Personal Library -- Poems of Su Dongpo

Author: Su Dongpo (Northern Song Dynasty), compiled by Deng Kuiying
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features: Su Dongpo, also known as Su Shi (1037–1101 AD), styled Zizhan, styled Dongpo Jushi, was a native of Meishan, Sichuan. Together with his father Su Xun and his younger brother Su Zhe, he is known as the "Three Su." In his youth, he was knowledgeable in classics and history. In the second year of Emperor Renzong's Jiajing era (1057 AD), he passed the imperial examination and was highly praised by Ouyang Xiu, gaining fame in the capital. However, during the intense political reforms and factional struggles of the Northern Song Dynasty, he was repeatedly exiled and、、, where he died of illness in Changzhou. Su Dongpo's poems, paintings, and calligraphy were collected by people. His paintings include "The Bamboo and Rocks of Xiangyang," "Cold Food Observance," and "The Former and Later Essays on the Red Cliff." His literary works, "The Complete Works of Su Shi," include "Su Dongpo's Poetry Collection," "Su Dongpo's Ci Collection," "Su Dongpo's Prose Collection," and "Su Dongpo's Chronology." Su Dongpo left behind over 2,700 poems, more than 300 ci poems, and an extensive collection of prose, making him one of China's most prolific and highly regarded writers in terms of both quantity and quality. His life was incredibly rich and varied, yet his turbulent career brought him immense contributions to the world. He achieved worldwide acclaim in calligraphy, painting, cuisine, medicine, health preservation, and Zen studies. During his exiles, he actively worked to alleviate disasters, improve water conservancy, promote education, and focus on healthcare, benefiting the people of the regions he visited. Everywhere he went, he left behind remarkable achievements and inspiring stories. He transformed the bitterness of life into sweet nourishment, comforting himself while enriching the hearts of others. In modern times, to commemorate Su Dongpo, a "Su Dongpo Memorial Hall" was built in Hangzhou. Even while living in seclusion in Hainan in his later years, he completed annotations on the three Confucian classics: "The Analects," "The Book of Documents," and "The Book of Changes."