He Zhizhang, together with Zhang Ruoxu, Zhang Xu, and Bao Rong, is known as the "Four Scholars in Wuzhong"; together with Li Bai and Li Shizhi, he is known as the "Eight Immortals in Drinking"; and together with Chen Zi'ang, Lu Zangyong, Song Zhiwen, Wang Shi, Bi Gou, Li Bai, Meng Haoran, Wang Wei, Sima Chengzhen, etc. are called the "Ten Friends of the Immortal Sect".
He was open-minded and unruly, a good drinker, and was known as a "clear talker", especially in his later years. At the beginning of Tianbao, he asked the Taoist priest to return to his hometown. He was given a song by Jinghu Yanchuan and a poem written by the emperor as a gift. The crown prince followed him and said goodbye. He built Qianqiu Temple and lived in seclusion there. He died not long afterward at the age of eighty-six. Suzong presented it to the Minister of Rites.
He Zhizhang became the number one scholar in Yiweike at the age of 36, and then became prime minister all the way. It can be said that he was promoted all the way, and he lived to be 86 years old, which was considered an absolute longevity in ancient times. Being humble and low-key is a very important character for him to be in such a situation, and his open-minded and bold personality has earned him a lot of good reputation.
When he retired, the emperor presented poems, and the prince and his officials sent them to each other. In the long feudal society of more than 2,000 years, I am afraid there is no precedent before and no one will come in exchange for wine
In 742 AD, He Zhizhang was 83 years old. He happened to meet the 41-year-old Li Bai at the Zike Taoist Temple in Chang'an. At that time, Li Bai had a small reputation for poetry and was visiting Princess Yuzhen. While applying for a job, he met the great poet He Zhizhang, whom he admired. , I am extremely happy. He Zhizhang had also heard about Li Bai for a long time, and the two hit it off and became "friends who have been together forever".
When Li Bai presented his "Wuqi Qu" to the veteran He Zhizhang for guidance, He Zhizhang gave a high evaluation on the spot after reading it, "This poem can make ghosts and gods weep." Li Bai was delighted and presented his new work "The Road to Shu Difficult" to He Zhizhang for correction. He Zhizhang read it carefully and praised Li Bai very much: It seems that you are the Taibai Venus in the sky who was relegated to earth! (This is where Li Bai's title of "Exiled Immortal" comes from)
He Zhizhang set up a banquet for Li Bai.
So the two of them had a great time in the tavern, drinking and singing, and returned home drunk. When He Zhizhang paid, he found that he had finished the wine, so he took off the gold turtle bag from his waist to "pay the bill." This "golden turtle" is an accessory given by the royal family according to rank, and is very precious. The Eight Immortals in Drink
He Zhizhang and Li Bai are both famous "wine immortals".
The first one mentioned in Du Fu's "Song of the Eight Immortals in Drinking" is He Zhizhang: "Zhizhang rides a horse like a boat, and falls into a well and sleeps under the water." It is said that after he was drunk, he leaned forward and backward on the horse. , like sitting on a boat. He fell into the well in a daze and fell asleep at the bottom of the well. Even if an ordinary person is drunk like mud, he will wake up with a splash of cold water. He will not wake up even if he falls into a well while drunk, so he can be regarded as the number one "drunkard". Baozhu City Cake
He Zhizhang has a residence in Xuanpingfang, Xijing. There is a small panel door opposite his house, and an old man often rides a donkey in and out there. Five or six years later, the old man's face and clothes remained the same as before, without any change, and his family members could not be seen.
He Zhizhang often went to Mr. Wang on his free days, and the old man greeted him respectfully and cautiously. He has only one servant boy. He Zhizhang asked him about his occupation, and the old man answered casually, saying that he was good at cultivating Taoism and refining alchemy. He Zhizhang always believed in Taoism, so he worshiped the old man as his teacher.
Later He Zhizhang and his wife took a pearl, saying that they got it in their hometown and had kept it for many years. They specially dedicated it to the old man and asked him to teach Taoism. After the old man took it, he gave the pearl to the boy and asked him to buy cakes. The boy exchanged the pearl for more than thirty sesame cakes and invited He Zhizhang to eat them. He Zhizhang thought to himself that the orb was specially given to the old man, but the old man used it so lightly, which made him feel very unhappy. The old man had already noticed and said: "Taoism can be learned through experience, but where is the effort? If the heart of pity does not stop, there is no reason for Taoism to succeed. We should go to the deep mountains and poor valleys to explore and search for it diligently and wholeheartedly, not in the city." What can be taught." He Zhizhang was quite enlightened, understood what the old man meant, and said goodbye to the old man. After a few days, the old man disappeared. He Zhizhang then asked to resign and return to his hometown.