Chapter 42 9. About "The Biography of Su Dongpo"②

②This article is the "Preface to the Biography of Su Dongpo", which has been abridged. I don't have any particular reason to write it, it's just for fun.The idea of ​​writing a biography for him has been in my mind for many years.When my family went to the United States in the 25th year of the Republic of China, in addition to a few carefully selected basic Chinese reference books, they also brought some rare and ancient books about Su Dongpo and Su Dongpo. As for taking up a lot of space in the luggage, it is Forgot all about it.At that time I hoped to write a book about Su Tungpo, or translate some of his poems, and even if I could not do so, I would like to have him by my side when I lived abroad.Such a creative, upright, uninhibited, unrestrained, fascinating and unparalleled scholar like Su Dongpo, with his works on the bookshelf, makes people feel that they have rich spiritual food.What other reason do I need than the great pleasure that I can now devote myself to this biography of him?

People who are full of vitality and vitality are always difficult to understand.Characters like Su Dongpo are indispensable in the world.It is generally futile to explain the character and personality of such people.In a man who is versatile and has a colorful life, it is easy to pick out some admirable characteristics of him.We can say that Su Dongpo was an optimist with a hard-to-change nature, a moralist with compassion, a good friend of the common people, a prose writer, a painter of the new school, a great calligrapher, an experimenter in brewing wine, and an engineer. , is an opponent of hypocrisy, a practitioner of yoga, a Buddhist, a scholar-bureaucrat, the emperor's secretary, a drunkard, a merciful judge, a political stickler, and a man under the moon. The rambler is a poet, a joker by nature.But these may not be enough to paint a complete picture of Su Dongpo.Perhaps I can best sum up everything about Su Tungpo if I say that the mention of Su Tungpo always elicits smiles of kindness and admiration in China.Su Dongpo's character is profound, broad, and humorous as a versatile genius, with high intelligence and innocent heart—just as Jesus said, he has the wisdom of a boa constrictor and the gentleness of a dove. In this regard, other poets cannot hold a candle to them.The collection of these qualities is rare in the world, and it is innumerable.And Su Dongpo is just such a person!He remained innocent and simple, unswerving throughout his life.Political intrigue and profit-seeking are incompatible with his character; his poems and articles, either impromptu, or expressed when he is dissatisfied, are all naturally expressed, in line with nature, just It is fierce and fierce, just like what he said "the sound of birds in spring and insects in autumn"; it can also be compared to his poem: "It's not intentional for apes to sing and cranes to cry. I don't know if there are pedestrians." He has been involved in political whirlpools, but However, he is glorious, and he is high above the political activities of Gou Gou Yingying.He doesn't ask for anything, he recites poems and composes anytime, anywhere, criticizes or criticizes, and expresses his feelings purely. As for the consequences that will be incurred, and what interests and harms he has for himself, he completely ignores it.For this reason, until today, readers still take pleasure in reading his works, because people like him always care about world affairs, always protest and speak out, and don't hide anything.His works reveal his true nature, which is both solemn and harmonious, vivid and powerful. Although the taste may vary depending on the situation, it is true and sincere, and it is completely from the heart.There is no other reason for his writing except for his own enjoyment, and today we read his poems and essays for no other reason, just because his writing is so beautiful, so vigorous and simple, and every word flows out of his pure heart and lungs.

For a thousand years, why have so many people in all ages of China loved this great poet? I tried my best to analyze this reason, and now I should talk about the second reason.In fact, this reason is not much different from the first reason, but the statement is different.That is, Su Dongpo has his own charming magic.Just as magic is in women, beauty and fragrance are in flowers, which are easy to feel but difficult to explain.The main magic power of Su Tungpo is that of the shining genius, which often arouses the anxiety and anxiety of his wife or those who love him very much, making people wonder whether he should be respected and loved for his fearless spirit, or whether he should be loved in order to make him He dissuades him and protects him from the harm of others.Apparently there was a moral force in him that could not be checked by human power, and this force, from the moment he was born, operated powerfully on him until death closed his mouth and interrupted his talking and laughing. stop.He swung his brush like a rafter, like a child's play.He can be arrogant and eccentric, but also solemn and serious, and can be light-hearted and joking, but also solemn and solemn. From the end of his smile, we can hear the vibration of the strings of human emotions, joy, joy, dreamy awakening, and obedience. Bear.He feasted, enjoyed wine, and was always cordial and friendly.He claims to be irritable by nature, and when he encounters something unpleasant, he feels "like a fly eating, and he spits it out quickly." Once, he hated a certain poet's poem, and he really said that "it's just Tokyo pedants who drink bootleg alcohol and eat food." Miasma-dead beef is also what happens when you are drunk and full."

