I first learned about Wang Anshi, because I learned his poem "Spring breeze is green in Jiang Nanan, when will the bright moon shine on me?". His song "Boating in Guazhou" is a classic and the most popular among all his works.
Later, I learned his Plum Blossom. In the poem, the phrase "It is not snow from afar, but there is a faint fragrance", which not only describes the delicate fragrance of plum blossoms, but also describes the poet's noble character, and the faint fragrance is refreshing.
When I studied his Deng Fei Lai Feng in junior high school, I learned from the appreciative words that his political reform was blocked by conservatives in every way. However, he has the mind and boldness of vision of "being at the highest level without fear of clouds", so I still have infinite respect for him. When I tell this poem to students, let them talk about enlightenment and sentiment. Most students said that no matter what you do, you can't give up easily. Even if you encounter many difficulties and obstacles, you should stick to it and strive for success.
I have to say that Wang Anshi, as one of the eight masters in Tang and Song Dynasties, undoubtedly left countless outstanding works for later generations. The consistent style of his poetry is thin and vigorous. The early works are dangerous and steep, while the later works turn the strange into the ordinary. Although most of his essays serve his politics, they are also excellent in talent. Among them, Shang Zhongyong is the most familiar one, as well as Travel to Baochan Mountain, Reading the Biography of Meng Changjun, Answering Sima's Advice, etc. These articles are generally clear-cut, short and pithy, logical and persuasive.
writing is like a person. Wang Anshi's works, like his people, are neither supercilious nor supercilious, combining rigidity with softness.
Needless to say, Wang Anshi's accomplishments in literature, but he also became a highlight in the long history because of "Wang Anshi's political reform".
speaking of "Wang Anshi's political reform", I only knew about this incident before, but I basically didn't understand the specific details. However, recently, after reading the section on "Unfortunate" in the biography of Su Dongpo by Lin Yutang, I have gained more understanding and new views on Wang Anshi and his political reform.
"Angry" is a title for Wang Anshi. "Inconsistent" means stubborn, stubborn, inflexible and incapable of change. "Being at odds with each other" is Lin Yutang's conclusion because of "Wang Anshi's political reform". After reading this part of the text, I am also deeply impressed.
Wang Anshi's political reform aimed at developing production, enriching Qiang Bing and saving the political crisis of the Northern Song Dynasty, and took "financial management" and "army consolidation" as the center. Through a series of political reforms, Wang Anshi changed the situation of poverty and weakness since the founding of the Northern Song Dynasty. The new law he promoted mainly includes three parts: the law of enriching the country, the law of strengthening the army and the law of recruiting scholars. In the "law of enriching the country", there is a "young crop law", that is, when the crops are not harvested in February and May every year, the government will give farmers loans and grain loans, with interest of two or three cents every six months, which will be returned with the summer and autumn taxes respectively. The implementation of this "young crop law" can obviously greatly increase the government's income, and limit the exploitation of farmers by usury, and alleviate class contradictions to a certain extent. But the biggest drawback of this new law is that farmers are forced to borrow money, and the interest rate is high, so farmers refuse to accept it.
Wang Anshi turned a blind eye to the problems in the implementation of the new law, and stubbornly believed that the state and the government had given such a good policy to the people that some people refused it? Is there any objection? He thinks this is impossible and should not be, so he still insists on implementing the new law and does not hesitate to exclude dissidents. Those who "sing the opposite" have been hit to varying degrees. Dismissal or exile.
The so-called "conservatives", led by Sima Guang, Su Dongpo and Ouyang Xiu, are well aware that the "young crops law" can not only change the living conditions of ordinary people, but also make them poorer. These "conservatives" tried their best to argue with Wang Anshi face to face, and also actively advised Shenzong many times. But Wang Anshi not only refused to listen, but was also very angry; However, Shenzong is more partial to listening and believing, and ignores it.
Those so-called "conservative forces" risked their lives to prevent the implementation of some new laws that are not conducive to the people, but they also failed to stop Wang Anshi's stubbornness and failed to change the blind faith and blind obedience of Shenzong. A few years after Wang Anshi was in power, a man named Zheng Xia presented several maps of victims to Shenzong, and Shenzong abolished many new laws of Wang Anshi.
Wang Anshi's political reform ended in failure.
the right thing should be adhered to; The wrong thing, if wise, should stop immediately and stop loss in time. Wang Anshi's political reform, obviously, had a good intention, but he ignored the problems in the process of political reform. He was manic, blind and confident, headstrong, eager for quick success and instant benefit, and his inhuman and unrealistic use led to the final failure of the political reform. The most direct consequence of the failure of political reform was to accelerate the demise of the already shaky Northern Song Dynasty.
I wanted to make the country prosperous and strong through political reform. Unexpectedly, Wang Anshi became a sinner through carelessness.
In fact, Wang Anshi, according to the present words, has absolutely no problem with his personality. Su Shi openly opposed Wang Anshi's political reform. However, Wang Anshi was able to warmly entertain Su Shi when he passed by, and the two of them ate meat and drank wine together and talked about poetry. Two people just have different political views, but it doesn't affect their mutual appreciation of literature. This is the so-called "little people are at odds, while gentlemen are at odds." In the whole process of political reform, Wang Anshi didn't do it for his own selfish interests, nor did he enrich himself. He just failed to deal with the problems in the process of political reform.
So, his poems and essays are well written, and he deserves to be a writer. But as a politician and reformer, it is undoubtedly a failure.
I know Wang Anshi objectively and comprehensively, but it doesn't affect my love of Wang Anshi's poetry and prose at all. That's enough!