Cai Xiang and Cai Jing were both ministers of the Northern Song Dynasty and both calligraphers. Moreover, from the same clan, Cai Xiang is also Cai Jing's cousin.
But the two men's paths to becoming officials are very different. Cai Xiang made great efforts to govern, build bridges and pave roads, benefit one party, and be loved by all the people; while Cai Jing, who is highly powerful, is deeply criticized, goes astray, and leaves a name that has been infamous for eternity.
<h1 class="ql-align-center" > Northern Song Dynasty ministers: two Cai celebrities from their hometowns</h1>
In my hometown, Xianyou County, Fujian Province, there are two historical celebrities. One is famous, admired by thousands of people, and one is notorious and reluctant to mention.
Cai Xiang (蔡襄) (7 March 1012 – 27 September 1067), courtesy name Junmo. In the Northern Song Dynasty, he was a scholar of the Duanming Temple, a calligrapher, a writer, and a tea scholar.
Cai Jing (蔡京) (14 February 1047 – 11 August 1126), courtesy name YuanChang, was a northern Song Dynasty official, official to Taishi, and calligrapher.
Friends who know history should know that they are cousins with the same surname, the same dynasty, and have blood relations.
However, the merits and demerits they left for future generations are completely different in evaluation and praise.
<h1>What does history say about them? </h1>
Cai Xiang ----- a clean and honest minister, a man of Geng Zhi, and a man of thousands of generations
Cai Xiang has been an official all his life, maintaining honesty and integrity, being diligent in government and loving the people, and benefiting the people, and truly fulfilling his loyalty to state affairs and establishing a life for the people. Cai Xiang had such ambitions when he was studying. He once wrote such a "Song Poem": "Whoever grows green pine in Tacitus, the tower high pine is not equal." The world's Mo Dao Green Pine is small, and he is a high tower of sun pine from low." The simple verse reveals that Cai Xiang has been determined to be an upright person since childhood, like a big tree, standing on top of the sky.
He built water conservancy projects, organized the construction of a famous historical heritage--- The Luoyang Bridge in Quanzhou (also known as Wan'an Bridge in ancient times); he put the people as the foundation, developed the people's livelihood, and compiled industrial works such as "Lychee Spectrum" and "Tea Record"; he disregarded his personal safety and dared to give advice to officials, leaving a representative work "Four Sages and One Immortal".
"The Four Noble Truths of the Scriptures, the Fang-type Of the Past, the Annals of History; The Thousands of Peace and The Masses, the Ancient Path of the Present Dynasty." This is a couplet engraved on the stone pillar of Cai Xiang's tomb, which is a portrayal of Cai Xiang's life.
The Southern Song Dynasty master of science praised Cai Xiang in this way: "There is no derogatory word before, no objection after, the name is immortal, and it is known throughout the ages." "What an honor.
At the same time, Cai Xiang's descendants were also quite accomplished, and more than 20 jinshi were produced in his family, and many of them had served as officials above the prefect level, which created the flourishing literary style of the entire clan at that time, and the official road was continuous, and was praised by posterity as "The Fifth Dynasty and Ten Zhizhou".
Cai Jing ----- talented, power to the opposition, ending in character
Cai Jing has been gifted and intelligent since childhood, never forgets, excellent calligraphy, and has been a middle soldier since he was 23 years old. After that, the official road soared all the way, and although there were several degrees of floating and sinking in the middle, it still controlled the core official position of the national center for a long time. In the early days of his administration, he was able to promote positive changes in the country, especially in the economy, medical care, agriculture and many other aspects.
However, according to historical records, after reigning as a very popular subject, Cai Jing once used all his talents to fight for power, cultivate henchmen, cater to imperial power, greatly develop flowers and stones, disregard the absurdity of Emperor Huizong of Song, the military strength was declining day by day, social contradictions were constantly intensifying, and the country could not escape the doom of Jing Kang's change after all. Cai Jing, who was active in the political arena of the Northern Song Dynasty for half a century, was also reduced to the tragedy of being assigned to Lingnan and dying in Tanzhou.
To make matters worse, the six thieves of the Northern Song Dynasty: Cai Jing, Tong Guan, Wang Yi, Liang Shicheng, Zhu Xun, and Li Yan. Cai Jing was designated as the head of the Six Thieves. At that time, the Northern Song Song Ballad: "Hit the bucket (Tong Guan), splash the dish (Cai Jing), is the good world on earth." "It's like a spell that has been passed down to this day.
Putting aside the historical doubts that may still exist, these historical facts that have been known are all critical voices that cannot be erased along with the mistakes committed by Cai Jing, and have also become a topic of controversy for future generations.
