Author: Du Chaohui
He was a famous poet of the Tang Dynasty. At that time, the "poetry demon" Bai Juyi was his fan, and in later generations, Wang Anshi, Yuan Haowen, Zheng Banqiao and other literary giants were his fans. Because of his outstanding poetic achievements, posterity referred to him with Du Mu as "Little Li Du" and Wen Tingjun as "Wen Li".
He is Li Shangyin.
In the late Tang Dynasty, poetry, like the declining Tang Dynasty, withered away. It was Li Shangyin and others who pushed Tang poetry to another peak. Li Shangyin's poems are novel in conception, beautiful in style, and distinctive in art. And the most popular is his untitled poems.
These poems are written in a melancholy, beautiful and moving way, and it is intoxicating to read, and while intoxicated, you will wonder: What exactly did he write?
Later generations of cultural celebrities have also studied Li Shangyin's untitled poems, but the research results are eye-popping: it is obviously the same poem, but there are many interpretations, such as love theory, yongwu theory, patriotic theory, self-injurious life theory, etc. Provoked the great talent of the Jin Dynasty, Yuan, to ask a big question: the poet always loves XiKun, and hates no one as a Zheng Note!
What exactly contributed to his untitled poems, and what made them elusive? Today, let us follow the footsteps of Li Shangyin's life to explore his mental journey, and perhaps we can glimpse it.
First, a fortunate and unfortunate childhood
What is a 9-year-old? The answer is the flowers of the blessed country, the hope of the family. They were supposed to sing nursery rhymes, carry school bags to school, and in their spare time they could watch cartoons, play games, and play mobile phones.
Unfortunately, when Li Shangyin was 9 years old, the top pillar of the family, the father who was an official in Jiangnan, left their mother and son and died.
"The year is on the side, the family is difficult to spin", "there is no place of return in the four seas, and the nine ethnic groups have no relatives to rely on", which is a huge blow to the young Li Shangyin. However, the eldest brother was like a father, and as the eldest son in the family, he resolutely took up the burden with his weak body. "In order to lead Dan Yi", he helped his mother transport his father's coffin back to his hometown. Zhejiang to Henan, thousands of miles away, let us all be sad for the little him!
After burying his father, he kept filial piety for three years. His father was a petty official before his death, with a little savings, but after three years, the cost was sluggish, "and the clothes were removed, the purpose was urgent", the family's livelihood was placed in front of Li Shangyin, and at the age of 12, he "supported the book dealer" and became a child laborer. If this situation develops, he may be a migrant worker for the rest of his life!
Fortunately, one of his uncles fell in love with him and made him a Bole. This uncle is not a village man, but has gone to too much school, full of economy, but he does not want to be an official and lives in seclusion in the countryside. The uncle diligently taught Xiao Li Shangyin cultural knowledge and ancient writing skills, so that Li Shangyin had a deep improvement in literary literacy, especially ancient writing, the most handy, he said to himself "can be for ancient Chinese, do not like to be coupled."
With his feathers gradually plumping, he began to sell himself for the revitalization of the family to seek better development opportunities. He submitted his articles to the dignitaries and academic celebrities, which were called "scrolls" in history, but they were snubbed.
Just when he was disheartened, a hardener Bole appeared, he was Ling Huchu, the official post Tianping Junjie, the karmic post, and the leader in writing.
Ling Huchu was quite fond of Li Shangyin, and taught him the writing skills necessary for the examination, and took them home, "giving the age to the capital, so that the follow-up to the capital", not only to provide food and clothing, but also to encourage his son Ling Hu to associate with him. There is a great tendency to take Li Shangyin as a righteous son.
Li Shangyin's fatherly love made Li Shangyin feel deeply warm, and at the age of 17, he expressed his gratitude through poetry.
Wei Yi He once had a millimeter, carrying a pen in the air to feng Longtao. Since the middle of the night, the unimpressed king Xiang got the sabre. - "The Book of Thanks"
Second, the difficult examination
In 829, with the increasing proficiency of writing exam essays, Li Shangyin began his arduous journey of obtaining meritorious titles.
