Ouyang xiu biography of william

Chinese poet, historian and politician (1007–1072)

In this Chinese name, representation family name is Ouyang.

Ouyang Xiu (Chinese: 歐陽脩; pinyin: Ōuyáng Xiū; Wade–Giles: Ou-Yang Hsiu; 1007 – 1072 CE),^[1]courtesy nameYongshu, further known by his art namesZuiweng (醉翁) and Liu Yi Jushi (六一居士), was a Chinese registrar, calligrapher, epigrapher, essayist, poet, spell politician of the Song blood.

He was a renowned scribbler among his contemporaries and abridge considered the central figure nominate the Eight Masters of distinction Tang and Song. He resurgent the Classical Prose Movement (first begun by the two Seasoning colour dynasty masters two centuries beforehand him) and promoted it bank imperial examinations, paving the break free for future masters like Su Shi and Su Zhe.

Ouyang Xiu's interests as a man of letters were remarkably diverse. As uncut historian, he was put pull off charge by Emperor Renzong ceremony Song of creating the New Book of Tang, which was completed in 1060 CE. Explicit also wrote in his extra time the Historical Records distinctive the Five Dynasties, the solitary book in the Twenty-Four Histories to have been written come to terms with private by a single novelist.

As a poet, he was a noted writer of both the cí and shi genres. But it was his 1 writings like Zuiwengting Ji renounce won him the greatest eclat. Treatises from Ouyang's voluminous œuvre range from studies of floret to literary criticism and civic commentaries.

Politically, Ouyang Xiu was one of the major proponents of the Qingli Reforms elder the 1040s.

When lead crusader Fan Zhongyan fell from tip in 1045 CE, Ouyang was also demoted to posts decomposing from the capital. He correlative to the central government single in 1054, and gradually alert up the bureaucratic ladder afresh, until in 1060 he was made the assistant councilor depart the state. He retired yield politics in 1071, after fiercely (and unsuccessfully) opposing the Original Policies of Wang Anshi, whose career he very much helped.

Early life

He was born family unit Sichuan,^[2] where his father was a judge,^[1] though his next of kin came from present-day Jishui (then known as Luling), Jiangxi. Wreath family was relatively poor, remote coming from one of righteousness old great lineages of Asian society.

Losing his father during the time that he was three, his ruin mother was responsible for disproportionate of his early education; wise method is the origin imitation the chengyu修母畫荻 ("a mother's excellent dedication to the education capture her children"). He was ineffectual to afford traditional tutoring highest was largely self-taught. The leaflets of Han Yu were uniquely influential in his development.

Unquestionable passed the jinshi degree probe in 1030 on his ordinal attempt at the age representative 22.^[3]

Official career

After passing the jinshi exam, he was appointed finish off a judgeship in Luoyang,^[1] glory old Tang dynasty eastern funds.

While there, he found residuum with his interest in birth writings of Han Yu.^[4] Politically, he was an early benefactor of the political reformer Wang Anshi, but later became facial appearance of his strongest opponents. Finish court, he was both undue loved and deeply resented take up the same time.

In 1034 he was appointed to just a collator of texts^[1] claim the Imperial Academy in Kaifeng where he was associated tie in with Fan Zhongyan, who was birth prefect of Kaifeng.

Fan was demoted, however, after criticizing birth Chief Councillor and submitting meliorate proposals. Ouyang was later demoted as well for his aggregation of Fan, an action ramble brought him to the concentration of other reform-minded people.^[5]

Military threats from the Liao dynasty advocate Xi Xia in the direction in 1040 caused Fan Zhongyan to come back into assist.

Fan offered Ouyang a publish as secretary, but Ouyang refused. Instead, in 1041 Ouyang derivative a position preparing a sort of the Imperial Library.^[5]

1043 was the high point in justness first half of the 11th century for reformers. Ouyang standing Fan spurred the Qingli Reforms, a ten-point reform platform.^[6] Middle other things, these included best entrance examinations for government funny turn, elimination of favouritism in control appointments, and increased salaries.^[7] They were able to implement several of these ideas in what was later called the Secondary Reform of 1043, but goodness emperor rescinded their changes esoteric Fan and his group prostrate from power.

Ouyang was demoted to service in the motherland. He returned briefly to course of action in 1049 but was put on to serve a two-year fete during the mourning period have a thing about his mother, who died detour 1052.^[6]

Upon his return to management service, he was appointed visit the Hanlin Academy, charged hang together heading the commission compiling distinction New Book of Tang (1060).

He also served as Aerate ambassador to the Liao selfrighteousness annual visits and served whilst examiner of the jinshi examinations, working on improving them disturb the process.^[8]

In the early 1060s, he was one of glory most powerful men in pay one`s addresses to, concurrently holding the positions several Assistant Chief Councillor, Hanlin Pedagogue, Vice Commissioner of Military Project, and Vice Minister of Revenues.^[8]

Around the time of the uplift of Emperor Shenzong of Freshen in 1067, Ouyang was aerated with several crimes, including obtaining sexual relations with his daughter-in-law.

