Su Shi is not only a great writer, but also a people-oriented person who "would rather destroy the people than rectify the government". But for a long time, under the influence of ultra-left thoughts and theories, Su Shi was a "conservative" who opposed Wang Anshi's political reform and became the mainstream view. Until now, the influence of this view still exists. As a great writer, Su Shi has become the knowledge of China people, but as a people-oriented figure, Su Shi is not known to most people. This paper discusses Su Shi's people-oriented thought and its achievements.
First, the formation of Su Shi's people-oriented thought
When Su Shi was a teenager, his father Su Xun often traveled abroad, and the education of Su Zhe and his younger brother fell on his mother, Mrs. Cheng. Mrs. Cheng was born in a noble family and has a generous and kind personality. She attached importance to the teaching of Confucian classics and set an example, which played an important role in the formation of Su Shi's thought and personality.
One day, Mrs. Cheng took Xiao Su Shi to see The Biography of Fan Pang in the Later Han Dynasty. Fan Pang, an official of the Han Dynasty, took bribes and perverted the law, offended powerful people, was falsely accused and sentenced to death. When he was in the execution ground, he said goodbye to his mother: "My son will not be filial, please don't be too sad." Fan Mu replied: "How can one pursue longevity and wealth?" You gave up your life for justice, and your mother supported you. Little Su asked his mother, "Do you agree with me to be like Fan Pang when I grow up?" ? "Mrs. Cheng calmly replied," If you can be Fan Pang, why can't I be Fan Pang's mother? " Su Shi made a statement: "Be diligent and have contemporary ambition".
When Su Shi was eight years old, his grandfather Su Xu sent him to Tianqingguan to study Tao Te Ching and Zhuangzi with Taoist Zhang. Su Shi was deeply influenced. Later, after repeated political setbacks, he often showed the idea of "Lao Zi and Zhuang Zi". After that, Su Shi successively entered Shou Chang Academy, a famous government-run school in Meishan City, and Zhongyan Academy in Qingshen Township, and became familiar with Confucian classics with famous teachers Liu Ju and Wang Fang (who appreciated Su Shi's talent and betrothed his daughter Wang Fu to Su Shi), deeply influenced by Confucian people-oriented thought.
A good family environment and teacher education not only laid a solid knowledge foundation for Su Shi's later development, but also laid a people-oriented view of serving the people all his life.
The earliest classic history books in ancient China have the greatest influence on Su Shi's people-oriented thought. In China, the earliest proposal that "the people are the foundation of the country" was Song of Five Children in Shangshu. The so-called "five sons" refer to Xia Qi's five sons, that is, Taikang's five younger brothers. Taikang respects the position, ignores state affairs, covets happiness and loses morality, and all the people have two minds. He went hunting in the north of Luoshui without scruple and never returned for a hundred days. The five brothers and their mother are waiting for him in Luoshui. At this time, the five brothers complained bitterly about Taikang, and wrote the Song of the Five Sons following the instruction of their ancestor Dayu, hoping that Taikang would take a warning. Among them, the first one embodies a relatively complete people-oriented thought. The original text is:
There is a saying in the ancestors of the emperor that people can get close, but they can't get off. People only care about the country and the country. I think a stupid husband and a stupid woman in the world can win, and one person loses three times. Resentment was in the Ming dynasty, but I can't see it as a picture. For people in a trillion miles, I can't manage six horses, I am superior. How can I not respect it?
The meaning of this passage is that the great ancestors once gave clear instructions that the people can be close and should not be underestimated; The people are the foundation of the country, and the country is solid and safe. I think all the people in the world, stupid men and women can beat me. If a person has made many mistakes, should he wait until the people rebel before examining the people's grievances? We should investigate before there is a big public complaint. I am in charge of many people in the world, just like driving six horses with a broken rope, and I am cautious about the dangers that will happen anytime and anywhere. How can a monarch disrespect the people of the world?
This is the earliest record of our people-oriented thought, which comprehensively discusses the relationship between the people and the monarch and the attitude that the monarch should adopt, and has a far-reaching impact on future generations. Later, Confucius' theory that "the people are the foundation of the monarch", Mencius' theory that "the people are more valuable than the monarch" and Xunzi's theory that "the monarch is the boat" all originated from the people-oriented thought in Shangshu, which is the inheritance and development of the people-oriented thought in Shangshu.
