Conclusion first: Su Dongpo was talented, capable, and benevolent. At the same time, he was also true-tempered, unrestrained, and approachable. The most important thing was his attitude of disdain for suffering, which provided spiritual strength for countless people in later generations. .
He was thrown into a dark valley by fate, but the valley was filled with lilies.
1. Su Dongpo is talented.
At the age of 21, he went to Beijing to take the exam and wrote "On the Perfection of Honesty in Punishments and Rewards". He was highly praised by the examiner Ouyang Xiu and won second place (Ouyang Xiu thought he should have been first, but he thought it was Zeng Gong's article. In order to avoid suspicion, I gave the second place). This article was later included in "Guwen Guanzhi". You must know that this is an examination essay by a 21-year-old young man
Ouyang Xiu's evaluation: Reading Shi's book, I don't realize it. Sweat out, be happy! I should avoid the road and let him out of the way.
It even predicted that decades later, people in the world would not remember him but only Su Shi.
Su Shi was not only unparalleled in his articles at that time, but later ranked as one of the eight great writers of prose in the Tang and Song dynasties. In terms of the creation of lyrics, he used poetry as lyrics and became a bold and unrestrained school. It can even be said that without Su Shi, it would be possible There was no Xin Qiji later. In terms of poetry, although he is called Su Huang together with Huang Tingjian, in terms of overall achievements, it can be said that no one can compare with him in the entire Song Dynasty; in terms of calligraphy, he is one of the four masters of the Song Dynasty. At that time, many people regarded Su Shi's calligraphy as a gift. Glory. In painting, his dead wood and ink bamboo are unique among literati paintings.
It can be said that Su Shi is a figure born after the development of Chinese culture reached its peak. He is a product of the times.
2. Su Shi truly has the heart to benevolent to the people and loves things.
During Su Shi's reign, he had political disagreements with people due to the reform of the new law. Many people said that Su Shi was stupid. In fact, whether he opposed the thorough implementation of the new law or repealed the new law, he always stood for the people. Is it a favorable position?
During his tenure at the local level, he also did many good things for the people, including rescuing locust plagues in Mizhou, personally leading people to fight floods in Xuzhou, and building Su dike in Hangzhou.
Even when he was demoted, he did his best to benefit the people, saving abandoned babies in Huangzhou and donating to build bridges in Huizhou.
Su Shi wrote a large number of poems about people's livelihood, in which he expressed deep sympathy for the suffering people and satirized the harsh taxes and the inaction of officials.
The silkworms are growing old, the wheat is half yellow, and the mountains in front and behind are covered with rain. Farmers stopped working to farm, women were using baskets, and the fairies in white were in the high hall. ("Wandering in the Rain to Guanyin Temple in Tianzhu")
It satirizes the officials who stand aloof and stand by and watch the disasters of the people.
I am Zhu Chenchen, the envoy to persuade farmers to visit Xinghua Village. Nowadays, the scenery is so beautiful that the county officials knock on the door at night to press for money. ("Chen Jichang's Second Marriage Picture of Zhuchen Village")
This is a satire on the heavy taxation of the imperial court, which overwhelmed the people, resulting in the desolation of the countryside.
The more infectious ones are his "Sigh of the Field Woman in Wuzhong" and "Sigh of the Lychee".
This year the japonica rice will ripen late and bitterly, and we don’t know when the frost and wind will come. When the frost and wind come, the rain pours down, and the fungus grows on the lork heads.
My eyes are dry and the tears will not drain away, and I can’t bear to see the yellow ears lying on the green mud! Mao thatch stays in the ridge in January, and the weather is fine and the rice is harvested and the car returns.
Sweat is on the shoulders and the bones are loaded into the market, and the price is low and begging is like chaff. Selling cattle to pay taxes and demolishing houses to make food is not as simple as next year's hunger.
The officials now want money but not rice, and they are recruiting Qiang people from thousands of miles northwest. The people of Gonghuang Manchu Dynasty suffered even more, so why not be the uncle of the river? ("Wuzhongtian Women's Sigh")
Every ten miles away is covered with flying dust, and every five miles away is filled with fire. When we were leaning against each other in the pit and valley, we knew it was lychee and longan.
The speeding car crosses the mountain falcon and crosses the sea, and the wind branches reveal their leaves as if they were newly picked. When the beauty in the palace loses her beauty, she will be shocked and bloodied for thousands of years.
