The order of the eight masters in Tang and Song Dynasties is Han Yu, Liu Zongyuan, Su Shi, Su Xun, Su Zhe, Ouyang Xiu, Wang Anshi and Ceng Gong. Among them, Han Yu and Liu Zongyuan were the leaders of the ancient prose movement in the Tang Dynasty, Ouyang Xiu and San Su were the core figures of the ancient prose movement in the Song Dynasty, and Wang Anshi and Ceng Gong were the representatives of Linchuan literature. Han Yu and Liu Zongyuan are advocates of the "ancient prose movement".
1. Han Yu
Han Yu was a famous essayist and an important poet in the Tang Dynasty. He created a new school of poetry. He is good at using strong and powerful brushstrokes to drive the majestic momentum, mixed with fantastic and mysterious interests, and gives poetry a rich and magnificent color, resulting in the spectacular thunder and lightning.
Han Yu
Second, Liu Zongyuan
Liu Zongyuan and Han Yu are called "Han Liu", Liu Yuxi as "Liu Liu" and Wang Wei, Meng Haoran and Wei Yingwu as "Wang Meng Wei Liu". Born in Chang 'an, he was a scholar in the ninth year of Zhenyuan (793), and the official supervised the imperial history. He left more than 6 poems in his life, and his achievements were greater than poems. He was less than 5 years old. He is the author of "Liuhe East Collection" and so on.
Liu Zongyuan
Third, Su Shi, his father Su Xun (19 ~ 166) and his brother Su Zhe (139 ~ 1112) are all famous for their literature, and they are called "Three Sus" in the world.
Su Shi is a famous writer, painter, essayist, poet and representative of the unrestrained school in the Northern Song Dynasty. Su Shi has made great achievements in poetry, ci, prose, calligraphy and painting, and is recognized as one of the most outstanding literary and artistic attainments in China for thousands of years. His prose is called "Han Chao Su Hai" with Han Yu, "Ou Su" with Ouyang Xiu, "Su Huang" with Huang Tingjian, and "Su Xin" with Xin Qiji, which is called "the first all-rounder in ancient China".
Su Xun's lyric prose is few, but there are also many excellent chapters. In "Sending Shi Changyan to the North", he hoped that Shi Changyan, a friend of Qidan, would not be afraid of violence, despise the enemy and write with momentum. The Portrait of Zhang Yizhou narrates Zhang Fangping's deeds of governing Yizhou, and creates an image of a feudal official who is lenient in politics and loves the people. "The Story of the Wooden Rockery" expresses its feelings through things, praising a spirit of self-reliance and uprightness.
Su Zhesheng is dominated by Confucianism, and he admires Mencius the most, and has visited hundreds of schools. He is good at political theory and historical theory. In political theory, he talks about world events. For example, New Theory (I) says that "today's world affairs are not safe, chaotic but not dangerous, and Ji Gang is rough and not lifted, and there is no sudden change but slow illness". Analyzing the political situation at that time can quite hit the nail on the head.
Three Su Statues
IV. Ouyang Xiu
Ouyang Xiu was an important writer in the mid-11th century in China. His prose, poems and ci occupied a very important position in the literary world of the Northern Song Dynasty, and he was recognized as the leader of the literary world at that time and the leader of the ancient prose movement. In particular, the achievements of prose are the most outstanding. What he preached was not about ethics, but about caring for Pepsi. He took the spirit of "following the words" from Han Yu, vigorously advocated simple and well-written, fluent and natural style of writing, and opposed frivolity and obscurity. He can not only set out from reality and put forward a plain prose theory, but also set an example with his highly accomplished creative achievements.
Ouyang Xiu
V. Wang Anshi
Wang Anshi is not only an outstanding politician and thinker, but also an outstanding writer. In order to realize his political ideal, he closely linked literary creation with political activities, emphasizing that the role of literature first lies in serving the society, emphasizing the practical function and social effect of the article, and advocating the unity of literature and Taoism.
Wang Anshi
VI. Ceng Gong
Ceng Gong attaches great importance to promoting education, persuading students and cultivating talents. It has built a "Xinglu Academy" beside Fuzhou's residence, and personally set the study rules and teaching seats to promote Fuzhou's style of study. In Ceng Gong's narrative, there are occasional scenery-writing works, which depict great work. For example, the dangers of mountains and rivers are described in "Daoshan Pavilion". "Mo Chi Ji" talks about the past and discusses the present, which is not without insight. The Biography of Ceng Gong in the History of the Song Dynasty commented on his article: "It is difficult to stand between Ouyang Xiu and Wang Anshi, to be rich but not annoying, to be simple but not gloomy, and to stand out as a family."
Ceng Gong