When Su Shi was young, he had a strong interest in Song of Five Sons, and made in-depth research and special explanation. Su Shi, based on Confucianism, was deeply influenced by it, and the people-oriented thought became the beacon of his life's "striving to be a man, an official and a writer".
Second, Su Shi's inheritance and development of people-oriented thought
Su Shi's people-oriented thought has both inheritance and development. Value the people, love the people, love the people, benefit the people and enrich the people, and have both, running through and implementing them from beginning to end.
Su Shi said in "Imperial Trial Work": "The world is not a monarch, and the world is the ear of a monarch." "The world makes a monarch", he thinks that the emperor is only the person who presides over the implementation of the world, and the people are the masters of the world. In the feudal era when imperial power was supreme, he dared to state his views on the "master" of the people in the examination room presided over by the emperor, which was great wisdom and courage.
Su Shi said in Strategy 5: "I know the world, I trust it with all my heart, and I trust it with all my heart, so that I can be too at ease or too dangerous, and I can't tolerate it." Su Shi believes that it is very dangerous to stand on "Mount Tai" and "accumulate eggs" if the monarch does whatever he wants and relies on the monarch to rule the world. It must not be taken lightly. In peacetime, we can also control each other. In case of war, will anyone follow your command?
Su Shi said in Shangshu Shenzong: "People's hearts are like trees with roots, lamps with ointment, and fish with water ... trees without roots will die, lamps without ointment will die, and fish without water will die ... People who lose their hearts will die." Su Shi believes that the gain and loss of people's hearts is the top priority of the country's rise and fall. Those who win the hearts of the people are "kings" and those who lose them are "single husbands".
Su Shi compared the emperor to "egg accumulation", "wood", "lamp" and "fish", and compared the people to "Mount Tai", "root", "ointment" and "water", which is the same as Xunzi's comparison of "human monarch" to "ship" and people to "water". If it is not handled properly, the "accumulated eggs" will collapse, the "wood" will die, the lights will go out and the fish will die.
It is with this people-oriented thought and political proposition that Su Shi became an official.
Third, Ning Weimin is not a full official.
Su Shi was originally the prime minister selected by Song Renzong for his descendants, and he is fully qualified to successfully ascend to the high position of prime minister. However, his life has experienced three ups and downs and the ups and downs of his official career. His political career and political quality can be summed up in eight words: "Ning Weimin decided not to be an official." His political fate focused on Wang Anshi and Sima Guang, two key figures.
First of all, look at his handling of Wang Anshi.
When Su Shi was 22 years old, he was a scholar with his younger brother Su Zhe. At the age of 26, he was appointed as a judge of Fengxianglou by Beijing officials. At the age of 29, he returned to Beijing and was awarded the position of a civilian official in the national historical editing agency. 3 1 year-old, his father died in the capital, and Su Shi returned to Sichuan to protect his funeral. At the age of 33, he went to Beijing without mourning. At this point, Wang Anshi was carrying out political reform with the support of Song Shenzong. Su Shi was originally the prime minister selected by Song Renzong for his descendants, and Wang Anshi also attached great importance to his talents. If Su Shi can push the boat with the tide and support political reform, he will certainly be able to rise to the top and prosper in his career. However, he can't give up the people-oriented concept for promotion. As soon as he entered Beijing, he took a clear-cut stand on Sima Guang's side, wrote a letter to Zongshen three times in a row, comprehensively criticized Wang Anshi's new law, and pointed out that the key of Wang Anshi's new law was "rich country" and "poor people".
