Gui Youguang was a man of great understanding since he was a child, and he could write at the age of nine. At the age of ten, he wrote "On Begging for the Extreme" with more than a thousand words. At the age of eleven or twelve, he became "interested in the ancients". At the age of fourteen, he took a boy exam. At the age of twenty, he won the first place among students in Suzhou. In the same year, I went to Nanjing to take the provincial examination. Gui Youguang, who was familiar with the Six Classics and Three Histories, was full of confidence in his career at first. But he took part in the provincial examination and came second again and again. On the fifth day, I went to Nanjing, and I was unknown on the list. During the period, business was bleak, and it was fifteen years when it was cold. At the age of 35, he won the second place. At this time, Gui Youguang has been reading three generations of Han books and visiting hundreds of books, from Nine Classics, Twenty-one History to Agricultural Nursery Medicine. Gui Youguang's ancient prose, Yu Zhongwei's poems, and Zhang Zibin's craftsmanship are known as "the three wonders of Kunshan". At that time, Jiangnan examiners called Gui Youguang "the reincarnation of Jia and Dong". With Gui Youguang's talent and reputation, he should be a shoo-in. In the winter of the same year, after having obtained the provincial examination in high school, Gui Youguang hired horses and chariots to go north day and night to prepare for the next year's does examination. Who knows that Sun Shan failed in the exam this time?
After returning from the south, Gui Youguang moved to the Anting River near Jiading, and began to talk and give lectures while studying and taking exams. Scholars from all over the world come here, ranging from a dozen to more than a hundred. Gui Youguang's family has always been relatively poor, relying on his wife Wang to take care of the housework for a living. During his stay in Anting, Wang cultivated more than 40 mu of land, supervised the reclamation of slaves, and irrigated rice with ox carts for his family and disciples, so that Gui Youguang could concentrate on giving lectures. Gui Youguang talks about literature and history and classics. At that time, the disciples were full, and domestic scholars and scribes called Gui Youguang Mr. Zhenchuan.
Gui Youguang is famous at home and abroad, and even Xu Wenchang (Xu Wei), who is proud of his talent, is in awe of Gui Youguang. One day, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Rites, who was born as the top scholar, brought him back to his hometown and invited him to dinner. But from dusk until late at night, Xu Wenchang was still late. Asked why, he said, "The gentleman took shelter from the rain and saw' Gui Youguang is now Ouyang Zi' hanging on the wall and door. It was too late to go back to Luo Xiang to study." . Zhu Dazhao ordered his servant to bring Gui Youguang's articles, read them quickly and appreciate them relatively. As for Da Dan.
However, Gui Youguang's fate is difficult. I will try every three years, and every time I travel a long way, I will go back to the bottom eight times in a row. At the age of forty-three, he lost his beloved eldest son, and a year later, he lost his wife Wang, who worked hard for him and shared his worries. The trampling of official career has long abandoned this famous ancient prose writer in a desolate land. Coupled with the grief of losing his son and wife, his life is even more difficult. However, the rough life also tempered Gui Youguang's deep and determined character, and he did not yield to power and bad luck. In the Ming dynasty, there was a strong trend of cheating in imperial examinations. Although the habit of writing was not heavy in the Tang Dynasty, it was an important shortcut to be promoted by masters and bureaucrats. Gui Youguang has been stuck in other places for a long time, so he should know the inside story of this imperial examination. However, he never rose from heresy to career. Zhang Wenyi, the master after having obtained the provincial examination, admired Gui Youguang very much. He deeply regrets that Gui Youguang can't be a China person for three transgressions and five times. He "tried to attract him with old friendship" several times, but Gui Youguang "refused to go straight". When Gui Youguang repeatedly refused to become a China native, Ming Muzong had not yet ascended the throne. A lucky eunuch around Mu Zong, eager for Gui Youguang's name, made his nephew worship Gui Youguang as his teacher, and let Gui Youguang visit Beijing privately several times, which was flatly rejected by Gui Youguang. After Mu Zong ascended the throne, eunuchs became more powerful, and Gui Youguang still refused to associate with him. Gui Youguang Geng Jie's upright and upright character is reflected in all aspects of his life. In the field of ancient prose, he always insisted on his own opinions, was not confused by everyone, and dared to fight against the "giants" who ruled the literary world at that time.
