In the sixth year of Huichang (AD 846), Tang Wuzong died. Emperor Xuanzong, who succeeded to the throne, didn't like Li Deyu at all. In less than two years, Li Deyu, the prime minister, was demoted for five times in a row, and was finally demoted as a steward of Yazhou (now Hainan Province) to join the army, where he finally died.

From the position of prime minister, it is bad enough that Li Deyu came all the way to be a small civil affairs director. However, there is something worse.

Chu Suiliang, the prime minister of Tang Gaozong, was banished to Tanzhou (now Changsha, Hunan), Guizhou (now Guilin, Guangxi) and finally to Aizhou for opposing the establishment of political power by Wu Zetian, and died in this secretariat.

In today's Qing Dynasty in Vietnam, I am afraid it is difficult for someone to surpass Chu Suiliang on the journey of "demoting officials" ...

However, when the forest is big, there are all kinds of birds. It seems miserable to demote officials, and some even ask for demotion.

During Tang Suzong's reign, poor harvest led to soaring prices. At that time, Gaoli, who worked in the capital Chang 'an, was poorly paid and could not cope with the prices in the capital. So he invited himself to work outside, hoping to escape from the first-tier cities.

Naturally, the court will not agree to Gao Li's absurd request.

Now, Colliers is in a hurry. He is a broken jar, breaking the law!

In the end, Gao Li's dereliction of duty made him a long history of Wenzhou as he wished, and he no longer had to face the high prices in Beijing. ...

03. The most important thing is to be happy.

Su Dongpo summed up his life in his later years and said:

My heart is like ash, and my body is like not tying a boat.

Ask you what you do? Huangzhou, Huizhou and Danzhou.

Huangzhou, Huizhou and Danzhou are all places where Su Dongpo was demoted. How can we become a "lifelong achievement"? In fact, no one takes demotion seriously. Wherever they go, they live their lives as usual.

Su Dongpo invented Dongpo meat in Huangzhou, simmered it with a small fire, and stewed Dongpo's Zen Yue. When I arrived in Huizhou, I cooked a whole plate of rice. After improvement, it is today's famous Cantonese cuisine-clay pot rice.

For foodies, "no matter the ends of the earth, food is almost home." Su Da, the god of food, enjoyed her stay in Guangdong, having morning tea and afternoon tea. Why did he return to Beijing?

Su Dongpo burped and reported his ideological consciousness to the court:

300 lychees a day, I will grow up to be a Lingnan person without hesitation.

The food here is so delicious. Go back to Beijing first, and I'll drop the second grade.

Under the example of Su Dongpo, "Four Bachelor of Su Men" followed the teacher's footsteps and began a happy "demotion journey".

Huang Tingjian, the elder brother, has a family of calligraphy and painting, which is even worse than Master Su Dongpo. Demote the official, and the big brother will take care of you. Huang Tingjian continued to be demoted in his later years. His "demoted official footprint" spread all over Guangdong and Guangxi, and he finally died in Yizhou (now Yishan, Guangxi).

Qin Guan, the second brother, is famous for his ci, and he also inherited Su Dongpo's fine tradition. In his later years, Qin Guan traveled all over Lingnan and enjoyed the scenery of Guangdong and Guangxi. The reason why Qin Guan has such good luck is that he can travel at public expense for a long time without him.

If you are serious about demoting officials, you will lose! People like Liu Zongyuan who take demotion seriously have always been unhappy. Speaking of demoting officials, you have to be Su Like Dongpo: Demoting officials is good. Look, what shall we eat tonight?

In 1 100, Su Dongpo was pardoned and released. After landing, the old foodie wrote a poem "Crossing the Sea Night on June 20th":

On the third night, the bitter rain will eventually clear up.

Who decorated the clouds and the moon? Natural beauty and clarification of ocean colors.

In his spare time, Chaucer took advantage of music to get a general understanding of Xuanyuan's music.

I don't hate the narrow escape in the south. I spent the rest of my life traveling.

Degenerate official Lingnan? Delicious! Delicious!

04. Culture has degenerated.

"If you don't believe in my sin and give it up, why don't you forget it day and night!"

Many scholars who demoted officials were convicted because of their words, so after demoting officials, they wandered between the pain of saving the world and being immune to it: the dream of saving the world was out of reach, but they were not willing to die alone.

Mr Jiang Yang said: Your problem is that you read too little and think too much!

As a result, these corrupt officials stopped thinking about this and began to teach local people to study hard.

Su Dongpo was demoted to Danzhou, and when he was free, he began to compile his own handouts, taking out all the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, poems and songs, and teaching them to students in the land outside China. It is said that Su gave lectures in Danzhou, and many people came here, and some even made a special trip across the ocean just to see Su's elegant demeanor.

Under the inculcation of Su Dongpo, the seeds of culture germinated in Hainan. After three years of relegation, Su Dongpo just left, and the first scholar in Hainan history came out.

Seriously, these relegated literati and officialdom are well-read. For them who have been influenced by Confucian culture since childhood, "self-cultivation, keeping the family in order, governing the country and leveling the world" has always been their foundation.

After being demoted, he came to a remote place with shame and cultural advantages. Many people will set up education in Xiaotian to transform people's character and enlighten people's wisdom with their knowledge. It is no exaggeration to say that the most effective way to spread ancient culture in China is to demote officials.

Today, in the Wugong Temple in Hainan, there is a couplet:

The kings of the Tang and Song Dynasties were not ungrateful, and the people of Qiongya had a strange fate.

Of course, the demotion of officials is unkind to the king, but it may be a good thing for the people in the wilderness.

When we look at the experience of Tang and Song literati demoting officials with great sympathy (kāi) and affection (X and N), we should still remember their achievements.

Without them, the cultural development in remote Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan and other places would have lagged far behind the Central Plains, and the local people were able to get in close contact with this world-famous scholar by virtue of the strange fate of demoting officials.

As people who eat melons, if they are in the Tang and Song Dynasties, what do they want to say to the demoted literati:

Come and find us!

-End-

Editing and Arrangement of Art Tourism Culture Trio