Spend a Straw-cloaked Life in Mist and Rain—Su Shi

◎朱廣春

蘇軾是中國宋代著名的文學家、政治家和藝術家。“一蓑煙雨任平生”是他人生的最好寫照，表達了蘇軾豁達灑脫的人生態度，也反映了他對人生境遇的豁達態度，不受外界環境的干擾，堅持做自己。本期就讓我們走進蘇軾，了解他的精彩人生吧！

Su Shi (1037-1101) is one of the most popular ancient Chinese writers in history.He lived in the Northern Song period,who was born in the current city of Meishan, Sichuan.He was good at almost all kinds of writings and art, including poems,ciand prose as well as1)calligraphy and painting.His poems,covering all kinds of themes.He was not only respected for his talent, but also for his optimistic attitude towards life.

When Su Shi was young, he passed the2)imperial examinations and acquired the degree of Jinshi.After that, he became an official.Su Shi once worked in Hangzhou, Zhejiang.He was responsible for building a3)pedestrian4)causeway across the West Lake.It was named after him: Su Causeway.Spring Dawn at Su Causeway has been the top views of the West Lake.Due to his comparison, the West Lake was nicknamed “West Lake”.

The West Lake looks like the fair lady at her best,

Whether she is richly adorned or plainly dressed.

—Excerpt fromDrinking at the Lake,First in Sunny,then in Rainy Weather

During his service in Mizhou (now Zhucheng,Shandong), one Mid-Autumn Day, he wrote the following lines to show his love and concern to his younger brother Su Zhe:

Men have sorrow and joy;they part or meet again;

The moon is bright or dim and she may wax or wane.

There has been nothing perfect since the olden days.

So let us wish that man

Will live long as he can!

Though miles apart,

We’ll share the beauty she displays.

—Excerpt fromTune:Prelude to Water Melody

Unfortunately, Su was demoted several times to serve in remote areas because of false accusations.But he was not too discouraged.In 1079, he went to Huangzhou (now Huanggang, Hubei).There, he tried to enjoy life in the countryside.He5)farmed a piece of land which he called“Dongpo”.This is why people call him “Su Dongpo”.It’s said that he also invented a famous dish named Dongpo Pork during this period.Many of his best works were written there, too, includingTune:Calming the Waves, which expresses a positive attitude towards hardships in life.

Listen not to the rain beating against the trees.

Why don’t you slowly walk and chant at ease?

Better than saddled horse I like sandals and cane.

O I would fain,Spend a straw-cloaked life in mist and rain.

—Excerpt fromTune:Calming the Waves

Su was also banished to Danzhou, in today’s Hainan.At the beginning, he couldn’t get used to the hot, wet weather.

He couldn’t understand the6)dialect, either.Instead of keeping sad, he set up schools and got along very well with the locals.Many people traveled from afar to visit him.He was regarded as a pioneer and cultivator of native culture, winning deep respect for himself.

“Su was an incorrigible optimist, a great humanitarian, a friend of the people, a prose master…” writer Lin Yutang said in his bookThe Gay Genius.

“Charge at the toughest and aim at the farthest.” Su’s line was quoted by Xi Jinping, Chinese President in his 2023 New Year Address.It means to take on the biggest challenges and go after the most ambitious goals.As long as we keep our feet on the ground and forge ahead with our journey by making steady progress, we will turn our grand goals into reality.

Su’s open-mindedness has inspired and continues to inspire readers from generation to generation.

1) calligraphyn.書法

2) imperialadj.皇帝的

3) pedestrianadj.行人的；行人使用的

4) causewayn.堤道

5) farmv.耕耘

6) dialectn.方言

蘇軾（1037—1101）是歷史上最受歡迎的中國古代作家之一。他出生于今天的四川眉山，生活在北宋時期。他擅長幾乎所有類型的寫作和藝術，包括詩歌、詞和散文，以及書法和繪畫。他寫的詩，涵蓋各種主題。他不僅因才華受到尊重，還因對生活持樂觀態度而備受推崇。

蘇軾年輕時，通過科舉考試考中了進士。之后，他成為一名官員。蘇軾曾在浙江杭州上任，負責在西湖修建一條人行堤道。堤道以他的名字命名：蘇堤。蘇堤春曉已成為西湖的熱門景點。由于他的比喻，西湖被昵稱為“西子湖畔”。

欲把西湖比西子，

淡妝濃抹總相宜。

——摘自《飲湖上初晴后雨》

在密州（今山東諸城）就任期間，有一年的中秋節，他寫下了這樣的句子表達對弟弟蘇轍的關愛與思念：

人有悲歡離合，月有陰晴圓缺，此事古難全。

但愿人長久，千里共嬋娟。

——摘自《水調歌頭·明月幾時有》

不幸的是，蘇軾因遭誣陷，幾次被貶到邊遠地區任職，但他并沒有太灰心。1079 年，他去了黃州（今湖北黃岡）。在那里，他試圖享受鄉村生活，耕種了一塊他稱之為“東坡”的田地。這就是人們稱他為“蘇東坡”的原因。據說，在此期間他還發明了一道著名的菜肴——東坡肉。他在那里也寫了許多優秀作品，包括《定風波·莫聽穿林打葉聲》，這首詩展現了他面對生活中困難的積極態度。

莫聽穿林打葉聲，何妨吟嘯且徐行。

竹杖芒鞋輕勝馬，誰怕？一蓑煙雨任平生。

——摘自《定風波·莫聽穿林打葉聲》

蘇軾也曾被放逐到今天的海南省儋州市。起初，他無法適應那里炎熱潮濕的天氣。他也聽不懂那里的方言。但他沒有傷心，反而興辦了學校，和當地人融洽相處。許多人不遠萬里來拜訪他。人們把他看作是當地文化的開拓者和播種者，對他懷有深深的敬意。

作家林語堂在《蘇東坡傳》中說：“蘇東坡是一個秉性難改的樂天派，是悲天憫人的道德家，是黎民百姓的好朋友，是散文作家……”

“犯其至難而圖其至遠”，國家主席習近平在2023 年新年致辭中引用了蘇軾的這句話。意思是說向最難之處攻堅，追求最遠大的目標。只要腳踏實地，埋頭苦干，積跬步以至千里，就一定能夠把宏偉目標變為美好現實。

蘇軾的曠達，激勵了且在繼續激勵著一代代讀者。