Dongfang Shuo
Historical figure
Dongfang Shuo (154 BC-93 BC), named Manqian, was a native of Pingyuan Qiangci (now Shentou Town, Ling County). A writer of Ci and Fu in the Western Han Dynasty. Emperor Wu came to the throne and recruited scholars from all over the world. Dongfang Shuo wrote a letter recommending himself and worshiping him as Lang. Later he served as Chang Shilang, Taizhong doctor and other positions. He was witty, quick-tongued, funny and wise, and often laughed and had fun in front of Emperor Wu. He "observed the colors at all times and spoke frankly to give advice" ("Han Shu·Dongfang Shuo Zhuan"). Emperor Wu was fond of extravagance, so he went to Shanglin Garden. Dongfang Shuo bluntly remonstrated, thinking that "taking the land blessed by the people will not be of use to the country, and seizing the farming and mulberry industry below. If you abandon success, you will fail" ("Han Shu·Dongfang Shuo") 》). He once talked about political gains and losses, and Chen Nong's plan to strengthen the country through war, but Emperor Wu always treated him as a actor and was not allowed to reuse him, so he wrote "Answering Guests" and "On Mr. Feiyou" to express his ambitions and dissatisfaction. Dongfang Shuo's original collection was in 2 volumes, which has been lost for a long time; Zhang Pu of the Ming Dynasty compiled "Dongfang Taizhong Collection", which was included in "Collections of One Hundred and Three Masters of Han, Wei and Six Dynasties".
Dongfang Shuo wrote a lot of works in his life, including "Answering Guests", "On Fei You", "Feng Taishan", "Responsibility and Clan's Wall", "Shizi Poems", etc., which are collected by later generations. For "Eastern Tai Zhong Ji". Sima Qian called him the "Funny Hero" in "Historical Records". Xia Houzhan of Jin Dynasty wrote "Ode to Dongfang Shuo's Paintings", praising Dongfang Shuo's noble integrity and his wisdom and humor. Yan Zhenqing, a great calligrapher of the Tang Dynasty, wrote this article Engraved monument. This monument is still preserved in Ling County.
In the early years after Emperor Wu came to the throne, he recruited virtuous, upright and literary talents from all over the world. Scholars and Confucian scholars from all over the country applied for the job. Dongfang Shuo also wrote a letter to Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. The letter used three thousand bamboo slips, which only two people could carry. It took Emperor Wu two months to read it. In his self-recommendation, he said: "I, Dongfang Shuo, lost my parents when I was young and relied on my brother and sister-in-law to support me. I didn't study until I was thirteen years old. I studied hard and studied literature and history books in three winters. He learned fencing at the age of fifteen, "Poetry" and "Books" at the age of sixteen, and read 220,000 words. At the age of nineteen, he learned Sun Wu's art of war and the formation of battle formations, and understood the use of various weapons and soldiers in battle. I have also read 220,000 words of books on this topic, totaling 440,000 words. I am now twenty-two years old and 9 feet 3 inches tall. My eyes are as bright as bright beads, my teeth are as white and as neat as arranged shells, I am as brave as Meng Zi, as agile as Qing Ji, as honest and thrifty as Uncle Bao, and as loyal as Wei Sheng. I am such a person, worthy of being the emperor. Minister! Chen Shuo risked the death penalty and reported it to the emperor." Emperor Wu read Dongfang Shuo's self-proclaimed recommendation, praised his courage, and ordered him to stay in the public transportation department. At the summons of Emperor Wu. After a while, he became dissatisfied with his current situation. One day when he was traveling in the capital, he saw a dwarf and threatened him: "Your death is coming!" The dwarf asked him why. He said: "It is useless for a short man like you to live in the world. You can't farm because of your strength." You can't be an official to govern the people, let alone carry weapons to fight on the front lines. People like you are useless to the country. They only waste food in this world, so now the emperor will kill you all." After hearing this, the dwarf burst into tears. Dongfang Shuo said to him: "Don't cry for the moment. The emperor is coming. When he comes, kowtow and apologize." After a while, Emperor Wu passed by in a chariot, and the dwarf wept and kowtowed. Emperor Wu asked: "Why are you crying!" The dwarf said: "Dongfang Shuo said that the emperor would kill all of us short people!" Emperor Wu asked Dongfang Shuo why he said that. Dongfang Shuo replied: "Chen Shuo will say these things when he is alive, and he will say these things when he is dead. That dwarf is only more than three feet long, and his salary is two hundred and forty for a bag of rice. I am more than nine feet tall (1.94 meters), but I only received a salary of one bag of rice, and the money was two hundred and forty. The short man was starving to death, and I was hungry. Just get rid of me and don't let me waste food here." The emperor laughed loudly after hearing this and appointed him as the Jinmamen, so that he would have more opportunities to see the emperor. [Edit this paragraph] Dongfang Shuo in Historical Records
During the reign of Emperor Wu, the people of Qi had a name called Dongfang Shuo.