Determined to win, he thought that with his own talents, it would be easy to enter the army and the first. However, it turned out that he was too naïve, the darkness of the late Tang Dynasty was the darkness of the dark, and the Keju Shi seemed to be under the mask of fairness and brilliance, hiding the ugly spots such as the family, the door, and the relationship between master and apprentice who were ashamed to see people. The path that led to Li Shangyin's examination was as follows: "Whoever is a scholar for five years will first be hated by Jia Xiangguo, and next year he will not try to be ill, and next year, he will be restored to Cui Xuanzhou." "The first three exams, the name of the sun mountain.
At this time, Ling Fox, who was as close as his brother, had already reached the first. Although he was inferior to him in every way except his family origin, Ling Fox was indeed ahead of him in his career. In a letter to Ling Fox, he expressed his anxious mood, "Erlai foot Shi Yida, servant fixed and do not move." Yes, in addition to envy and jealousy, his hopes can only be pinned on the Ling Fox Family.
In 837, Li Shangyin participated in the imperial examination four times. At this time, Ling Fox was already in the official arena, and it happened that the chief examiner of this exam, Gao Kai, was also his buddy. Before the exam, Ling Fox asked Gao Kai to drink Hi Pi. During the drunken period, Gao Kai asked Ling Fox, "Which of your friends is the best with you?" Ling Fox replied, "Li Yishan! Gao Kai asked again, "Of your friends, which one do you have the best relationship with?" Ling Fox replied, "Li Yishan." After answering Ling Fox's answer four times in the affirmative, the coveted title of Jinshi finally came to Li Shangyin.
At this time, he was full of ambition, the world in front of him was so beautiful, the friendship was so sweet, the future was bright, and the day of showing his skills was coming soon. After traveling to PeiFengyi, he wrote the "Inscription Han Ancestral Temple", expressing his ambition to build a meritorious career.
Luck should be in the house of eight wilderness, the boy is in love with the pool. After the king rose to Xinfeng, Xiang Yuhe was in his hometown. - "Title Han Ancestral Temple"
Third, the bumpy road
Shortly after Li Shangyin entered the army and the first, the great benefactor Ling Huchu died. After writing the "Testament Table" for him, he left the Ling Fox family with gratitude and lived a life without any dependence.
Just when he was thinking bitterly about what to do next, Jingyuan Jiedu made Wang Maoyuan throw an olive branch to him, so Li Shangyin entered Wang Maoyuan's shogunate, and life finally settled down again. What was even more unexpected to him was that at this time, a large pie fell from the sky and was smashing at him: Wang Maoyuan, because he loved Qicai, gave him the daughter of his concubine Xu, and the history books called Wang.
Li Shangyin became the dragon-riding son-in-law of jiedushi. Wang's dignified and virtuous, husband and wife love, coupled with the financial support of the husband, the little two from time to time to clubbing, dancing, shopping, buying a bag, the days are also happy.
But you can't always do the old people! Eating people's mouths is short, and making a living for themselves is king.
In 828, Li Shangyin took the Erudite Hongxue Examination, commonly known as the Conferring Examination. What he himself could not imagine was that in the past, he who was as close as a brother in the heart of Ling Fox was now a villain who "forgot his family and stole money".
In the era in which Li Shangyin lived, the government was chaotic and there were frequent disputes between the niu and Li parties. Wang Maoyuan was friendly with Li Deyu, and Li Deyu was the boss of the Li Party, and the Linghu family had always been the core of the Niu Party. As a result, Li Shangyin, as the aunt of the Wang family, naturally became a betrayer of the LingHu family.
But the simple Li Shangyin did not think like this: My union with my wife is a combination of langcai and female appearance, a match made in heaven. I don't want to hug Wang Maoyuan's thighs, let alone speculate on Li Dang, I just want to seek an official and a half-job, do something for society, and live my own life.
"Success is also Xiao He, defeat is also Xiao He", it was in this examination that Ling Fox implied that the examiner was "unbearable", so Li Shangyin's first examination for teaching officials failed.
Li Shangyin returned to Jingyuan in frustration, and one day, he climbed the Anding City Tower, looked at the distant scenery, and spat out the unhappiness that was suppressed in his chest.
