Su Shi (Su Dongpo)
SU SHI (Su DONGPO)蘇東坡�(1037–1101)
Greatest writer of the period (410) Famous during my life writer, poet (shi, cu, fu, poems on paintings), artist (painter), calligrapher, pharmacologist, and statesman of the Song Dynasty Around 2,700 of my poems and 800 letters have survived (source: Chinese Literature). Critic of Wang Anshi’s New Policies (410)
Exiled several times for being outspoken. Did not let the exile and poverty bother me and wrote contentedly of my new life. Didn’t write depressing poems, but was dispassionate. Believed that there was no one “right” way, but that everyone must find their own path.
Sent a poem to my friend Fo Yin who was a Zen Master: 稽首天中天，�毫光照大千；�八风吹不动，�端坐紫金莲。 I bow my head to the heaven within heaven,�Hairline rays illuminating the universe,�The eight winds cannot move me,�Sitting still upon the purple golden lotus.
Eight winds (八风): praise (称), ridicule (讥), honor (誉), disgrace (毁), gain (得), loss (失), pleasure (乐) misery (苦) – Fo Yin replied by writing one word on the manuscript: Fart
八风吹不动，�一屁弹过江。�The eight winds cannot move me,�One fart blows me across the river
(Source: History – Anecdotes)
江城子•乙卯正月二十日夜記夢
十年生死兩茫茫，不思量， 自難忘。千里孤墳，無處話淒涼。縱使相逢應不識，塵滿面，鬢如霜。 夜來幽夢忽還鄉，小軒窗，正梳妝。相顧無言，惟有淚千行。料得年年腸斷處，明月夜，短松岡。 (source: Su Shi, “Dreaming”)
Dreaming of My Deceased Wife on the Night of the 20th Day of the First Month
Ten years living and dead have drawn apart �I do nothing to remember �But I cannot forget �Your lonely grave a thousand miles away... �Nowhere can I talk of my sorrow - �Even if we met, how would you know me �My face full of dust �My hair like snow? �In the dark of night, a dream: suddenly, I am home �You by the window �Doing your hair �I look at you and cannot speak �Your face is streaked by endless tears �Year after year must they break my heart �These moonlit nights? �That low pine grave? (Source: History – Literature)
Families, when a child is born�Want it to be intelligent. �I, through intelligence, �Having wrecked my whole life, �Only hope the baby will prove�Ignorant and stupid. �Then he will crown a tranquil life�By becoming a Cabinet Minister. (Source: Su Shi, "On the Birth of His Son”)
“Have you really understood the water and the moon?” I said. “The one streams past so swiftly yet is never gone; the other for ever waxes and wanes yet finally has never grown nor diminished. For if you look at the aspect which changes, heaven and earth cannot last for one blink; but if you look at the aspect which is changeless, the worlds within and outside you are both inexhaustible, and what reasons have you to envy anything?
“Moreover, each thing between heaven and earth has its owner, and even one hair which is not mine I can never make part of me. Only the cool wind on the river, or the full moon in the mountains, caught by the ear becomes a sound, or met by the eye changes to colour; no one forbids me to make it mine, no limit is set to the use of it; this is the inexhaustible treasury of the creator of things, and you and I can share in the joy of it.”
The guest smiled, consoled. We washed the cups and poured more wine. After the nuts and savouries were finished, and the wine‑cups and dishes lay scattered around, we leaned pillowed back to back in the middle of the boat, and did not notice when the sky turned white in the east.
(Source: Su Shi, "EXCERPTS FROM THE RED CLIFF”)
To what can our life on earth be likened? �To a flock of geese, �alighting on the snow. �Sometimes leaving a trace of their passage. (Source: Su Shi, Su Shi Poetry)
Works Cited
"Chinese Literature - Chinese Culture - China Guide - Greatwallvacation.com." GreatWallVacation, Professional, efficient and Faithful China Tour Operator and Wholesaler. Web. 23 Feb. 2012. <http://www.greatwallvacation.com/travel-destinations/Chinese-Culture/Chinese-Literature.html>.
"History - Anecdotes." Su Shi's Story: How Fart Can Make You Grow Spiritually? Web. 21 Feb. 2012. <http://history.cultural-china.com/en/38History6025.html>.
"History - Literature." Su Shi. Web. 24 Feb. 2012. <http://history.cultural-china.com/en/59History147.html>.
Ode of Red Cliff (partial) By Su Shi. Photograph. Chinapage.com. Web. 23 Feb. 2012. <http://www.chinapage.com/red-cliff.html>. Photograph. Castle of Costa Mesa: Fairy Tale Dolls, Handmade With Love. Web. 21 Feb. 2012. <http://castleofcostamesa.com/chinese-culture/chinese-stories-for-children/biographies-of-famous-chinese-historical-figures-%E4%BA%BA%E7%89%A9%E6%95%85%E4%BA%8B%E5%A4%A7%E5%85%A8/su-dongpo-%E8%98%87%E6%9D%B1%E5%9D%A1>.
Photograph. Cultural China. Shanghai News, Press Bureau. Hongtu Real Estate Development Company, One Member of the Long River Foreign Exchange Foundation. Web. 21 Feb. 2012. <http://history.cultural-china.com/en/38History6025.html>.
Photograph 2. Cultural China. Shanghai News, Press Bureau. Hongtu Real Estate Development Company, One Member of the Long River Foreign Exchange Foundation. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http://history.cultural-china.com/en/38History6024.html>.
Photograph. Great Wall Vacation. Web. 23 Feb. 2012. <http://www.greatwallvacation.com/travel-destinations/Chinese-Culture/Chinese-Literature.html>.
Su Shi. "Dreaming of My Deceased Wife on the Night of the 20th Day of the First Month." Chinese Poems. Web. 24 Feb. 2012. <http://www.chinese-poems.com/s5.html>.
Su Shi. "EXCERPTS FROM THE RED CLIFF , PART I By Su Shi (Su Dongpo)." Asia for Educators. Asia for Educators | Columbia University. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http://afe.easia.columbia.edu>.
Su Shi. "On the Birth of His Son by Su Tung-po • 6 Poems by Su Tung-poEdit." On the Birth of His Son by Su Tung-po Classic Famous Poet. Allpoetry.com. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http://allpoetry.com/poem/8536825-On_the_birth_of_his_son-by-Su_Tung-po>.
Su Shi. " Su Shi Poetry [Su DongPo]." Su Shi (Su Dongpo) Poetry. Chinapage.com. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http://www.chinapage.com/poet-e/sushi2e.html>.
"The Life of Su Dongpo." China Daily. 28 Sept. 2010. Web. 21 Feb. 2012. <http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/regional/2010-09/28/content_11357593.htm>.
Photograph. China Daily. 28 Sept. 2010. Web. 21 Feb. 2012. <http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/regional/2010-09/28/content_11357593.htm>.