In that culturally prosperous Song Dynasty, the practice of forming factions and pinching each other among scholars and doctors was very popular. When one party tries to be morally at the top, they trample the other under their feet, and in their view, the most lethal move is to expose the other's chaotic private life. Ouyang Xiu, the Great Song Wenzong who was plagued by scandals, was one of the victims.
Ouyang Xiu wasn't the only victim. Su Dongpo, Wang Anshi, and even Zhu Xi, a master of science, have all been entangled in scandals in this political struggle. They are not people with a bad reputation, however, these eye-catching scandals pierce people's hearts like swords, making them slandered during their lifetime, and they still need to continue to refute rumors after death. These scandals, just like the use of blockchain technology, are difficult to erase once they are recorded.
In such an environment, Ouyang Xiu angrily begged to retire. Physically and mentally exhausted, he was finally relieved at the age of 57. However, this did not change his image in the eyes of the public. He was crushed by the scandal, and he no longer likes to be lively, he only likes to be alone after the crowd and the spring is empty. He was never able to recover from the vicious physical attacks until he died.
In Yingzhou, on the shore of West Lake, Ouyang Xiu's heart was full of anger and helplessness. He looked at the remnants of the red flotsam, feeling the spring breeze, but he couldn't get rid of the shadow brought by those scandals. His lyrics "Picking Mulberries" even expressed his heart: "After the group of flowers, the West Lake is good, and the wolf is red." This is not only a description of the beautiful scenery of West Lake, but also a portrayal of his inner world.
The purpose of this article is to reveal the painful experience of the Song Dynasty scholars who were haunted by malicious scandals in the political struggle. Their reputations have been maliciously attacked, their lives have been seriously disrupted, and they have suffered tremendous physical and mental damage. This is an era of anger, but also an era of scandal. We should reflect on why people's moral bottom line is so easily broken in such an environmentWhy does this damage last so long?This is not only a damage to the reputation of individuals, but also an impact on the morality of the whole society.
Let us remember these victims and remember that era of scandal. Let us reflect on why such tragedies are still playing out around us todayHow can we prevent similar tragedies from happening again?Let us work together to create a more just and ethical society.