He made jokes, regardless of friend or foe.Once, in a grand court ceremony, in front of all the ministers, he made a joke of a Taoist and stabbed him with a phrase, which he later had to bear the consequences of.However, what others can't understand is that Su Dongpo can get angry because of things, but he doesn't hate people.He hates evil things, and he doesn't care much about being evil.Just don't like these people.Because hating others is a manifestation of his own incompetence, Su Dongpo is not inferior to others, so he never hated others.In short, the impression we get is that his life was full of singing and dancing, and he enjoyed it a lot, and laughed it off when he was in trouble.His magic power is what I try my best to describe in this clumsy pen, and it is his magic power that makes countless Chinese scholars fall in love with him and love him.

This book records the deeds of a poet, painter and a close friend of ordinary people.He has keen feelings, clear thinking, beautiful writing, and acts bravely, never wavering for his own interests, nor changed by common opinion.He is not good at self-sufficiency, but he is rich in the spirit of people and nature.He is kind, warm, generous and kind to people. Although he doesn't save a penny, he feels that he is richer than a prince.Although he is stubborn and talkative by nature, he is full of quick talent, but sometimes he speaks too bluntly and outspokenly; The writing is natural and elegant; as a father, brother, and husband, he takes Confucianism as the criterion, but he is a pure Taoist in his bones, but he is cynical and too clear about right and wrong.In terms of literary talent and academics, he is far above other literati and scholars. Naturally, he does not need to be jealous. Since he is great beyond the reach of others, he is naturally gentle and friendly to others, and does not harm himself. He is purely simple and natural, so No pretense of dignity was required; when fettered by office, he called himself cramped.In this troubled world, he is like a Haiyan in a political storm, the enemy of mediocre bureaucrats, and a warrior who protects the people and resists violence.Although the emperors of all dynasties admired him, and the empresses of all dynasties were his sincere friends, Su Tungpo was repeatedly demoted, arrested, and lived in humiliation.

Once, Su Tungpo said a few words to his younger brother Ziyou, the words were the best, and the description of himself could not be better: "I can accompany the Jade Emperor, and I can accompany the beggars of Beitian Courtyard. I see that there is no bad person in the world." Therefore, it is not without reason that Su Dongpo lived happily, fearlessly, like a breeze. Su Dongpo's life experience is basically the natural expression of his nature.In metaphysics, he is a Buddhist. He knows that life is a momentary expression of something, the form of an eternal spirit in a momentary body, but he refuses to accept that life is a burden and suffering. —he didn't think that was quite the case.As for himself, he enjoys every moment of his life.In terms of metaphysics, he is of Hindu thought, but in terms of temperament, he is an authentic Chinese temperament.From Buddhism's denial of life, Confucianism's face-up to life, and Taoism's simplified life, the poet produced his mixed outlook on life from his spiritual insights.The longest human life is only 36,000 days, but that is already long enough; even if his pursuit of the elixir of immortality is in vain, every moment of life, as long as it is continuous, it will be beautiful and gratifying.Although his body will die, his spirit will become a star in the sky and a river on earth in the next life, shining light, nourishing and nourishing, thus sustaining all living things.In this life, he is just a particle in the momentary manifestation of eternity, so it doesn't matter which particle he is?So life is immortal and good after all, so he enjoys it to the fullest.This is the mysterious side of this ancient wizard optimist.