When Shuo first entered Chang'an, he went to the bus to write a letter, and he used three thousand memorial slips. The bus ordered the two of them to hold up their books, but they could only win. The master reads it from above and stops at the same place. The two months of reading are over. He was ordered to worship him as a man, and he was often among the attendants. After being called forward several times to talk, the host did not hesitate to say something. At that time, the imperial edict gave him food. When the meal is over, the rest of the meat is thrown away, and the clothes are all dirty. He was given several pieces of silk and the eaves were removed. He only used the given money and silk to take the young woman to a good girl in Chang'an. The one who takes the wife who is one year old will abandon it and take the wife again. All the money given is taken from the woman. The master of the house was half-called "madman" by all the men on his left and right. When the master heard about it, he said: "If Shuo is doing nothing, I wish he could catch up with him!" Shuo made his son a minister and a visitor, and he always went on missions with integrity. In the Shuo Xing Palace, Lang said to him, "Everyone thinks Mr. Shuo is crazy." Shuo said, "Shuo and others are the so-called people who seclude themselves from the world in the imperial court. People in ancient times seceded from the world in the mountains." At that time, he was sitting at the banquet, drinking wine. In the sound, the local song goes: "The land is buried in the world, and you can escape from the world at the Golden Horse Gate. You can hide yourself from the world in the palace, why bother deep in the mountains, under the wormwood." The Golden Horse Gate is where the eunuchs are stationed at the gate. There is a bronze horse beside the gate. Therefore, it is called "Golden Horse Gate".
At that time, the doctors and gentlemen under the palace gathered together to discuss, and the most difficult thing to say was: "Su Qin and Zhang Yi are the masters of ten thousand chariots, and they both hold the position of prime minister, which will benefit future generations. Now I am a great man." He cultivated the skills of the ancestors, admired the righteousness of the saints, and wrote countless poems and books on bamboo and silk. He thought that he was unparalleled in the world, and he was knowledgeable and wise. However, he devoted himself to serving the holy emperor for a long time. After decades of accumulation, the official position is no more than a minister, and the position is no more than holding a halberd. What is the reason for this? "Dongfang Sheng said: "This is definitely not what I can do at this time. How can it be the same! During the time of Zhang Yi and Su Qin, the Zhou Dynasty was in great trouble. The princes were not in power, fighting for power, fighting for power, and forming twelve kingdoms. If you listen and practice well, you will be in an honorable position, and your descendants will be prosperous. This is not the case now. Fu Yu, the world is equal, they are one family, and everything is done, just like in the palm of luck. How can there be any difference between the virtuous and the unfaithful? Now that the world is so big, and all the scholars and people are trying their best to speak together, they can't win. Count. I work hard for righteousness, but I am trapped in food and clothing, and may lose my family. If Zhang Yi, Su Qin and servants are born together in this world, they will never be able to see the story. It is said: "There is no harm in the world!" There are saints who have nothing to show for their talents; even though there are wise men, there are no merits. 'So it is said that when times change, things will change. How can we not cultivate ourselves? Outside. The sound of cranes is heard in the sky. If you can cultivate yourself, there is no need to be disrespectful! For seventy-two years, Taigong has been benevolent and righteous, and he has been granted the title of Qi for seven hundred years. The reason why this scholar works hard day and night to practice the Tao is that he does not dare to stop. Although the scholar in this world is not used at all, he is independent and alone. Peace and righteousness support each other, and the widows and the few disciples are the same. Why should I doubt Yu Zai?" So the gentlemen were silent and could not respond. Behind the Jianzhang Palace, something emerged from the oak tree, which looked like a moose. After hearing this, Emperor Wu came to see him. If you ask the ministers on the left and right who are familiar with the art of Tongjing, no one will know. Order Dongfang Shuo to look at it. Shuo said: "I know it, and I would like to give you fine wine, rice and rice to please me. I will say so." The imperial edict said: "Yes." He also said: "A certain public field has a fish pond with several hectares of pampas grass. Your majesty will give it to me. I, Shuo, will do it." The imperial edict said: "Yes." So Shuo Nai agreed and said: "The so-called Zou Ya is from afar, and the Zou Ya is the same as before and has no teeth, so it is called Zou Ya." "Zou Ya." One year later, the Hunxie King Guo of the Xiongnu came to surrender to the Han with a force of one hundred thousand. Then he gave Dongfang Sheng a lot of money.