Meaning: His articles revitalized the declining literary style since the eighth generation. His promotion of Confucianism and Taoism saved the world from addiction. His loyalty once offended the emperor's anger. He His courage can impress the commanders of the three armies.
From: Su Shi, the author of "Chaozhou Hanwengong Temple Stele", Song Dynasty
Original paragraph:
Since the Eastern Han Dynasty, Taoist funeral literature has been corrupted and heresies have been mixed. Since then, it has experienced the prosperity of Zhenguan and Kaiyuan in the Tang Dynasty. It was supplemented by Fang, Du, Yao and Song Dynasty but could not save it. Duke Wen of Han alone stood up in his commoner clothes, chatted and laughed, and ordered the emperor to follow him. The whole world followed him and returned to justice. This has been going on for three hundred years. Writings have led to the decline of the Eight Dynasties, but the Taoism has helped the world's drowning; loyal offenders have been angered by the master's wrath, and bravely won the command of the three armies: Isn't this someone who towers over the heaven and the earth, is responsible for the rise and fall, and is majestic but exists alone?
Paragraph translation:
Since the Eastern Han Dynasty, Confucianism and Taoism have declined, writing styles have been corrupted, and heresy such as Buddhism and Taoism have appeared. After experiencing the prosperous periods of Zhenguan and Kaiyuan in the Tang Dynasty, relying on the assistance of famous ministers such as Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Yao Chong, and Song Jing could not save it. Only Han Wengong rose from ordinary people and directed the ancient prose movement while talking and laughing. People all over the world followed him, and his thoughts and writing style returned to the right path. It has been about three hundred years now. His articles revitalized the declining literary style for eight generations. His promotion of Confucianism and Taoism saved the world from addiction. His loyalty once offended the emperor's anger. His courage convinced the commanders of the three armies: Is this true? Isn’t it juxtaposed with the heaven and earth’s transformation and education of all things, related to the rise and fall of the country, and the vast, upright and independent existence of righteousness?
Extended information
1. Creation background
Wang Di, the magistrate of Chaozhou (now Chao'an County, Guangdong), rebuilt the Hanyu Temple in the seventh year of Yuanyou (1092), Zhezong of the Song Dynasty. Later, he wrote a book and asked Su Shi to write an inscription for this temple. Su Shi complied with the order and soon sent the handwritten stele to Wang Di. This became the famous prose piece "Chaozhou Han Wengong Temple Stele".
2. Appreciation of Poems
The inscription uses four parallel sentences: "Wen started the decline of the Eight Dynasties, and his way helped the world's drowning, he was loyal to the wrath of the master, and he bravely conquered the three armies. "Commander", in order to praise Han Yu's moral articles and conduct from the four aspects of literature, Taoism, loyalty and courage. Each clause represents one aspect, with strong summarizing power and extremely smooth momentum. Therefore, these four clauses have become the most cautionary and famous sentences in the entire inscription and have been passed down through the ages and are popular among people.