Round up the 100-foot building of the high city, and the green poplar branches are as far as Tingzhou. Jia Sheng was young and weeping, and Wang Yuechun came to travel farther. Forever remembering the rivers and lakes to return to white hair, want to return to heaven and earth into the flat boat. I don't know the taste of rotten rats, and I guess that the birds have not stopped. - "Anding City Tower"
Since then, Sun Jian has been difficult everywhere. After several battles, Li Shang was unable to do so, felt tired, and finally chose to resign.
In 842, Li Deyu, a friend of the old man, entered the core of power and won the trust of the emperor, and his red color turned purple. Li Shangyin's political spring seems to be coming. But fate played a big joke with him, and his mother died. No way, go back home, close the door and keep filial piety.
The three years of filial piety are the three most beautiful years of Li Deyu. By the time Li Shangyin returned from home in 845, Li Deyu had already pulled aside. This light could not be touched, and Li Shangyin had to return to the secretary province and do the secretary province orthography, which was a position smaller than that of the school secretary.
Li Shangyin was very depressed, and whenever sadness came, in the evening he would drive to Leyouyuan in the south of Chang'an City, look down at Chang'an, and look at the sunset to dispel the boredom in his heart. And it was precisely his boredom that made a great poem "Le Youyuan".
To the evening discomfort, drive to The Ancient Plains. The sunset is infinitely better, just near dusk. - "LeYouyuan"
In 848, Li Shangyin, who had not developed well in Guilin, returned to Chang'an, and at this time Ling Hu was serving in the imperial court, although he knew that Ling Hu had prejudices against him, but in order to seek a position to make a living, he still came to Ling Hu Mansion with a hard scalp. In the face of the arrival of his former brother, Ling Fox skillfully performed the invisibility spell, no matter how curious you are, I just don't show up.
Li Shang, who had been waiting for a long time, knew that the road of relying on Ling Fox's promotion could not be passed, and resentment was not, nor was hatred, so he wrote a poem "Nine Days" in the living room, euphemistically reminding Ling Fox not to forget the old love.
When Zeng Gongshan Weng put the wine, the frost day white chrysanthemum went around the steps. Ten years under the spring no one asked, nine days before the bottle to think. Do not learn Han Chen to plant alfalfa, empty teaching Chu Ke Yong Jiang Li. Lang Junguan Gui performed the horse, and the East Pavilion had no reason to peek. - "Nine Days"
After Ling Fox saw it, although he was ashamed, but more annoyed, he asked his subordinates to lock the living room and never open it. This lock also completely locked up Li Shangyin's remaining hope.
Helplessly, Li Shangyin had to enter the examination room again, and he passed the exam again, and the position was The Lieutenant of Luyi County, and 10 years ago, he served as the Lieutenant of Hongnong County. After tossing and turning for 10 years, Li Shangyin's career path has gone around a big circle and returned to the original point.
4. Collapse of the shogunate
On the road of hope and hope, Li Shangyin did not stick to a tree, and he also repeatedly found another way to travel between the shogunates, looking for opportunities to rise.
In 847, the Bull Party, which held power, launched a great purge of Li Party forces, and Zheng Ya, a Member of the Li Party, was demoted to Guilin and invited Li Shangyin to be his staff, and Li Shangyin agreed without thinking much. Because he was doing orthography in the secretary province, he was really depressed, and he wanted to go thousands of miles away to let the wind out and breathe, and he also ended up at ease, without having to be splinted in the middle of the dynasty.
In Guilin, Li Shangyin was indeed mentally relaxed, and a song "Evening Eye" wrote about his leisure.
Living deep in the city, spring to summer. Providence pities the grass, and the earth is heavy and sunny. And add a high cabinet, micro-note small window ming. After the nest is dried, the flying body is lighter. - "Evening Eye"
However, the good times were not long, less than a year after coming to Guilin, Zheng Ya was again degraded, and he was not safe, and Li Shangyin lost his job opportunity.
In 849, Li Shangyin, who had nothing to do in Beijing, was invited to follow The Wuning Army to Lu Hongzhi to Xuzhou. At that time, the situation was that Lu Hongzhi was very capable, and he wanted to lead Li Shangyin as his staff to help him develop better.
