Han Yu: Tang Poet and Scholar | Generated by AI
Question: Provide an introduction to Han Yu, including his life, poetry, and works.
Answer:
Han Yu (韩愈, 768–824), courtesy name Tuizhi (退之), was a prominent Tang dynasty official, philosopher, essayist, and poet. He is widely regarded as the leader of the Ancient-Style Prose Movement (古文运动) and is ranked first among the Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties (唐宋八大家). He is commonly called Han Changli (韩昌黎) after his claimed ancestral origin, Han Wengong (韩文公) from his posthumous title “Wen” (文), or Han吏部 from his late position as Vice Minister of Personnel.
Life
Han Yu was born in 768 in Heyang (河阳, present-day Mengzhou, Henan Province). Orphaned early—his mother died shortly after his birth and his father when he was two—he was raised by his elder brother Han Hui and sister-in-law Zheng, experiencing poverty and displacement. The family moved due to official postings and political troubles, including banishment to southern China.
He began serious study late but showed early talent. After repeated failures, he passed the jinshi (进士) imperial examination in 792 (his fourth attempt). Early career frustrations followed: multiple failures in further selection exams and rejections when seeking patronage.
Han Yu served in various roles, including staff positions under military governors,监察御史 (Censor), and educational posts like国子博士. He was repeatedly demoted for outspoken remonstrance—once for criticizing tax policies during famine, and famously in 819 for submitting a memorial opposing Emperor Xianzong’s veneration of a Buddhist relic (谏迎佛骨), resulting in near execution and exile as刺史 to Chaozhou (潮州) in the far south. He later governed Yuanzhou (袁州) successfully and rose to high office as吏部侍郎 (Vice Minister of Personnel) before dying in Chang’an in 824 at age 57.
Politically, he staunchly supported central authority against warlord separatism (e.g., joined the campaign against Huaixi rebels) and fiercely defended Confucianism against Buddhism and Daoism, helping lay groundwork for later Neo-Confucianism.
Prose Works and Literary Significance
Han Yu is most celebrated for prose. He advocated guwen (古文, ancient-style prose), rejecting ornate, parallel pianwen (骈文) in favor of freer, clearer style modeled on pre-Qin and Han classics. He emphasized “文以载道” (literature carries the Way), prioritizing moral content, clarity, and vitality.
Key prose works include:
- Yuan Dao (原道, On the Way) — defends Confucian Dao against Buddhism/Daoism.
- Shi Shuo (师说, On Teachers) — famous essay arguing anyone can be a teacher if knowledgeable; attacks elitism in learning (“古之学者必有师。师者，所以传道受业解惑也”).
- Jin Xue Jie (进学解, Explanation of Progress in Learning).
- Ji Shi Er Lang Wen (祭十二郎文) — deeply emotional elegy for his nephew, one of China’s greatest pieces of mourning literature.
- Ping Huai Xi Bei (平淮西碑) — celebrates victory over rebels.
His collected works form Changli xiansheng ji (昌黎先生集).
Poetry
Han Yu’s poetry is innovative but less universally praised than his prose. He experimented boldly, often “using prose techniques in poetry” (以文为诗), incorporating argument, narrative, and dense allusion. His style is vigorous, sometimes rugged or “strange and marvelous” (奇崛), contrasting with more polished Tang poets.
Famous poems include:
- Shan Shi (山石) — vivid temple landscape.
- Za Shi (早春呈水部张十八员外) — celebrates early spring scenery (“天街小雨润如酥，草色遥看近却无。最是一年春好处，绝胜烟柳满皇都”).
- Nan Shan (南山) — massive, descriptive poem on Mount Zhongnan with piled-up imagery.
- Ting Ying Shi Tan Qin (听颖师弹琴) — on listening to a monk play the qin.
- Lu Hun Shan Huo (陆浑山火) — dramatic depiction of a mountain fire.
Critics note his verse can feel forced or overly intellectual compared to Li Bai or Du Fu, yet it shows great originality and influenced later poets.
Han Yu’s legacy lies in revitalizing Confucian thought, reforming prose, and inspiring Song dynasty writers like Ouyang Xiu and Su Shi, who praised him extravagantly: “文起八代之衰” (revived literature after eight ages of decline).
References:
- https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hans/韩愈
- https://www.britannica.com/biography/Han-Yu
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_Yu
- http://m.shangshiwen.com/author_682.html