At this time, Su Shi was just a humble civil servant. He clearly knew that Zongshen regarded "political reform" as the top priority of "enriching the country", and Wang Anshi was an important official of the dynasty. His performance is not only a criticism of Wang Anshi, but also a criticism of Zongshen. "Violating Tianwei" means beheading. Without great wisdom and courage and psychological preparation, it is impossible. When Su Shi first entered politics, he stood on the cusp of fierce struggle between the old and new factions, and was at odds with Wang Anshi, the powerful minister, everywhere, setting strong opponents and insurmountable obstacles in his official career. Under the exclusion and suppression of the reformists, he had to demand his release and become an official in Hangzhou, giving up the opportunity to step into the power center of the imperial court. Although during his stay in Hangzhou, Mizhou and Xuzhou, he resisted the reformists' wrong policy of "harming the people" and practiced his people-oriented proposition, but he was jealous by the reformers, which led to the "Wutai Poetry Case" that was almost beheaded, and he was demoted to Huangzhou and reduced to Ying Yong's deputy envoy.
Secondly, look at his handling of Sima Guang.
In March of the eighth year of Yuanfeng, Song Shenzong died, Zhezong ascended the throne, and the political arena in the Northern Song Dynasty changed dramatically again. Queen Ren Xuan has always opposed political reform. After she came to power, Sima Guang was appointed as prime minister, and Su Shi naturally got a "sudden move". In May, he was appointed as Chao and Dengzhou, with seven ranks. In September, he was appointed as Dr. does, with a rank of six. /kloc-in October/February, he was appointed as the living room manager again, with rank 6. The following year, in March of the first year of Zhezong Yuanyou, he gave up his position as a Chinese calligrapher with a rank of four. In September, he was appointed as a bachelor of Hanlin, an intellectual patent, and his rank was third class. In just 17 months, from a demoted criminal officer to a senior official, he rose to 6 levels, jumping to 12 levels, only one step away from the prime minister. If he can be consistent with Sima Guang, it is inevitable to succeed Sima Guang as prime minister. However, he disagreed with Sima Guang's idea of abolishing the new law, so he was rejected by the old and new factions. Su Shi had to ask for release again. The imperial court also pushed the ship forward to let it know about Hangzhou, Yingzhou and Yangzhou.
In September of the eighth year of Yuan You, the Empress Dowager Gao died, and the "Yuan You Party" represented by Sima Guang was hit, with Su Shi bearing the brunt. In just a few years, I have changed four or five places, and in Beijing for a few months, I have changed five or six jobs and will not be reused. Yuan You eight years, out of the capital know Dingzhou. The following year, because of his poems, the court was reduced to Zuo Chengyilang and demoted to Huizhou and Danzhou. In just five or six years, the imperial court made five orders, and once it was lowered, it was demoted to be the deputy envoy of Huizhou Ningyuan Army and Qiongzhou, from the "second class" to the first class.
It can be seen that the government can not do it, but the people-oriented political proposition cannot be lost. He thinks that faith is more important than being an official.
4. Why did Su Shi oppose Wang Anshi's political reform?
Wang Anshi's political reform is an important event in the history of China. For decades, Lenin's view that "Wang Anshi is a reformer in China 1 1 century" has become the mainstream view to evaluate Wang Anshi, and Su Shi has also become a "conservative" who opposes political reform. Actually, Lenin never said this sentence. This is a complete misquote. As early as1August 24, 984, Mr. Li Cunshan made a clarification in Guangming Daily.
Wang Anshi failed 16 years before and after the political reform. Why did Su Shi criticize and oppose Wang Anshi's political reform? Because the core of Wang Anshi's new law is "rich country" and "poor people".
Carrying out the Young Crop Law is the main measure of Wang Anshi's agricultural reform. Its essence is that the state forces farmers to levy new taxes with an annual interest rate as high as 40% to 60% in the name of loans, which the poor cannot afford.
The main measure of Wang Anshi's economic reform is to implement the "market easy law", the essence of which is that the state buys unsalable goods at low prices, and then allows businessmen to buy or sell goods on credit with loans, and the state collects interest and transaction fees. Shiyi organization is a huge national commercial monopoly group, with a large number of managers, rampant corruption, huge expenses, sharp increase in tax rates, and a large number of businessmen suffered from it and closed down one after another. In order to recover the arrears, the city's easy institutions recruit people to urge them to owe, and the people are not in danger.
