The political environment of the era in which Tao Yuanming lived was complex and harsh. The change of dynasties brought frequent wars, man-made disasters led to natural disasters, plagues and famines, making it difficult for the people to survive. According to incomplete literature statistics, my country's population peaked at 60 million during the Eastern Han Dynasty. By the Western Jin Dynasty, there were only 16 million people left. By the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the population was barely maintained at 17 million.
Tao Yuanming lived in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, and he was not from a poor family. According to historical records, Tao Yuanming's great-grandfather was a great Sima, and both his grandfather and father were prefects and county magistrates. Tao Yuanming himself served as an official many times, and even had affairs with the two later emperors Huan Xuan and Liu Yu. According to common sense, Tao Yuanming is very likely to rise to prominence in the officialdom. But in the end, he still followed Confucius' principle of "a gentleman does something and does something not to do", and chose a pastoral life with a lifestyle of common people, vegetarian food and embracing nature.
Since childhood, Tao Yuanming has only loved nature and dislikes restraint; he only likes reading and is not good at socializing. As he wrote in the poem:
There is no popular rhyme, and nature loves mountains and hills. "Returning to the Garden and Living in the Fields (Part 1)"
Young people rarely have human affairs, so traveling is good in the Six Classics. "Drinking Sixteen"
In his high-spirited youth, Tao Yuanming naturally developed great ambitions.
When he was young, he was strong and fierce, holding a sword and traveling alone. "Imagining the Ancients (Nine)"
The ambition is fierce and the world is far away, and the Qianhe is thinking far away. "Miscellaneous Poems (Part 5)"
However, the real life after entering the society is not satisfactory. On the one hand, in the political whirlpool, the fate of literati is difficult to determine; on the other hand, under the clan system, it is difficult for officials to protect each other and it is difficult to achieve political clarity, and it is difficult for individuals to have an independent voice. Not to mention that there is no way out, and I have to be worried all day long. This kind of officialdom life is dark, unless you are willing to go with the flow. Be a fly with long sleeves who is good at searching for seams with a drill, and a villain with a hidden sword in his smile.
Will Tao Yuanming be willing? Of course not. That's why he wrote in "Returning Ci Ci", I would rather go back and suffer from cold and hunger than endure the filth of officialdom anymore.
“Although hunger and cold can cut off the pain, it goes against one’s own will and causes illness.”
In fact, before "Going Back", Tao Yuanming was in and out of officialdom repeatedly. Because he is still a husband and a father. In his home letter to his sons, "With Ziyan and Others", he showed his contradictory, annoyed but helpless emotions: As a father, I have a strong temperament and poor abilities, and I often conflict with society. I tried my best, but there was nothing I could do. I was worried about causing trouble, so I had no choice but to leave officialdom. I will cause you to suffer from hunger and cold when you are young, and you will not have a good life.
"You have a clumsy nature and are disobedient to things. If you think about yourself, you will bring troubles to the world. If you die from this world, you will be hungry and cold."
If you stand objectively From a subjective perspective, we would say that since we have a choice, we must pay a price; from a subjective perspective, we would think that Tao Yuanming exchanged his current poverty and happiness for his future fame.
When it comes to Tao Yuanming’s works, our first impression may be that he is simple and natural. In fact, it is not limited to this. Li Bai, Du Fu, Su Shi, Xin Qiji, and many later generations of literati all wrote poems for Tao Yuanming. Su Shi said in "Books with Su Zhe",
"Quality is solid and beautiful, and fat is solid and plump."
This is like a pot of tea. You will feel that it has no taste at the first sip, but only after the second and third sip do you realize that it has a good flavor and an endless aftertaste.
There are poems to prove it:
Tao Yuanming wrote about Yunduo
“Every race has its own support, but the lonely cloud has no support.”
Look at everything in the world, every one of them has something to rely on, except for the flowing clouds in the sky. So when I look at the clouds from now on, each one is so lonely.
Tao Yuanming writes about life
“It is not a pity to stain my clothes, but my wishes are fulfilled.”
It doesn’t matter if the dew gets wet on my clothes, as long as I As long as your desire to live in seclusion and farm is not violated.
Tao Yuanming wrote about death
"What is the meaning of death? The body is supported by the same mountain."
Just die, there is nothing else to say. I entrusted my body to the mountains, and from then on the mountains became me.
After reading this, would you still say that Tao Yuanming was a passive shunner? When everyone is seeking immortality, seeking pleasure, and eager for quick success, he is the only one who is so open-minded!