Yongyuan litchi came to Jiaozhou, and Tianbao paid tribute every year to get it. So far, no one wants to eat Lin Fu's meat, but no one has raised a glass of wine.
I hope that God will take pity on the innocent child and not give birth to a beautiful creature with sores. When the rains are favorable and the winds are favorable, the crops are harvested, and it is a blessing that the people are not hungry or cold.
If you don’t see it, there are millet sprouts by the Wuyi River, and Cai Xiangfa is favoring them. Everyone has their own ideas for buying new pets. This year, the products will be the official tea.
My king lacks this kind of thing. How can it nourish the mouth and body? The prime minister of Luoyang was loyal and filial to his family, but unfortunately he also entered Yao Huanghua. ("Lychee Sigh")
Among them, "Lychee Sigh" was written when he was demoted to Huizhou. To judge a person's character, it often depends on his behavior when he is frustrated. Su Shi was demoted to a barbaric land in his later years. , has reached the lowest point in the lowest point, but he still cares about the people.
He even did not hesitate to speak out for the people and offend the powerful, and exposed the shameless behavior of bureaucrats vying for new favors, which shows Su Shi's heart for the people.
If only the above characteristics were enough, Su Shi would only make us feel that he was an elder who was admired and admired.
Thousands of years later, he is still liked by countless people, including Su Shi for his true temperament, approachability, and chicness.
3. True temperament.
Su Shi has a very famous saying:
If words are spoken from the heart and rushed to the mouth, if you spit them out, you will rebel against others, if you speak them, you will rebel against others. I think it is better to rebel against others, so I will die. Spit it out. ("Si Tang Ji")
When Su Shi had an idea in his heart, he wanted to speak it out. His heart and speech were consistent.
This is why his articles have great appeal, because they are filled with true feelings.
Su Shi’s true temperament actually has its philosophical foundation. In Su Shi’s philosophical system, emotion occupies the ontological status, and everything must be rooted in human emotion.
Thus, when he made friends, wrote, and served as an official, he all based his inner true feelings as the starting point. Su Shi was a person with true temperament and not a hypocritical person.
4. Chic and easy-going
Su Shi is a person who is free and easy-going and does not stick to trivial matters.
Su Shi's "On the Perfection of Honesty in Punishments and Rewards": "Gaotao was a scholar and would kill people. Gaotao said to kill three people, and Yao said to forgive three people."
Ou, Mei Ergong admired his article, but he didn't know the source of these sentences. When Su Shi thanked him, he asked Shi about it. Su Shi replied: "Why do you need to know the source?" This shows Su Shi's heroic spirit.
In the familiar "Nian Nujiao·Chibi Nostalgia", Shangqiu said that "Humanity is, Zhou Lang Chibi of the Three Kingdoms". This "Humanity is" actually shows that this place is not the real ancient battlefield of Chibi. , Su Shi just used the incident in Red Cliff to express his feelings.
Su Shi was involved in Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism. He studied the thoughts of these three schools, had many friendships with Buddhists and Taoists, and passed down many good stories.
Hu Yin of the Song Dynasty said in the "Preface to Ci Poems by Wine":
The Su family of Meishan, once the state of Qiluo's fragrance is washed away, gets rid of the pretentious attitude, and makes people climb higher. Look into the distance, raise your head and sing loudly, and feel proud and majestic, transcending the dust and dirt.
Writing is the externalization of people's inner spirit. The reason why Su Shi's words make people feel free and unrestrained is precisely because of his inner spirit.
The most representative poem that embodies Su Shi's free and easy approach is "Ding Feng Bo":
Don't listen to the sound of beating leaves through the forest, why not just scream and walk slowly. Bamboo sticks and mango shoes are easier than horses, who is afraid? A coop of mist and rain will last a lifetime.
The steep spring breeze blows away the drunkenness, it is slightly cold, but the mountain tops are shining slantingly. Looking back at the desolate place where I came from, there was neither wind, rain nor sunshine.
Even in the downturn of life, he still maintained the coolness of his life, only Su Shi could hear it!
5. Approachable
Although Su Shi was talented and high-ranking, he was never a superior "adult", but approachable.
He himself said, "I can accompany the Jade Emperor when I am above, and I can accompany the beggars of Beitian Courtyard when I am below."
He got to know many common people in Huangzhou, Huizhou, and Danzhou where he was demoted. Friends include farmers, singers, etc.