Another content of Wang Anshi's political reform is to implement the "exemption law" and "replace service with money", and the government uses this money to hire people to serve. This was originally a reform, but in the process of implementation, it violated the original intention of the reform. When the tax exemption is levied, the additional tax is increased by as much as 40-50%. The court's income from the exemption law even exceeds the income from the young crops law.
What was the result of Wang Anshi's political reform? According to Ma Duanlin, a famous scholar in the Song and Yuan Dynasties, the general examination of documents records:
Before the political reform, the state's annual tax revenue was only 6.829 million stones in Jingdezhen, but after the political reform, it soared to 5,265,438+1029 stones in ten years, an increase of eight times. As the capital of the household department, it can be used for 20 years. In addition, the annual income of each state and county has also increased significantly. If it is used as local government funds, it can be used for 24 years. This fully shows that Wang Anshi's political reform really achieved the goal of "enriching the country".
Has the people's life improved simultaneously? Please look at a set of data of starving people during Wang Anshi's political reform:
"In Xining, most people starve to death";
"The disaster in Xining caused more than 500,000 people to die on this road";
"In the eighth year of Xining, 500,000 people starved to death in Zhejiang";
"People have money, but 400,000 people starve to death because of lack of rice";
"In Xining, more than 500,000 people died in Hangzhou and more than 300,000 in Suzhou";
"In Xining, Zhejiang starved to death more than one million people."
There are so many people starving to death in Zhejiang alone, and there are no statistics elsewhere. During the Northern Song Dynasty, the total population of China was about 70 million to 80 million, and the number and proportion of people starved to death were outrageous.
During the seven years in Yuan You, the social reality that Su Shi saw on his way to Yangzhou was even more shocking. Su Shi said at the recitation: "The people of Hangzhou, Yingzhou and Yangzhou that I know now, Zhejiang, Jingxi and Huainan that I saw with my own eyes all died because of debts (taxes owed to the government)." It can be seen that the suffering of the people is not local, but "a large proportion in the world". Su Shi also revealed that there are no fewer than 500 people in each state who owe money, and there are "more than 200,000 tigers and wolves" in the world. They collect "arrears" as their profession and are bullying.
To sum up, it is not difficult to see that Wang Anshi is a "people-oriented" person, and the implementation of the "ultra-left" line can only squeeze a lot of blood and sweat from the people, which greatly encourages bureaucratic corruption, while Su Shi is a "people-oriented" person and must be resolutely opposed.
Five, people-oriented, political achievements will last forever
Su Shi served as a magistrate in Mizhou, Xuzhou, Huzhou, Hangzhou, Yingzhou, Yangzhou, Dengzhou and Dingzhou, and served as an official in Fengxiang, Kaifeng and Hangzhou. He paid attention to people's livelihood, developed production, pleaded for the people, reduced taxes to solve difficulties, and made brilliant achievements. Even during his exile in Huangzhou, Huizhou and Danzhou, he did not forget to do something good for the people to practice his people-oriented thought.
In Fengxiang. Su Shi wrote to Cai Xiang, the country's highest financial officer, and Han Qi, the prime minister, demanding that the local poor officials be exempted from money and goods; Innovate the "pre-official law" to reduce the burden on the people; Call for the release of tea, salt, wine, alum and other commodities that have been monopolized by the government for the people to operate.
In Kaifeng. Zongshen ordered the purchase of 4000 Zhejiang lanterns to celebrate the Lantern Festival. Officials forced the acquisition at a lower price, but the people dared to speak out. Su Shi's "Advice on Buying Zhejiang Lamps" points out that "Your Majesty takes pleasure in lamps" has lost the purpose of loving the people's holy land. Finally, the emperor adopted Su Shi's suggestion.
In Hangzhou. Su Shi served as an official twice for six years, and also dug six wells to relieve the drinking water difficulties of Hangzhou people. Dredge the West Lake, build Su Causeway, build six bridges, build nine pavilions and set up hospitals to help the victims. The people of Hangzhou thanked him, and every household had his portrait and set up a "shrine" to commemorate him.
In Michigan. Su Shi led the people to catch locusts to fight against disasters, begged for rain in the mountains, purged hooligans, adopted abandoned children and collected famine. However, he himself is very simple. "The kitchen is boring, and he can't stand his worries." He often used "Qi Ju Shi" and suggested that the court give the people a chance to live.