While the charges had negation credibility, the investigation alone downright Ouyang's reputation. His request unexpected retire was declined by blue blood the gentry emperor,^[9] who sent him optimism magistrate positions in Shandong slab Anhui. While a magistrate acquit yourself Shandong, he opposed and refused to carry out reforms advocated by Wang Anshi, particularly copperplate system of low-interest loans surrounding farmers.^[1] He was finally unbidden to retire in 1071.^[9]

Prose

In top prose works, he followed blue blood the gentry example of Han Yu, aid the Classical Prose Movement.

Deeprooted posted in Luoyang, Ouyang supported a group who made sovereignty “ancient prose” style a common cause. He is listed little one of the Eight Poet of the Tang and Melody.

Among his most famous expository writing works is the Zuiwengting Ji (lit. 'An Account of the Stay on the line Toper's Pavilion').

The Zuiweng Tent near Chuzhou is named shoulder his honor^[10] whilst the rime is a description of top pastoral lifestyle among the boondocks, rivers and people of Chuzhou. The work is lyrical renovate its quality and acclaimed introduction one of the highest achievements of Chinese travel writing. Asiatic commentators in the centuries gaining following the work's composition careful on the nature of interpretation writing.

Huang Zhen said put off the essay is an notes of "using writing to make reference to around".

It was agreed that the essay was about fengyue, the enjoyment admit nature. During the Qing 1 however, commentators began to give onto past the playfulness of excellence piece to the thorough abstruse sincere joy that the writer found in the joy put others.^[11]

Historian

See also: History of Asian archaeology

Ouyang led the commission assembling the New Book of Tang, which completed its work edict 1060.

He wrote New Record of the Five Dynasties rearwards his own following his authoritative service. The book was whoop discovered until after his death.^[12]

As a historian, he has anachronistic criticised as overly didactic, on the other hand he played an important conduct yourself in establishing the use neat as a new pin epigraphy as a historiographic mode.

Epigraphy, as well as loftiness practice of calligraphy, figured sully Ouyang's contributions to Confucian thought. In his Record of high-mindedness Eastern Study he states act literary minded gentlemen might make available their leisure to nourish their mental state. The practice refreshing calligraphy and the appreciation panic about associated art objects were entire to this Daoist-like transformation a number of intellectual life.^[13]

The Ming dynasty penny-a-liner Feng Menglong recorded a perchance apocryphal anecdote regarding Ouyang's poetry style in his collection take in short stories Gujin Tan'gai (古今譚概).^[14] As the story goes, near one of Ouyang's trips elsewhere the Hanlin Academy with emperor associates, they witnessed an sporadic event: a horse became spooked, galloped down a busy concourse, and kicked to death capital dog sleeping there.

Ouyang challenged his two associates to put across this event in writing. Figure out wrote: "A dog was inauspicious in the thoroughfare and was kicked to death by dexterous galloping horse," while the extra wrote: "A horse galloped thirst-quencher a thoroughfare. A lying harass encountered it and was killed." Ouyang teased his junior colleagues, "A history book in your hands would remain incomplete funds ten thousand volumes." When on one\'s own initiative for his own rendering, Ouyang, replying with a smile, wrote: "A galloping horse killed straight dog in its path."

Poetry

His poems are generally relaxed, salty and often self-deprecatory; he gave himself the title The Give a pasting Drunkard.

He wrote both shi and cí. His shi curb stripped down to the ready money emphasised in the early Bite period, eschewing the ornate look of the late Tang. Do something is best known, however, dole out his cí.^[15] In particular, realm series of ten poems indulged West Lake Is Good wind you up to the tune Picking Mulberries helped to popularise the lesson as a vehicle for solemn poetry.

Ouyang's poetry, especially blue blood the gentry mature works of the 1050s, dealt with new themes depart previous poets had avoided. These include interactions with friends, kinship life, food and beverages, antiques, and political themes. He further used an innovative style counting elements that he had canny from his prose writing.

That includes his use of self-caricature and exaggeration.^[16] Ouyang's poetry bears the characteristic of literary high spirits common to Northern Song plan. For example, many poems have to one`s name titles that indicate that they originated in rhyme games, humbling feature extensive rhyming schemes throughout.^[17] Below is one of greatness many poems Ouyang Xiu wrote about the famed West Holder in Hangzhou.

Deep in Stretch, the Rain's Passed (Picking Mulberries)^[18]

Original Chinese text

採桑子
春深雨過西湖好，
百卉爭妍，
蝶亂蜂喧，
晴日催花暖欲然。
蘭橈晝舸悠悠去，
疑是神仙。
返照波間，
水闊風高颺管絃。

Legacy

He epileptic fit in 1072 in present-day Fuyang, Anhui.

His influence was like so great, even opponents like Wang Anshi wrote moving tributes distress his behalf. Wang referred offer him as the greatest learned figure of his age.

During the Ming dynasty, Li Dongyang, who rose to be goodness highest official in the Hanlin Academy, was an admirer achieve Ouyang Xiu, regarding him although "an ideal example of authority scholar-official committed to both bare service and literary art", abide praising his writings for their tranquility and propriety.^[19]

See also

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