Han Yu, a native of Heyang, Henan Province (now Mengzhou City, Henan Province), was an outstanding minister, writer, thinker, and politician in the middle of the Tang Dynasty. His life was magnificent and legendary, and he was known as the "Great Duke of Articles" and "Wenzong of the Hundred Generations", ranking first among the "Eight Great Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties".
Han Yu's childhood did not go well. His ancestors were all officials in the court or in the local government, and his father, Han Zhongqing, was a secretary at the time, but when he was three years old, his father died, leaving orphans and widows to rely on each other. Subsequently, his brother Han Hui was implicated by Yuan Zai and demoted to the Shaozhou Assassin History, and died of illness soon after. Han Yu lived in Xuanzhou, Jiangnan with his widowed sister-in-law Zheng and spent a difficult childhood. However, the adversity did not break him, but sharpened his tenacious character and the spirit of hard work.
In the second year of Zhenyuan (786), Han Yu left Xuancheng and went to Chang'an alone to begin his imperial examination. He went to Hezhong Mansion (now Yongji, Shanxi) to join his brother Han Yi, and was appreciated and funded by the envoys of the Hezhong Festival. However, the road to the imperial examination was not an easy one, and although Han Yu was talented, he failed many times. But he was not discouraged, but studied harder, and finally ascended to the rank of scholar in the eighth year of Zhenyuan (792) and embarked on his official career.
Han Yu is an honest official, outspoken and daring, and is deeply loved by the people. He once supervised the imperial history, was not afraid of the powerful, and repeatedly impeached corrupt officials and corrupt officials. During the severe drought in the Guanzhong area, he witnessed the displacement of the victims, and was heartbroken, so he angrily played "On the Drought and Hunger on the Imperial History Platform", asking for tax reduction and relief for the victims. However, his righteous deeds were slandered by villains and demoted to Lianzhou Yangshan Order. Despite this, he still stuck to his original intention and asked for the people's lives.
In the twelfth year of Yuanhe (817), Han Yu served as the prime minister Pei Du marching Sima and followed the army to quell the "Huaixi Rebellion". He strategized, won a decisive victory, and made great achievements for the stability of the country. After the war, he was awarded for his merits, but instead of being complacent, he was more humble and cautious, and did his best to serve the court.
However, Han Yu's outspokenness and daring to admonish him once again put him in trouble. In the fourteenth year of Yuanhe (819), he went to the court to give a direct advice, opposing Xianzong's worship of the Buddha's bones, and imploring that the Buddha's bones be "thrown into fire and water, and forever extended". This move angered Xianzong, and Han Yue was almost sentenced to death. Fortunately, many officials interceded for him, and he was spared and demoted to the history of Chaozhou Assassin. During his time in Chaozhou, although he was in adversity, he still cared about the people's livelihood, built water conservancy, developed education, and was deeply loved by the people.
Han Yu is not only an outstanding politician and writer, but also a traveler who loves nature and is good at discovery. He once visited Mount Hua and was shocked by its magnificent scenery, leaving many well-known poems. His poems not only express his love for nature, but also convey a deep reflection on the philosophy of life.
In the fourth year of Changqing (824), Han Yu died of illness in Chang'an at the age of fifty-seven. His death shocked the government and the public, and people mourned this outstanding writer and politician. Although his life was full of ups and downs, his spirit is forever engraved in people's hearts. The rich cultural heritage and noble spiritual demeanor he left behind have become a valuable asset for future generations to learn and inherit.
Han Yu's life is an epic full of legends. With his indomitable perseverance, courage to speak out, profound literary attainments, and outstanding political ability, he has won the respect and praise of the world. His life is the best interpretation of "Article Giant" and "Model of Straight Ministers".