In the Ming Dynasty, after Liu Ji and Song Lian left some good articles in the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, there began to be an antique atmosphere in the literary world. During the decades from Yongle to Chenghua, "Sanyang" (Yang Shiqi, Yang Rong and Yang Pu), who lived in pavilions for a long time, dominated the literary world, advocating prosperous times and broad styles, and their compositions were elegant and mediocre, so they were called "Taige Style". Therefore, the "first seven sons" led by Li Mengyang and He Jingming rose up against the "Tiger Wind". They hold that "literature must be in the Qin and Han Dynasties, and poetry must flourish in the Tang Dynasty", and the imitation and twisting of words are regarded as ancient. Both Li and He Qizi are devoted to poetry creation. Although prose is not their strong point, it is so powerful that it once dominated their lives. During the Jiajing period, Li Panlong, Wang Shizhen and other "last seven sons" followed the "first seven sons" and added fuel to the fire, which intensified the wind of copying the ancient times. Gui Youguang is a brave man who rises suddenly in this moldy archaize, and an upright writer who dares to resist the trend.
Wang Shizhen and Gui Youguang are fellow villagers, a little later than Gui Youguang. However, from the age of 22, Wang Shizhen became a scholar, and later, his official career was booming, and he became an official in the criminal history of Nanjing, leading the literary world with outstanding talent and erudition. At this time, although Gui Youguang was famous for a while, he was still an old Confucian in a remote place. In terms of money, he is an "old man" who "inherits the inheritance alone between a barren river and an empty city". It is such a poor Confucian scholar in the countryside who dares to oppose the arrogant Wang Shizhen. In the Preface to the Collected Works of Xiang Siyao, Gui Youguang strongly criticized Wang Shizhen, saying, "The so-called writers who cover this world are full of words. Before I started, I learned from the ancients, but if I become a little stupid, I will fight for it, and I will despise my predecessors ... As for the famous artists of Song and Yuan Dynasties, their strength is enough to catch up with the Millennium, but the world shakes them with ephemera, which is sad! Nothing is a giant advocated by one or two vain people? " Gui Youguang publicly mocked Wang Shizhen as a "fool giant". Wang Shizhen was very angry when he learned that, and said, "Fools are sincere, and fools dare not listen to their destiny." Gui Youguang replied rudely: "There is nothing but stupidity and mediocrity." In his later years, Wang Shizhen completely changed his view of Gui Youguang. In the preface to Ode to a Servant for the statue of Gui Youguang, he said: "Although Mr. Wang's ancient poetry was written by Shihan, it was greatly compromised by Changli and Luling, and the income was as good as it intended. It has its own flavor without carving, and it is detached from contemporary masters. " Zan Yun: "There are thousands of people, following Han and Ouyang. I am different, I have been injured for a long time. " While he spoke highly of Gui Youguang's ancient prose, he also expressed his feelings of "self-regret". Gui Youguang finally persuaded his opponent with his own theory and creative practice. Although Gui Youguang "got on the bus eight times and never met", he still didn't want to have a rest. In the forty-fourth year of Jiajing (1565), Gui Youguang finally won the top three in the imperial examination for the ninth time. By this time, he was sixty years old. Gui Youguang, who is full of poetry and dedicated to serving his country, has not lost his ambition although he is in his prime. Because Gui Youguang was born in the top three, he could not be appointed as a librarian, so he had to go to the remote Changxing as a magistrate of a county.
Changxing is located in the mountainous area and has no magistrate for a long time. Everything is controlled by petty officials, and rich and powerful families collude with the government to do evil. The prison is full of innocent people, business thieves and villagers are restless. At that time, Gui Youguang was advised not to take office until he was replaced, but he resolutely went. The first thing he did after he arrived in Changxing was to run a school and train backward people. The second thing is to punish evil officials and rehabilitate unjust imprisonment. More than 30 innocent people who committed capital crimes were released from prison, 107 innocent people who were wrongly detained were rehabilitated, and Aauto Quicker, an evil official and a fisherman, was severely punished. Every time a court hearing is held, women and children are required to hear the case in Wu instead of Putonghua before filing a case, so that the people can complain. I often make decisions in class, but rarely in prison. Provide food and clothing to those who are imprisoned according to law. A heavy prison mother died, and Gui Youguang allowed him to go home to take care of the funeral and go back by himself. After arranging the funeral, the prisoner disobeyed other people's orders and went back by himself.