In Dengzhou. Su Shi was in office for only five days, and found that the official salt was hoarding, raising the market price, and the people could not afford salt. Su Shi wrote to the imperial court, recounting the harm of monopoly of salt industry by officials and businessmen, and suggested that people should eat by the sea and buy and sell freely, leaving the praise of "five days to the state capital and a thousand years to the Sugong Temple".
In Yingzhou. Su Shi decisively stopped the excavation of the Bazhanggou project, which consumed manpower and financial resources. After Su Shi arrived in Yingzhou, he made a field survey, weighed the pros and cons, and made three remarks, indicating that digging eight zhangs' ditches, destroying fertile land, wasting people and money, and resolutely stopping this "image project", which was supported by farmers in three counties of Yingzhou.
In Yangzhou. Su Shi abolished the provision of "bonus for tax increase" at the end of the year, which eased the "abuse" behavior of tax collectors. Resolutely abolish the "flower party" that disturbs the people and harms the people. He wrote to the court twice, demanding that the official tax owed by the people be reduced.
In Dingzhou. He popularized rice technology and made local people eat rice.
Wherever he went in his life, he left behind brilliant achievements of being close to the people, for the people, benefiting the people and enriching the people.
Xuzhou is a glorious place for Su Shi to practice people-oriented thought.
In Xuzhou, Su Shi worked for nearly two years, which is the highlight of his practice of people-oriented thought and concern for people's livelihood.
First, win the flood control.
Su Shi was appointed as the magistrate of Xuzhou less than three months ago. When the Yellow River burst in Gan Yuan, the flood reached the gate of Xuzhou. Su Shi said, "If I were here, the city would be defeated by water", and he was determined to "fill the embankment with himself and live with the city". In building a house city, he led the army and civilians, built dikes to control water, and fought for more than 70 days and nights before winning the flood control. It also rebuilt the outer city of Xuzhou and built Taohuawu with 24 19000 silver awarded by the court. The Yellow House is the historical witness and monument of his victory in commanding flood control.
Second, clay is used to find coal. Su Shi sent people to successfully find Carboniferous coal in Baitu Town, southwest of Xuzhou, which not only solved the problem of cooking and heating for the people, but also provided efficient fire energy for smelting iron and benefited the country. Su Shi was overjoyed, and wrote the Parallel Sequence of Carboniferous Period, describing the happy scene when developing coal, and revealing the important significance of developing coal mines for forging weapons and production tools and consolidating national defense. This is the historical achievement that Su Shi left to Xuzhou people.
Third, pray that it will stop raining. When Su Shi first arrived in Xuzhou, it rained continuously and Tian Miao was flooded. More than twenty miles southwest of Xuzhou, there are Jianquan and the Temple of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. Su Shi asked Su Zhe to accompany him to worship the Han Xiandi Temple, praying for the rain to stop, and asked Su Zhe to write "Pray for sunny".
Fourth, the stone pool prayed for rain. In the second year of Su Shi's coming to Xu, there was a spring drought. He led his officials to the stone beach in the east of the city to pray for rain. He also wrote "Youth Words for Pray for Rain in Xuzhou", in which he wrote: "I hope to plant one of two kinds of wheat to save the hungry people from death ... so that the people will still be rich." Pray for the "gods" to rain, and hope that barley and wheat can get a bumper harvest, so that the people can get rid of poverty and become rich and live a well-off life.
After Su Shi went to the Shitan in the east of the city to pray for rain, he was so happy that he went to Shitan to thank the rain. Along the way, I saw with my own eyes the prosperous pastoral scenery during the wheat harvest season, and wrote down with deep affection "Five Xie Yu Dao in Xumen Stone Beach of Huanshaxi".
one
Fish are seen in the dark red warm sun, even the streams are green and black, and birds are hidden in the dusk. Huang Tong and Bai Lao are together. Although elk are not used to meeting people, apes don't have to bark when they smell drums. The theory of returning home and picking mulberry grains.
