A person with outstanding literary achievements is often full of romanticism, while politics pays attention to the false and the false, the true and the false. Therefore, it has been almost difficult for cultural celebrities throughout the ages to realize their political ambitions.
It was not until 60 years after Su Shi's death that Emperor Xiaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty gave Su Dongpo the posthumous title Wenzhong Gong, the rank of Grand Master, and published the collected works of Su Wenzhong Gong. Su Shi finally enjoyed the infinite glory that he had not enjoyed during his lifetime. From the perspective of political ambition, Su Shi was undoubtedly a loser. He encountered too many setbacks in his official career. However, adversity has made the greatest writer, poet, and calligrapher in Chinese history. Today we recite Su Shi's articles, poems, and lyrics, and appreciate his books and paintings. Su Shi can embody the great achievements of the Chinese literati spirit. It's well deserved.
(1) Opposition to Wang Anshi’s reform: When Su Shi first became an official in the Yuan Dynasty, it was a period in the Northern Song Dynasty when various social conflicts became increasingly acute and scholar-bureaucrats called for reform. Su Shi was originally an active supporter of reform. In the "Advancing Policy" written by Jiayou during the sixth-year college entrance examination, he discussed the reform of bad policies. In the eighth year of Jiayou's reign (AD 1063), he wrote at Fengxiang School "On Thought on Political Governance" also proposed a series of reform plans to address three long-standing disadvantages: "lack of financial resources, weak military resources, and unselected officials."
(2) Relegated to Huangzhou. After the Wutai Poetry Case, Su Shi was banished to Huangzhou. Su Shi was still forty-five years old, the golden period of his life, but he was exiled to this culturally backward place in Jiangcheng, with no actual official guard and nothing to do. Its ruthless destruction and blow, falling on the life-loving and ambitious Su Shi, will inevitably constitute the most helpless oppression and pain. He lamented that his gray hair was getting more and more, and the trouble with the concept of time had become the most difficult sorrow for him to get rid of. The reality of Huangzhou is not as peaceful and peaceful as he thought when he first arrived in Huangzhou. On the one hand, his political situation is still very dangerous, on the other hand, he is also very tight financially. On the first day of every month, 4,500 yuan is taken out and divided into thirty yuan, which is one hundred and fifty yuan. Ma Zhengqing, a poor scholar in Huangzhou, requested a piece of wasteland of dozens of acres from the government for him. He cultivated it himself and donated the harvest to support the "poor" and "emergency" needs.
3) Demoting Huizhou and Danzhou again. After living in exile in Huangzhou for four years, Su Shi went to Bianjing to serve as an official. His thinking changed a lot. "Is it okay to judge whether something happens without seeing it with your eyes and ears?" After a long period of understanding of the new law, Su Shi began to understand He expressed his approval of its value and moved closer to Wang Anshi. In 1094 AD, the reign title was changed to "Shaosheng", the old party figures Lu Dafang and Fan Chunren were dismissed, and the new party figures Zhang Chun and An Shouqi became prime ministers. They abandoned the innovative spirit and specific policies of Wang Anshi's new law and took the attack on the "Yuanyou Party members" as their main target, with the Su Shi brothers taking the lead. Su Shi's relegated life in Huizhou and Danzhou was a continuation of his life in Huangzhou, which provided him with opportunities to get close to the lower class. The direct and profound experience of lower-class social life also developed Su Shi's kindness in sympathizing with the people and caring about state affairs. As always, he cares about people's livelihood. People in Guangzhou often suffered from diseases due to their consumption of salt water. He wrote to Wang Minzhong, the prefect of the state, suggesting that water be brought to the city in bamboo tubes from Pujian Mountain, twenty miles away...
It can be seen that political setbacks and life embarrassment were not overwhelming. His stubborn and straightforward character did not weaken his strong creative power. And these are also the continuation and development of the Huangzhou period. Like the Huangzhou period, it expresses the complicated and contradictory life sentiments during the period of demotion; another important content of the poem is the praise and description of the life and scenery of Lingnan and Hainan; the poem is becoming increasingly mature in art, and pursues an elegant and lofty style (predecessors described Su Shi in his later years) (his poetic style has been highly praised); the elaboration of literary and artistic thoughts and the summary of creative experience (it is a huge literary wealth).