Gui Youguang wants to learn from the officials of the Han Dynasty and be an upright official. When the boss's orders are inconvenient to carry out, they are shelved and "go straight to their own will." He publicly announced on the editorial notice of Changxing County: "When you take office, you will send a hundred miles of life, only knowing how to support the king by imperial decree; I dare not go to court for sponsorship. This is a shame and I don't care. " In just two years of knowing Changxing, Gui Youguang actually did several good things for the people, which was well received by the people.
In the second year of Qin Long (1568), 63-year-old Gui Youguang moved to Shunde to serve his sentence. According to the Ming system, "Jinshi is the order, nothing moves." So Gui Youguang's promotion is really heavy. Gui Youguang once said angrily: "The so-called three helpers are close, which is no different from Hunan Water Investment." Upright and integrity, keeping one's place, these are two aspects of Gui Youguang's character. Although he was greatly dissatisfied with moving to Shunde, he was still conscientious and meticulous when he took office. He made use of Ma's leisure time, extensively read historical records and interviewed anecdotes, and compiled a complete Collection of Horses. In the mid-Ming Dynasty, there was a retro movement of the first seven scholars in the literary world, which played a certain role in sweeping away the style of Taige style. However, in Jiajing period, blind respect for the past has become a tendency. Wang, Mao Kun, and others rose up and advocated the ancient prose of Tang and Song Dynasties, which was called the Tang and Song School, and its leader was Gui Youguang. At that time, Wang Shizhen was a master of literature, and his momentum was impressive. Gui Youguang denounced: "It's hard to say that the so-called literati built this world. Before the beginning, it was the learning of the ancients, but if one or two fools made it a giant, they tried their best to offset the predecessors. " "As for the famous artists of the Song and Yuan Dynasties, they have been chasing for thousands of years, and the world is bleak, which is shaken by ephemera" (Preface to the Collected Works of Xiang Siyao). On poetic theory, he also criticized the tendency of retro, saying: "This life is just chasing chapters and sentences, imitating plagiarism, obscene and flashy, but I don't know what it is." On the contrary, he thinks that "frankly speaking, there are many folk songs, and they care about the times and the country and the people, so what is an elegant gentleman" (Preface to Mr. Shen Cigu's Poems). His basic point of view is that although the articles in Qin and Han Dynasties represented by Historical Records are good, the famous articles in Tang and Song Dynasties are not bad. The former and the latter seven scholars flaunted that "literature must be in Qin and Han dynasties, and poetry must flourish in Tang dynasty", but in fact they went astray. He advocated "changing Qin and Han dynasties into Europe" and writing with "sincerity" ... without seeking to draw seaweed into an article. It's just that the beauty of the scenery is dazzling in the world "("Answer to Yu Zhifu "). At that time, Wang Shizhen heard him criticize his "stupidity" and said, "Fools are there, and fools dare not listen to their destiny. "However, in his later years, Wang Shizhen also felt that he was over-sculpted, not as natural as Gui Youguang. "Preface to Praise for the Too Servant" said: "Mr. Wang's ancient prose has its own flavor ... without carving, and he is detached from famous scholars. "Others compare Gui Youguang with Ouyang Xiu and praise him as the first essayist in Ming Dynasty. Until the Qing dynasty. Fang Bao, Yao Nai and others also praised Gui Youguang. The characteristics of Gui Youguang's prose are against archaizing, focusing on form, and not realizing real innovation in content. His works are mainly prose, and nine times out of ten are works of explanation, inscription, discussion, preface, preface, epitaph, inscription, ode, behavior and conception. Some of his works show dissatisfaction with politics at that time, and some show sympathy for the people, but many of them are empty and outdated. In some narratives and lyric sketches, it can be said that "I have no intention of touching people, and my thoughts of joy and sadness are beyond words" (Wang Xijue's epitaph of returning to the public).