What's the use of thousands of talents?
<h1>Which Cai is the "Cai" in Su Huang Mi Cai? </h1>
Song Dynasty calligraphy master, "Su Huang Mi Cai". The first three are Su Dongpo, Huang Tingjian, and Mi Fu. Only this Cai has been controversial.
As we all know, Cai Xiang and Cai Jing both have deep achievements in calligraphy. Cai Jing, in particular, was extremely talented in calligraphy, and he was also sought after by the audience, especially after receiving the emperor's favor. It should be known that at that time, Song Huizong was also a master of calligraphy, and his "thin gold body" was a must.
Regarding their calligraphy, Mr. Qi Gong once commented:
"In the Northern Song Dynasty, the families of Cai Xiang, Ouyang Xiu, and Liu Chang were one, inherited but not developed. Su Huang was a case, refusing to accept the old cage, and came up with a new idea without violating the ancient law. Ercai (referring to the Cai Jing Cai Bian brothers) and Mi Fu are one case, and the posture is gathered and scattered in the opening, and the pen is seen in the vigor. According to the Law, this case was actually called a giant among the Song people. ”
Therefore, Cai Jing's calligraphy and the masterpieces he left behind are beyond reproach. The earliest four calligraphy masters of the Northern Song Dynasty, "Su Huang Mi Cai", do have records of Cai Jing. However, due to the corruption of his personal official reputation and the deterioration of the fate of the country in his period, the descendants directly replaced Cai Jing with Cai Xiang, who was talented and virtuous.
After all, a good work without a good reputation cannot last;
Without the support of character, even if there are thousands of talents, they will not be respected.
<h1>Right and wrong: Some mistakes cannot be made in a lifetime</h1>
In Cai Xiang's hometown, Fujian Xianyou. A Cai Xiang cemetery that began to be rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty is still well preserved, and the ancestral hall statues, flowers and shades, are huge in scale for future generations to worship.
In 1168, cai jing's descendants moved his skeleton from the place of death to his hometown xianyou for burial, and Cai Jing's tomb is still alive and has become a local historical protection cultural relic.
The brothers' cemetery, returned to their hometown together, is only a large and admirable one, and a slightly withered and thought-provoking place.
In the early years, many of Cai Jing's descendants changed their names and surnames, and did not dare to admit that they were their descendants. In recent years, people in his hometown and some historians have hoped that Cai Jing will receive a more fair evaluation. After all, in the long river of history, the life of several visits, ups and downs, and exile to death should not only get the name of "traitorous courtier".
But a "History of Song" writes about life, after all, some mistakes cannot be made after all.
Although the second minister of the Cai clan is a brother, there are few historical records in history of the intersection or communication of two people in life and officialdom. On the contrary, only contrast, substitution, as if the existence of one party only makes the other party appear more tall or humble.
Perhaps their existence has changed the direction of the wheel of history.
As future generations, when we observe the traces of ruts, we can only constantly demand that we be rational and objective and fear history.
<h1> Looking back: If history can be repeated</h1>
Walking in the streets of Cai's hometown, whenever the historical story of Cai Xiang and Cai Jing brothers is mentioned, whether it is an old man with two white sideburns or a young boy in the right year, it seems that he has a stomach to say, and there are too many things to say and stop:
Cai Xiang died in 1067, and Cai Jing entered the priesthood in 1070. Cai Xiang had ascended to the court nearly 40 years earlier than Cai Jing, and if there had been Cai Xiang, the big brother, with this little brother, perhaps he would not have been so offended. ”
"A son of heaven and a courtier." Although Ercai was in the same dynasty, the political environment was completely different, and the comments of the 'traitors' were too harsh on Cai Jing."
"Cai Xiang's tutor is relatively good, belongs to the founder of the family, Zhi En Tu Bao; Cai Jing is too early, it is too young, it may not be good!"
"Song Huizong was incompetent, and the main reason for the demise of the Northern Song Dynasty was the father and son of Song Huizong. Cai Jing is just a big trick and a political sacrifice."
"Cai Jing's words are really good."
"Cai Xiang is our historical business card here. Cai Xiang's hometown, a famous cultural city"
"Cai Jing's ending should not be like this"
。。。
The country tone is so cute and so powerful.
If history can be repeated, all hometown people are willing to keep their eyes open and restore and record the most authentic historical ending.
If history can be repeated, we do not want to see brothers and sisters in the same lineage, under the same blue sky, but into different situations.
If history can be repeated, we are willing to cherish every talent and carry it forward on the right way.