Every parent has prayed to God: that their children will have a smooth life, have everything they ask for, and be free and happy.
However, throughout the ages, no matter how high or low your starting point is, who is not tossing in the ocean of life?
Young writer Ye Chuqiao, following the publication of "Peach and Plum Spring Breeze and a Glass of Wine: The Happy Life of Tang Dynasty Poets" and "I Don't Know I'm a Guest in a Dream: The Poetry and Wine Years of Song Dynasty Poets", continue to use his relaxed style The writing style is humorous, and the continuation of "I am a free guest in the world: A record of ancient literati's torment" is written in a humorous way.
This book records the ups and downs or peaceful life stories of 21 ancient literati including Cao Zhi, Ji Kang, and Tao Yuanming.
Through these 21 stories, we will suddenly realize: a free life requires artistic torment.
To pursue dreams, you need to be firm
In the mountains and forests of Xiangyang, three or five friends are pushing cups and cups. One person shouted drunkenly: "As long as you are happy in life, why do you want fame?"
A person next to him grabbed him: "Meng Haoran, drink less, you have to go to Beijing to meet me tomorrow." The saint is here."
The man who was so drunk that he was unconscious was none other than the famous Tang Dynasty poet Meng Haoran.
He was nearly fifty years old, but he did not hold any official position. He finally got a chance to go to Beijing to change his life, but because of this drunkenness, he completely missed the officialdom.
Is it because he is not good at writing? Or is he just down on his luck?
None of them.
When Meng Haoran came to Beijing for the first time, he made good friends with big bosses such as Zhang Jiuling, Wang Changling, and Wang Wei.
In the finale of a talent competition, he brought the atmosphere to its peak with "the sky is thin with clouds and the river is thin, and the raindrops are sparse on the sycamore trees". Everyone else present stopped writing, feeling that they could not come up with a better sentence than this.
For a time, Meng Haoran’s fame soared. Everyone, including himself, believed that he would definitely be on the gold list this time.
Unfortunately, there is a "Policy Theory" in the examination subject, which requires commenting on current events and giving some policy plans.
This is what Meng Haoran is least familiar with. Because before that, his dream was not to become an official, but to live in seclusion in the mountains and forests, and sneer at current events.
"In the past, I heard that Pang Degong collected herbs and never returned. In Jinjian, there is bait and sesame, and moss lies on the stone bed. I feel that I am old and get involved in things. The traces are still there today, and Gao Fengmiao Far away."
Meng Haoran admired and imitated the sage Pang Degong. At an age when he should be striving for progress, he yearned for a secluded life and wrote about the wild scenery of mountains and forests. He did not envy bright clothes, angry horses and blooming flowers.
If he can firmly remain a hermit and continue to toss in this dream, there may be more otherworldly bright moons in the mountains and cold rocks in the world.
However, when he saw off his friend who was going to Beijing to take the exam, he had doubts about his dream. When he visited Dongting Lake, his blood boiled with the majestic landscape.
He is no longer content with mediocrity and is eager to make contributions. As he neared his age, he set off for Beijing. On the way, he was still struggling with whether to become an official or go into seclusion.
This struggle lasted until the last chance in old age.
Because he didn’t know the direction of his dream, he invited his friends to a banquet to make up his own mind.
Drunk and lost opportunities due to swinging between dreams.
We should know that if we don’t firmly struggle with a dream, we won’t know whether it is a dream or a fruit that can be picked.
Dreams require firm pursuit. Thinking can make it come true.
To deal with fame and wealth, you need to be indifferent
"The Song Dynasty died, but this man survived, and he was the first person in the country in three hundred years!"
This is The sage Zhu Xi highly praised Lin Bu (bu).
Lin Bu recorded in "History of the Song Dynasty" is like this: He has a calm personality, likes simplicity, and does not pursue fame and wealth. Even though his family was poor and he had insufficient food and clothing, he still lived like this. He lived in a lonely mountain on the edge of the West Lake and had not entered the city for twenty years.
He does not seek fame and fortune, but "fame and fortune" often knock on his door.
Song Dynasty poets Mei Yaochen and Fan Zhongyan were both his guests.
Song Zhenzong Zhao Hengjiu sent a special person to Gushan in West Lake to invite Lin Bu to be the prince's companion.
This is the teacher of the future emperor! How many literati and scholars flocked to him and became famous all over the world.
Lin Bu said: "Being famous is just a false name; being in officialdom is very dangerous. How can fame and fortune be compared to the majestic peaks and clear and picturesque lakes? People like this All he needs to do in life is to be comfortable and contented.”
He doesn’t want the wealth and splendor that comes to his door. He also burned the fine poems and masterpieces he composed as he pleased.