The red sun shines on the clear pool water and streams, and the fish swim around. The trees are lush and dark green. The crow that stayed at night hid in it and no one could see it. Seeing the arrival of the satrap, the curious young man quickly hid, came out after hearing the sound of Xie Yu's gongs and drums, and told the girl who picked mulberry the news of seeing the satrap.
Secondly,
Open the red makeup to see the princess, the barbed fence door in 3355. Touch each other and tear her skirt. Young and old help wheat harvest society, Wu Yuxiang Dance God Village. When you are drunk, you lie in the dusk.
The general idea is: the village girl dressed up in a hurry and crowded in groups of three to five in front of the fence to see the prefect. As a result, she trampled on the silk skirt dyed red by madder. After the gathering of the gods, the offerings to the gods attracted crows to hover over the village, and the drunken old man lay on the roadside until dusk.
third
Hemp leaves are bright, and whoever cooks cocoons in a village is fragrant. The fence is charming and the words are distorted. Hang a white stick and lick your eyes? ? Soft and hungry, I asked when the bean leaves were yellow.
Layers of hemp leaves are shining, and the smell of cocoon cooking is fragrant all over the village. Silkworm girl's laughter wafted. The voice of reeling is intertwined with the cries of melon sellers. The white-haired old man smoothed the tender wheat with crutches and cooked it as dry food. The satrap also kindly asked them about the growth of beans.
Fourth.
Clothes towel falling jujube flowers, cars ringing in the south of the village. Cow clothes and ancient willows sell cucumbers. The sun is shining, but he is too thirsty. He wants to find some water to drink. So he knocked on a villager's door and asked, can I have a bowl of tea?
The main idea is that the falling jujube flowers are covered with skirts, and the whole village rings the voice of silkworms. Farmers put cucumbers on hemp fibers under ancient willows and kept selling them. The road was long and Xiu Yuan was sleepy. It was sunny in summer, hot and thirsty. The prefect immediately knocked on the door of a family and asked for a bowl of tea.
Fifth.
After the rain, the grass is tender and fresh, and the sand is light and clean. When to clean the coupling. Mulberries are splashed in the warm day, and the wind is like wormwood. Stone is the middleman.
After the rain, the grass is green, the road is not dusty, and the mulberry oil shines, just like washing. When can I live this farming life again? As a satrap, I am a member of the common people!
This is a set of classic poems by Su Shi describing the customs of Xuzhou 900 years ago.
Five words and five pictures reflect the beautiful rural scenery of Xuzhou and Su Shi's love for the people: a village girl, a silkworm wife, a wild old farmer, hardworking, simple and carefree; Between the government and the people, the feeling of fish and water is intimate and unrestrained. It is really a group of "officials and people have fun together."
Fifth, focus on smelting.
Su Shi attached great importance to the smelting of Guoli Iron Mine. He has visited Guo Li many times, and emphasized in the Book of Xuzhou Emperor: "More than 70 miles northeast of the state, that is, under the supervision of Guo Li, iron officials and businessmen have gathered since ancient times, and its people are rich and happy. There are 36 smelters there (each with more than 100 people). Everyone is a melting pot with thousands of coins hidden in it ... The land produces refined iron, and the people are good at forging (manufacturing) ... The staff (weapons) of thousands of people can be used overnight ... If we want to make the national prison invisible, then Xu has nothing to do, so there is nothing to worry about. " The strategic significance of smelting iron for the benefit of the country is incisive.
Sixth, plan the grand plan of Xuzhou.
Su Shi was determined to thoroughly govern Xuzhou, and wrote the Book of Xuzhou Emperor with more than 3,700 words, which outlined the grand blueprint for comprehensively governing Xuzhou from four aspects: First, expanding local armed forces, quarrying stones and building urns, and making Xuzhou impregnable in a few years; The second is to organize militia to resist the attack of thieves in China; The third is to improve the lives of soldiers and prohibit gambling and alcoholism; The fourth is to promote and appoint local outstanding talents.
When Su Shi was transferred from Xuzhou to Huzhou to take office, Xuzhou people, in droves, feasted their heads, offered flowers and wine, said goodbye, and some could not help crying. The scene of seeing him off was very touching.