Li Tang was the first in the art examination appointed by Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty. Setting up a street stall at the age of 80 was actually an expression of his patriotism.
After Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty reformed the Painting Academy and placed it under the Imperial Academy, and once the news came out that it was recruiting students nationwide, art students across the country ushered in their own spring. This is especially true for one of them, Li Tang. At the age of 50, he had to prepare for another 7 or 8 years before he decided to take the imperial examination. Facing thousands of candidates across the country and the number of places that could be counted on both hands, Li Tang also felt a little uneasy. But God still favors those who work hard. Song Huizong believed that Li Tang had grasped the topic and his works contained implicit expressions of poetry, so he appointed him to be the first in the art examination. 1. Double walls of the painting academy
Li Tang, who had been impoverished for half his life because he ranked first in the art exam, ushered in his own spring, but this spring did not last long. After all, the people in the art academy are selected after thousands of selections. Everyone has more or less real abilities, and Li Tang will also feel a little bit of pressure. Because the paintings completed by Wang Ximeng, a senior who was 40 years younger than him, were highly praised by the emperor. However, Li Tang knew that he did not have the ability of Wang Ximeng, but he was introverted and diligent, and finally completed "Ten Thousand Valleys and Pine Mountains" and was recognized. . 2. Still remembering the country during the escape
If the times were peaceful, I believe that Li Tang could get a good professional title in the art academy and be able to have enough food and clothing for the rest of his life. But the reality is always cruel. When the Jin soldiers captured Bianjing, they conducted a massive search in the city and kidnapped the emperor and many painters.
Li Tang was lucky enough to escape this disaster. He took the paper and pen he used to make a living and wandered all the way to Lin'an. In this unfamiliar place, Li Tang, who was already 80 years old, struggled to survive. Choosing to return to his old career, during this period, he once painted a picture of "Picking Weeds" to express his story of "preferring to eat weeds to satisfy his hunger rather than eating Zhousu", and to express his patriotic ambitions.