It is said that when Su Shi was demoted to Hainan, he met an old woman and comforted Su Shi by saying, "Nei Han used to be rich and powerful, it was just a spring dream!", so local people called this woman "Chun Meng Po".
Song Su Shi's "Walking Alone to the House of Ziyun Weihui Xianjue Sili" by Su Shi of the Song Dynasty: "Every time I catch the neighbor girl in the east when I throw shuttles, I change the fan only to meet the dream of spring." An old commoner woman stayed like this. In Su Shi's poems.
6. Disdain the sufferings of life.
A person as talented and caring as Su Shi should logically have a beautiful and smooth life.
But no one can explain destiny clearly. Su Shi also studied this issue, and finally concluded that it is normal for heaven and man not to be worthy of each other, and it is accidental that good people are rewarded.
Su Shi's life was like a roller coaster, with ups and downs. Fortunately, it was Su Dongpo. An ordinary person would have been tortured to the point of dying.
The most attractive thing about Su Shi is his disdain for suffering.
This is first reflected in the poems written during the Huangzhou period, such as "Looking back to the bleak place where I have always been, when I return, there is neither wind, rain nor sunshine" in "Ding Feng Bo"; the breeze in "Ode to the Former Red Cliff" bright moon.
External customs, rain and snow cannot affect Su Shi. This actually means "transforming the environment with the heart" in Buddhism.
In his later years, when Su Shi was demoted to Hainan, he wrote a poem, "October 1 is about to come and the wind will stay at Wuli Wuli":
There has been no wind in Changhuai for a long time. , feel free to figure it out quickly. Nowadays, the snow and waves are full, and I just feel that the plains are narrow.
Before the two mountains control me, I can’t hold my breath for a long time. The lone boat is tied to the mulberry tree, and the dance is surging all night long.
The boat people even called, and the weak cable relied on Suga Kuai. He has been proud and worried all his life, and has been content with all kinds of strange things for a long time.
The ghosts and gods deceived me into being poor and teased me for a while. There is still wine in the bottle, but whoever believes in fate can quit.
Su Shi looked down at the suffering life and the uncontrollable destiny as a master. This was Su Shi's absolute belief in his own power. "In the vast world, I am the only one who is right."
The late Mr. Leng Chengjin, a great scholar of Su Shi, once said:
If a person fights against fate, he will always be a loser, because fate is when people fight against it. produced at the time. When people no longer simply fight against fate, but regard fighting against fate as a means to improve their moral realm, fate disappears and realm appears. Realm is not about abandoning destiny, but embracing and observing destiny at a higher level - a kind of containing and observing metaphysical value.
In this way, everything we experience is material. Impermanence of fate then becomes a means of developing one's personal realm.
This is exactly what happened to Su Dongpo. His experience of being demoted to Huangzhou, Huizhou, and Danzhou did not destroy him. On the contrary, he used the attitude of a master to turn unexpected fate into a personal realm, and finally reached his state in The ultimate spiritual path.
It is clear, lofty, vast and vast.
We can get a glimpse of it in "Crossing the Sea on the Night of June 20th".
It is time to watch the third watch, and the wind will clear up after the bitter rain.
Who embellishes the scattered clouds and the bright moon? The color of the sky and sea is clear.
When I was free, Lu Sou took advantage of his thoughts and had a rough idea of ??the music played by Xuanyuan.
I don’t hate the nine deaths in the Southern Wilderness. I am here to travel through the wonders of my life.
The bitter rain finally dissipated and the wind finally dissipated, the bright moon hung high, and the sky and sea were clear and vast.
This is the clarification of Su Shi’s state of mind in his later years.
Su Shi's unyielding attitude toward suffering and his exploration of solutions to suffering have provided spiritual support and solutions for countless people in later generations who have been abused by fate.
He was thrown into a dark valley by fate, but the valley was filled with lilies.
Being demoted to Huangzhou, he changed from Su Shi to Su Dongpo.
Dongpo is a piece of land owned by Su Shi in Huangzhou. He once farmed it, so it was named Dongpo Jushi.
It was also at this turning point that his kindness to the people and his love for things, his chicness, his approachability, his arrogance and unyielding attitude towards the suffering fate were all presented in an unprecedented way.
For Dongpo, his miserable fate may be unfortunate, but for countless readers in later generations, it is lucky.
(Somewhat helpless, assuming there is a way of heaven, I would like to ask him what he thinks?)
If Su Shi belongs to the Northern Song Dynasty, then Su Dongpo belongs to the ages.