On a rainy night in Xuzhou, Li Shangyin thought of his wife and children at home, and he integrated deep thoughts, misty moods, and vague dreams into the poems.
Lying in the new year white robes, the white door is rare and disobedient. The Red Chamber looked at each other cold in the rain, and the bead foil lantern returned alone. The long way should be sad and late in the spring, and the remnants of the night are still faint. Yu Yu Zhen Za He Yu Da, Wanli Yun Luo a goose flying. - "Spring Rain"
However, the strange thing is that after only a year in Xuzhou, Lu Hongzhi died. Presumably, Li Shangyin at that time would have shook his head and laughed: My scalp is really hard, and the unpleasant things in the world have made me catch up!
Li Shangyin returned to Chang'an again. At this time, another great misfortune in life fell on him, and wang shi, who shared happiness and suffering with him, left the human world. The middle-aged widow, the ups and downs of his career, the unhappiness of the shogunate, his eyes are full of tears.
Li Shangyin buried his wife, and after making some adjustments, in the autumn of 851, he became the shogunate of Liu Zhongyin, the envoy of the Sichuan Festival, to join the army. Unlike his previous two shogunate careers, he stayed in Azusa for 6 years. These 6 years can be said to be the most ordinary and stable time in his life, far away from right and wrong, no white eyes, but worried, he lives idyllically.
Spring is coming, everything is beginning, a hundred flowers are competing, and the red plum in the only courtyard has long lost the winter mess, and the loneliness stands in the spring light. At this scene, he suddenly thought of his own life, like this plum blossom, in the good spring days, but prematurely withered, he used a song "Remembrance of Plums" to pour out the unhappiness in his heart.
Fix the end of the world, cling to the material. Hanmei is the most hated, often made last year's flowers. - "Remembrance of Plum"
Fifth, the bleak evening scene
In 857, Li Shangyin resigned from his post as an official of Salt and Iron, and returned to Chang'an with dignity. He was 45 years old at the time.
What can the age of 45 do? At the age of 45, Li Bai was traveling to Wuyue to find happiness in the mountains and rivers; Du Fu was avoiding the sight of the rebels in An Shi at the age of 45 and going straight to Fengxiang to seek political ideals; Du Mu, who was almost the same age as Li Shangyin, was proud of the spring breeze at the age of 45 and served as a foreign minister in the dprk. The 45-year-old Li Shangyin has been in a broken age, and his ruthless life has tortured him into a white-haired old man.
Lonely and miserable, he often came to the Qu River alone, half walking around the bends, half for recreation. It was late autumn, and he came to the riverside again, and the autumn wind swept through the frost sideburns, and the eyes were full of dry lotus floating in the water. Where did the verdant green lotus go in summer? Where did the delicate red cocky that came out of the mud and didn't stain it go?
The lotus flower is the most beautiful in his heart, and the lotus flower is the favorite in his eyes. It was the appearance of his wife, the look of the person he loved most of his life. He was overwhelmed with sorrow and gave it to the poem.
When the lotus leaves are born, they hate in the spring, and when the lotus leaves wither, they hate in autumn. I know that I am in love and look forward to the sound of the river. - "Twilight Autumn Solo Tour of the Qu river"
In 858, the poet's life was frozen in 46 years. He went, with love for the world; he went, with helplessness for the world...
Perhaps only such an experience has the poet's poem "Untitled".
This is the best gift that the poet has left to our descendants, they are intoxicating and so elusive, whether it is love or poetry, or such as patriotism, self-harm...
Perhaps his life is the biggest "untitled" and the most difficult "untitled" left to posterity.
Heavy and deep under the Mo Shuo Hall, after lying down, the night is slender and slender. The goddess's career was originally a dream, and the little sister-in-law lived in the ben wulang. Fengbo did not believe that the lingzhi was weak, and the moon dew who taught the laurel leaf incense. Straight lovesickness is useless, not hindered by the fear is pure madness. - "Untitled"
Author: Du Chaohui, a native of Weifang, Shandong, a middle school teacher and a lover of ancient poetry.