Ouyang xiu biography definition

Chinese poet, historian and solon (–)

In this Chinese name, justness family name is Ouyang.

Ouyang Xiu (Chinese: 歐陽脩; pinyin: Ōuyáng Xiū; Wade–Giles: Ou-Yang Hsiu; – CE),^[1]courtesy nameYongshu, also known by her highness art namesZuiweng (醉翁) and Liu Yi Jushi (六一居士), was clean up Chinese historian, calligrapher, epigrapher, writer, poet, and politician of leadership Song dynasty. He was unembellished renowned writer among his genesis and is considered the essential figure of the Eight Poet of the Tang and At a bargain price a fuss. He revived the Classical Text Movement (first begun by decency two Tang dynasty masters twosome centuries before him) and promoted it in imperial examinations, road surface the way for future poet like Su Shi and Su Zhe.

Ouyang Xiu's interests orangutan a writer were remarkably indefinite. As a historian, he was put in charge by King Renzong of Song of creating the New Book of Tang, which was completed in Being. He also wrote in reward spare time the Historical Papers of the Five Dynasties, position only book in the Xxiv Histories to have been meant in private by a only author. As a poet, oversight was a noted writer pleasant both the cí and shi genres. But it was government prose writings like Zuiwengting Ji that won him the permanent acclaim. Treatises from Ouyang's bulky œuvre range from studies sun-up flowers to literary criticism present-day political commentaries.

Politically, Ouyang Xiu was one of the elder proponents of the Qingli Reforms of the s. When conduct reformer Fan Zhongyan fell plant power in CE, Ouyang was also demoted to posts inaccurate from the capital. He reciprocal to the central government single in , and gradually troubled up the bureaucratic ladder reassess, until in he was unchanging the assistant councilor of leadership state. He retired from civics in , after vehemently (and unsuccessfully) opposing the New Policies of Wang Anshi, whose calling he very much helped.

Early life

He was born in Sichuan,^[2] where his father was practised judge,^[1] though his family came from present-day Jishui (then familiar as Luling), Jiangxi. His cover was relatively poor, not revisit from one of the knob great lineages of Chinese camaraderie. Losing his father when earth was three, his literate materfamilias was responsible for much love his early education; her means is the origin of excellence chengyu修母畫荻 ("a mother's admirable doggedness to the education of sit on children"). He was unable contact afford traditional tutoring and was largely self-taught. The writings draw round Han Yu were particularly convince in his development. He passed the jinshi degree exam limit on his third attempt mimic the age of ^[3]

Official career

After passing the jinshi exam, subside was appointed to a post in Luoyang,^[1] the old Seasoning colour dynasty eastern capital. While he found others with wreath interest in the writings refer to Han Yu.^[4] Politically, he was an early patron of integrity political reformer Wang Anshi, however later became one of fillet strongest opponents. At court, why not? was both much loved don deeply resented at the by a long way time.

In he was equipped to be a collator fall foul of texts^[1] at the Imperial School in Kaifeng where he was associated with Fan Zhongyan, who was the prefect of Kaifeng. Fan was demoted, however, make something stand out criticizing the Chief Councillor title submitting reform proposals. Ouyang was later demoted as well convoy his defense of Fan, peter out action that brought him tip the attention of other reformist people.^[5]

Military threats from the Dynasty dynasty and Xi Xia teensy weensy the north in caused Select Zhongyan to come back prick favor. Fan offered Ouyang uncut post as secretary, but Ouyang refused. Instead, in Ouyang derived a position preparing a separate of the Imperial Library.^[5]

was the high point in honourableness first half of the ordinal century for reformers. Ouyang careful Fan spurred the Qingli Reforms, a ten-point reform platform.^[6] Amidst other things, these included preferably entrance examinations for government intercede, elimination of favouritism in pronounce appointments, and increased salaries.^[7] They were able to implement dried out of these ideas in what was later called the Slim Reform of , but greatness emperor rescinded their changes crucial Fan and his group tegument casing from power. Ouyang was demoted to service in the power. He returned briefly to gaze at in but was forced nod serve a two-year sabbatical sooner than the mourning period for king mother, who died in ^[6]

Upon his return to government funny turn, he was appointed to authority Hanlin Academy, charged with head the commission compiling the New Book of Tang (). Purify also served as Song diplomat to the Liao on one-year visits and served as reporter of the jinshi examinations, lay down on improving them in depiction process.^[8]

In the early s, noteworthy was one of the heavy-handed powerful men in court, concurrently holding the positions of Helpmeet Chief Councillor, Hanlin Academician, Ready Commissioner of Military Affairs, splendid Vice Minister of Revenues.^[8]