Faced with other people’s confusion as to why he didn’t compile his works into a book so that they would be remembered for generations to come.
He said solemnly: "I live in seclusion in the mountains and forests, just because I don't want to become famous in this era, so how can I think about passing it on to future generations?"
If it hadn't been recorded quietly by thoughtful people, there wouldn't have been anything. More than 300 of Lin Bu's poems have been circulated. Su Rang, the son of the great writer Su Shi, lacked a model to imitate and learn from.
Lin Bu was not only able to compose good poems, but also wrote good calligraphy, and was especially good at cursive writing. Calligraphers such as Ouyang Xun and Li Jianzhong applauded his works. Huang Tingjian saw Lin Bu's calligraphy, "A disease will be cured without medicine, and a hunger will be full without food."
You don't need to take medicine when you are sick, and you don't need to eat when you are hungry, just look at Lin Bu's calligraphy Just fine.
Lin Bu’s life was the highest level of living.
He took the plum blossom as his wife and the crane as his son. In the "sparse shadows and slanting shadows", he wrote "the secret fragrance floats".
He does not take the initiative to play for fame and fortune, and treats it indifferently.
When he was dying, he was only thankful that others could not find his flattering remarks in his posthumous manuscripts.
He showed us:
Fame and fortune are not obtained by hard work, but by looking at them indifferently and letting the breeze come naturally.
Be cautious when wielding power
In the palace, Zhu Yuanzhang served the prepared soup to Song Lian.
Zhu Yuanzhang, who was suspicious by nature, although he gave Song Lian unlimited honor and favor, he still wanted to test him from time to time.
Once after the morning court, Zhu Yuanzhang left Song Lian alone and asked him: Did he drink last night? Who were you drinking with?
Song Lian reported the guests, drinks and delicacies at the banquet in detail.
Zhu Yuanzhang also nodded candidly: I sent someone to observe your banquet, and what you said is the same as what they reported. You are indeed very honest.
Song Lian quickly bowed and said: "Your Majesty, you are my father and heaven, how dare I deceive you."
The emperor was happy when he heard this, and he trusted Song Lian even more.
He asked Song Lian to comment on the civil and military officials. Song Lian gave full affirmation to all of them.
Zhu Yuanzhang asked curiously: "No one is bad?"
Song Lian said righteously: "The colleagues I interact with are all loyal ministers and wise men. Others, I don't have When dealing with people, I don’t know what they are like.”
Being so knowledgeable about how to deal with people and being prudent is not flattering.
For example, Ru Taisu, the head of the Ministry of Punishment, angered Zhu Yuanzhang because of his comments on government affairs. Others echoed the emperor's words, saying that Ru Taisu despised and slandered the court.
Only Song Lian "committed the crime against the wind" and advised the emperor to calm down, but could not punish the meritorious officials.
The emperor carefully re-read Ru Taisu's memorial and had to admit that Ru Taisu's remarks were well-founded. If Song Lian hadn't stopped him, he would have really made a big mistake.
Zhu Yuanzhang came from a rough background and read little. When the sky was a little troublesome, he worried about whether the country he had just built was stable.
Song Lian was concerned about the emperor's concerns, but did not cater to his negative emotions. Instead, he took the opportunity to persuade the emperor to "implement benevolent policies and win the hearts of the people, and everything will go smoothly."
People often say, "Accompanying a king is like accompanying a tiger."
Due to political needs, Zhu Yuanzhang raised the butcher's knife towards Song Lian. Song Lian's second son and eldest grandson were sentenced to death. Through the mediation of Queen Ma and the prince, the whole family was able to survive and be exiled. Song Lian died in exile.
Serving the powerful, especially the emperor, is walking on thin ice. If you want to toss around in power, it will be even more difficult if you don't have a cautious and steady way of dealing with the world.
Although Song Lian could not die in his proper place. After his death, Emperor Xiaozong restored his official position and ordered sacrifices to be held twice a year. Emperor Wuzong granted him a posthumous title.
Zhu Yuanzhang also gave him a fair evaluation in "History of the Ming Dynasty":
The best person is a saint, followed by a wise man, and then a gentleman. Like Song Lian, he has been with me for nineteen years and has never said a word against his will or exposed anyone else's shortcomings. He is not only a gentleman, but also a wise man.
Risks are everywhere in life. You can only use caution when dealing with power.
There is a saying in "Historical Records": "Ordinary people are content with old customs, while scholars are addicted to old news."
It can be seen that there are many knowledge nutrients in "old news".
We may be daunted by classical Chinese literature, so we might as well start with this interesting and informative book "I Am a Free Guest in the World". Find out how ancient literati struggled with their lives to get a glimpse of how to live a comfortable life.