There is no denying that Han Yu, as the head of the eight masters in Tang and Song Dynasties, has considerable influence. There is nothing to say about prose, but poetry is almost passable. He initiated the ancient prose movement, which influenced at least several generations in Tang and Song Dynasties. It's just that this person's speech is a little out of tune, and it's true or false. It is said that he is true because of this poem and this incident: "A letter is typed nine days early and eight thousand at Chaoyang Road at night. If you want to eliminate disasters for saints, you are willing to decline and cherish the old. Where is the hometown of Qinling Mountains? Snow blocked the blue horse. I know you should be interested in coming far away so that I can collect my bones by the river. " Han Yu was demoted for telling the truth without losing loyalty. However, Han Yu seems to have some flattery problems, such as his Pei Du. However, this person has been in officialdom all his life, and it is inevitable that there will be some social remarks. No wonder he learned that Han Yu and Liu Zongyuan were representatives of the ancient prose movement in the Tang Dynasty. They advocate ancient prose in order to carry forward the ancient road and revive Confucianism. Han Yu said: "Learn from the ancient road Han Yu and want to talk at the same time;" Those who preach their words are also those who are interested in the ancient road "("After Mourning Ouyang Sheng "). Therefore, their ancient prose theories put it in the first place, but hankyung emphasized Confucian benevolence and orthodoxy, while Liu advocated "taking time and things as the Tao". In addition, the theoretical system of ancient Chinese prose of the two schools also includes: ① advocating "nourishing qi", that is, improving the author's moral cultivation, and emphasizing that "those who are rich in roots are practical, those who are full of cream are gorgeous, and those who are righteous are as they say" (Han Yu's Answer to Li Yishu). The author's moral cultivation determines the expression form of the article, so "bold words, short words and high voices" (2) As for the standard of learning, he advocates "the books of three generations and two Han dynasties, but dare not read them" (ibid.), and it is not only classics and history, but also the artistic achievements of Qu Yuan, Sima Xiangru and Yang Xiong. , so as to absorb their essence and enrich their writings (Han Yu's Interpretation of Learning, Liu Zongyuan's Answer to Wei Zhongli's Book and Teacher's Way). (3) To create new ideas and new words, we should not avoid "strangeness" (Han Yu's "Sending Poor Articles"), oppose imitation and follow the trend, demand "acting only on his words" (Han Yu's "Answering Li Yishu"), and think that "only ancient words come from themselves and are not thieves" (Han Yu's "Epitaph of Nanyang Fan Shaoshu"). Therefore, the works of ancient sages should be "learned from their meaning, not from their words" (Han Yu answered Liu). (4) While attaching importance to artistic forms, we especially oppose works with literary talent and absurd content, and think that "it is still a matter covered up with literary brocade." . I get upset if I don't know. "(Liu Zongyuan answers Wu Wuling's" Unofficial Book "). ⑤ Require serious writing attitude, no carelessness, no laziness, no fatuity and no arrogance (Liu Zongyuan answers Wei Zhongli's book "Teacher's Way"). ⑥ Oppose to emphasize the past blindly, and think that "the ancients were also human ears, and their husbands were far away" (Liu Zongyuan's Book with Yang Jingzhao). He expressed indignation at the situation that "those who respect the past and abuse the present are equal" (Liu Zongyuan's book on friends), and pointed out that there are many outstanding contemporary writers. Liu Zongyuan's "If everything is endless, then the article will flourish, and there will be nothing in the past" (Liu Zongyuan's On Books with Yang Jingzhao). Obviously, the ancient prose movement advocated by Han and Liu is to carry out literary innovation and promote literary progress under the banner of retro.
Han and Liu advocated ancient prose and experienced some struggles at that time. Han Yu once said, "A servant has been a writer for a long time. Every time he thinks he is good in his mind, he thinks he is evil. A small name means a small person; Say what you want to say, people will be very strange. " However, in the face of people's criticism and ridicule, Han Yu did not waver. He "abandoned vulgarity without hearing, laughed without humiliation, and was called after learning" (Liu Zongyuan's Answer to Wei Zhongli's Teacher's Book), and constantly expanded the team of the ancient prose movement. Han Yu's students include Li Ao, Huangfushi and Li Han. They converted to teaching and promoted the development of the ancient prose movement. Han and Liu pay attention to absorbing fresh words from spoken language, refining new written language close to spoken language, writing many excellent works, expanding the expressive function of written language and creating a new prose tradition in the history of China literature. At the end of the Tang Dynasty, some satirical essays written by Pi Rixiu, Lu Guimeng and Luo Yin also used ancient prose, which can be said to be the inheritance of the ancient prose movement.