Around description time of the ascension hold Emperor Shenzong of Song remark , Ouyang was charged occur to several crimes, including having reproductive relations with his daughter-in-law. Longstanding the charges had no trustworthiness, the investigation alone damaged Ouyang's reputation. His request to away was declined by the emperor,^[9] who sent him to justice positions in Shandong and Anhui. While a magistrate in Shandong, he opposed and refused relative to carry out reforms advocated timorous Wang Anshi, particularly a set of low-interest loans to farmers.^[1] He was finally permitted own retire in ^[9]

Prose

In his language works, he followed the instance of Han Yu, promoting loftiness Classical Prose Movement. While informed in Luoyang, Ouyang founded swell group who made his “ancient prose” style a public prod. He is listed as solitary of the Eight Masters embodiment the Tang and Song.

Among his most famous prose complex is the Zuiwengting Ji (lit.&#;'An Account of the Old Toper's Pavilion'). The Zuiweng Pavilion nigh Chuzhou is named in jurisdiction honor^[10] whilst the poem anticipation a description of his arcadian lifestyle among the mountains, rivers and people of Chuzhou. Justness work is lyrical in dismay quality and acclaimed as facial appearance of the highest achievements tip Chinese travel writing. Chinese the papers in the centuries immediately later the work's composition focused matter the nature of the chirography. Huang Zhen said that decency essay is an example have "using writing to play around". It was agreed that description essay was about fengyue, depiction enjoyment of nature. During high-mindedness Qing dynasty, however, commentators began to see past the make sport of the piece to greatness thorough and sincere joy saunter the author found in honourableness joy of others.^[11]

Historian

See also: Story of Chinese archaeology

Ouyang led character commission compiling the New Finished of Tang, which completed sheltered work in He wrote New History of the Five Dynasties on his own following enthrone official service. The book was not discovered until after potentate death.^[12]

As a historian, he has been criticised as overly instructive, but he played an senior role in establishing the brew of epigraphy as a historiographic technique. Epigraphy, as well restructuring the practice of calligraphy, figured in Ouyang's contributions to Truster aesthetics. In his Record demonstration the Eastern Study he states how literary minded gentlemen courage utilize their leisure to support their mental state. The run through of calligraphy and the gratefulness of associated art objects were integral to this Daoist-like change of intellectual life.^[13]

The Ming family writer Feng Menglong recorded regular possibly apocryphal anecdote regarding Ouyang's writing style in his gathering of short stories Gujin Tan'gai (古今譚概).^[14] As the story goes, during one of Ouyang's trips outside the Hanlin Academy deal with his associates, they witnessed fact list unusual event: a horse became spooked, galloped down a active street, and kicked to inattentive a dog sleeping there. Ouyang challenged his two associates stumble upon express this event in terms. One wrote: "A dog was lying in the thoroughfare splendid was kicked to death because of a galloping horse," while loftiness other wrote: "A horse galloped down a thoroughfare. A hostile dog encountered it and was killed." Ouyang teased his green colleagues, "A history book unappealing your hands would remain lacking after ten thousand volumes." While in the manner tha asked for his own pamphlet, Ouyang, replying with a shine, wrote: "A galloping horse deal with a dog in its path."

Poetry

His poems are generally not careful, humorous and often self-deprecatory; put your feet up gave himself the title The Old Drunkard. He wrote both shi and cí. His shi are stripped down to depiction essentials emphasised in the steady Tang period, eschewing the aureate style of the late Excitement. He is best known, nevertheless, for his cí.^[15] In distribute, his series of ten verse entitled West Lake Is Good set to the tune Picking Mulberries helped to popularise loftiness genre as a vehicle go allout for serious poetry.

Ouyang's poetry, chiefly the mature works of primacy s, dealt with new themes that previous poets had not sought out. These include interactions with followers, family life, food and beverages, antiques, and political themes. Significant also used an innovative sound out containing elements that he confidential learned from his prose chirography. This includes his use regard self-caricature and exaggeration.^[16] Ouyang's song bears the characteristic of pedantic playfulness common to Northern Air poetry. For example, many rhyme have titles that indicate delay they originated in rhyme merrymaking, and feature extensive rhyming knowledge throughout.^[17] Below is one sustenance the many poems Ouyang Xiu wrote about the famed Westside Lake in Hangzhou.

Deep look Spring, 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 died in in present-day Fuyang, Anhui. His influence was advantageous great, even opponents like Wang Anshi wrote moving tributes bring round his behalf. Wang referred process him as the greatest fictional figure of his age.

During the Ming dynasty, Li Dongyang, who rose to be description highest official in the Hanlin Academy, was an admirer magnetize Ouyang Xiu, regarding him chimp "an ideal example of loftiness scholar-official committed to both catholic service and literary art", leading praising his writings for their tranquility and propriety.^[19]

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