Gui Youguang's essay "My Home is in Longmen, My Home is in Changli" (Qian's Preface to the Collected Works of Mr. Zhenchuan, a new issue) draws on the strengths of the Tang and Song Dynasties, inherits the tradition of the ancient prose movement in the Tang and Song Dynasties, and develops on this basis. He further expanded the subject matter of his prose, introduced trivial matters in daily life into serious ancient prose, and made it more closely related to life. In this way, it is easy to make the article appear sincere, approachable and fresh. In particular, some short stories about family chores or getting together with the elderly are simple, concise and moving, "making the viewer feel sad and hidden."
Its artistic characteristics are: ① lyrical and touching. For example, the masterpiece "Ji Xiang Xuan Zhi" takes the rise and fall of Ji Xiang Xuan, a century-old house, as a clue, interspersed with memories of his grandmother, mother and wife, expressing the feelings of people leaving the building empty and things changing. The memories of everyone's affairs are family trifles, but they are very human. (2) Pay attention to details and be vivid. For example, the description of scenery in Ji Xiang Xuanzhi carried forward the fine traditions of Tang and Song Dynasties, which was indeed beyond the reach of the first seven scholars. (3) Short and pithy. His famous essays, such as Selected Annals of Ji Xiang, Explaining Words, Zi Si Ting Ji, Daughter Jill Zhi, etc., do not exceed 1000 words. "Cold Flower Burial Record" is about mourning the death of a young girl. The full text is *** 1 12, but it is extremely concise to outline the image of a maid with two details and write her feelings in court. (4) exquisite structure, twists and turns. For example, "Jie Bao Shan Jutu" was written from the scenery of Taihu Lake to the mountain residence in Jie Bao, and compared with Wangchuan Villa in Wang Weizhi in the Tang Dynasty, and commented on Wang Wei. Ju Chuang Ji experienced ups and downs from the landform of Hong's former residence to the ancients and Tao Yuanming.
Gui Youguang's narrative prose, like a clear spring, opened up a new realm for the development of prose at that time. He described the tragic situation in Kunshan after the Japanese invasion of China: "Every household was burned, people gathered and dispersed, parents and wives were slaughtered, and the village cried and heard". In articles such as "The Death of Zhang Zhennv" and "Zhang Zhennv's Prison", the reality of bullying, fear of hard work and corruption in official management is exposed. He expressed his intention to plead for the people in articles such as Exposing the Book of Imprisoned Prisoners for Joint Trial, Notices of Nine Counties and Begging for a Rest. In the biographies of Chuck and Luye Weng, some images of ordinary people are outlined. In journal articles such as My Unexamined Miscellaneous Notes and Ren Xu's Journey, the feelings and the world of some people at that time were recorded. These works also have certain social significance. Taihu Lake basin has been famous for its richness since ancient times, but with the development, the flood and drought disasters in Taihu Lake have become more and more serious. In the Ming Dynasty, there was a flood every three to seven years.
When Gui Youguang lived in Anting, he studied the water conservancy situation in Taihu Lake area and thought that Wusong River was the way for Taihu Lake to enter the sea. As long as the Wusong River is widened and the siltation problem of Wusong River is solved, other waterway problems will be solved. He opposed Taihu Lake's sewage discharge because "water harms people and benefits, making Taihu Lake dry up. Is it good for the people? " He wrote a letter to the soldiers, officers and justices of the peace at that time, expounding his opinions on water control. He also collected relevant water conservancy documents at that time, wrote Before and After Water Conservancy Theory, and wrote four volumes of Water Conservancy Records of Sanwu, which are important materials for water conservancy research in ancient Taihu Lake. Gui Youguang is rich in books. At the beginning of Chenghua, his father built a study by the Anting River and named it "Shimeitang". I bought a lot when I arrived in Gui Youguang. His wife Wang also likes collecting books very much. As soon as she heard that some books were scattered, she asked the maid to visit and bought thousands of books. He claimed that he had never been addicted to it all his life, and only good books cultivated his temperament. The book collection is printed with the seal of Shimeitang, the collection of Langjiawang of Shimeitang, Dedicated to Love and Twenty-two Generations of Women of Wei State. There are 94 kinds of books edited by Zhuzi Han Hui, Zhou brothers Zhuzi and contemporary Song Lian's Longmenzi, which is a series with the largest number of sub-books before the end of Ming Dynasty.