Su Shi (January 8, 1037 - August 24, 1101), also known as Zizhan and Hezhong, was also known as Tieguan Taoist and Dongpo layman. He was also known as Su Dongpo and Su Xian. Han nationality, a native of Meishan, Meizhou (now part of Meishan City, Sichuan Province), his ancestral home is Luancheng, Hebei Province, a writer, calligrapher and painter in the Northern Song Dynasty. In the second year of Jiayou's reign (1057), Su Shi became a Jinshi. During the reign of Emperor Shenzong of the Song Dynasty, he served in Fengxiang, Hangzhou, Mizhou, Xuzhou, Huzhou and other places. In the third year of Yuanfeng (1080), he was demoted to the deputy envoy of Huangzhou Tuanlian due to the "Wutai Poetry Case".

Su Shi was a literary leader in the mid-Northern Song Dynasty and made great achievements in poetry, lyrics, prose, calligraphy, and painting. His writing is bold and unbridled; his poems have broad themes, are fresh and bold, are good at using exaggerated metaphors, and have a unique style. Together with Huang Tingjian, they are called "Su Huang"; "Xin"; his prose writings are grand and bold, and he is called "Ou Su" together with Ouyang Xiu, and is one of the "Eight Great Masters of Tang and Song Dynasties".

Extended information

Achievements

1. Political character

In the late Northern Song Dynasty, the New Party represented by Wang Anshi and Sima Guang The old parties are at odds with each other in the court. Su Shi, on the other hand, dared to speak out from the perspective of the security of the country, reflecting his high-minded political character. His greatest political achievement was when he was the general magistrate of Hangzhou, he dredged and renovated the West Lake and piled up the mud on the spot to form a Su embankment. It not only benefits the people of Hangzhou, but also makes Su Causeway still one of the "Ten Scenic Spots of West Lake".

2. Achievements in poetry

Su Shi is a representative of the "bold and unrestrained" poetry of the Song Dynasty. He swept away the graceful and extravagant style of writing since the Five Dynasties. His works are characterized by outstanding character, broad-minded optimism, and sincere emotions. , known for his natural and straightforward style. Such as "Red Cliff Ode", "Hou Chibi Ode", "When Will the Bright Moon Come" by Shui Tiao Ge Tou, "The Great River Goes East" by Nian Nujiao, etc. It expresses one's heart directly and is majestic. It is still a masterpiece that has been passed down from generation to generation.

3. Calligraphy attainments

Su Shi was the pioneer of "Shangyi" calligraphy in the Song Dynasty. His works are calm and profound, yet simple yet unrestrained and unrestrained. In particular, the theory he advocated that "there is no fixed method for writing, you must make the void wider" has a profound influence in the calligraphy circle to this day. His representative works include "Hanshi Tie", "Li Baixian's Poetry Volume", "Ci Biancai Yun Poetry Tie", "Dongwu Tie", "Zhi Ping Tie", etc.

4. The originator of gourmet food

Braised pork is an enduring delicacy invented by Su Shi. Because the meat he cooked is mellow and delicious, fat but not greasy, it is also called "braised pork". Dongpo meat". When he was exiled to Danzhou, Hainan, he was almost impoverished, so he took back the abandoned lamb spine, washed it, rubbed it with salt, and roasted it on the fire. As a result, it became a famous Dongpo roasted lamb spine dish. In addition, Dongpo fish, Dongpo soup, and Dongpo cakes have always been highly praised.

5. The first Internet language

During his stay in Danzhou, President Su Shi wrote nearly 200 letters to his family, of which more than 70 used the phrase "haha" ". No matter what his mood was when he wrote these two words, today's netizens jokingly call them the first Internet hot words. (You should be joking, but don’t take it seriously)

In short, Su Shi is an outstanding representative with far-reaching influence in Chinese history. Wang Anshi once commented on him: "I don't know if there was such a figure more than a hundred years ago."

Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia-Su Shi