Su Shi's Lingnan Poetry

The phrase "I can't live without this gentleman for a day" (see Shi Shuo Xin Yu) by the prince of the Eastern Jin Dynasty became the mantra of people who loved bamboo in previous dynasties. Yan Zi likes bamboo because its green leaves are lush and beautiful, because it is full of sadness and resentment, because it is strong and restrained.

There are many poems about bamboo sung by scholars in later generations, such as Living in the North Window of Bamboo, Flowers Reflected on the Plain Wall by Linghu Chu in Tang Dynasty (Poem of Planting Bamboo on the Left Side of County Zhai), The Chu River is high and full of love, and Who knows that Xiang Shui is full of tears.

In their eyes, bamboo is always so elegant and refined, like a hermit with compassion. Su Shi's so-called "I can't live without this gentleman for a day" is a unique way, focusing on the practical value of bamboo, which can be eaten, covered, carried, worn, written and worn. Bamboo will move from detachment to vulgarity and from dream to reality.

At the time of writing this article, Su Shi was banished to Huizhou for the second time in his life. Ordinary "Lingnan Bamboo Slips" also entrusted him with a heavy sense of life experience. "Lingnan Bamboo Slips" can be fully used, but Su Shi, who was inspired by heaven and earth, is far from being useful. This is sad! At the same time, Su Shi's description of Lingnan bamboo is so vivid that it reflects his philosophical attitude and persistence in reality.

Extended data

Su Shi has high attainments in literature and poetry, and can be called the representative of the highest literary achievement in Song Dynasty. Moreover, Su Shi's creative activities are not limited to literature. He has made outstanding achievements in calligraphy, painting and other fields, and also made contributions in medicine, cooking, water conservancy and other skills. Su Shi is a typical representative of the cultural spirit in Song Dynasty.

Judging from the scope of literary history, Su Shi's significance mainly has two points: First, Su Shi's attitude towards life has become a paradigm respected by later scholars: advancing and retreating freely, not being shocked by humiliation. Because Su Shi integrated the two attitudes of feudal scholars on the same value scale, he was able to keep calm and go all out.

Of course, this paradigm is more suitable for scholars who have suffered from ups and downs, and it can lead to a life of integrity and abundance, which is exactly what scholars in the past dynasties after the Song Dynasty hoped to do. Secondly, Su Shi's aesthetic attitude provides an enlightening aesthetic paradigm for later generations. He embraces the world with a broad aesthetic vision, so everything is considerable and beauty is everywhere.