Before 1949, most women in ancient China did not have their own names. In the Qin Dynasty and even earlier, they did not have names, and it was not until the Han Dynasty that they began to have boudoir names and nicknames. Regardless of whether women in ancient times were from high families or large families, they would be called by their father's surname or husband's surname in the history books. Even after their deaths, their tablets will only be engraved with "a certain family and a certain clan", the clan represents the father's clan, and the door represents the husband's clan. Such a simple title can only be regarded as a rough summary of their lives, and their achievements are only reflected in the number of children and grandchildren who are signed on the tombstones, and blood has become their only achievement. In contrast, Xie Daoyun seemed lucky. She not only has a far-reaching boudoir name "Tao Yuan", but also has an exclusive small character "Ling Jiang", and even has a nickname "Dao Yun". And these, but more than 1,700 years ago, when women did not even deserve the right to live.
In those days of the poll tax, baby girls were deprived of the right to live as soon as they were born if they could not become heavy laborers. It has to be said that she was born into an amazing family, and it is undeniable that she was born in the same remarkable era. Chinese history has always been extremely stingy with women. Liu Xiang of the Han Dynasty compiled the "Biography of the Daughters", praising the wisdom, benevolence, chastity, righteousness and argument of 105 outstanding women, and of course, including the negative examples of disasters to the country and the people. This work is like a set of models, setting the standard of excellence for Chinese women, and also like an infinite net that envelops thousands of women, imprisoning their love and sorrow. Since then, generation after generation of "The Biography of the Daughters" has repeatedly reminded women of "three obedience and four virtues". In the long river of history, the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties became a special turning point, where the tide of history swept by, and the beauty and ugliness of human nature were displayed here.
Looking back, we will also find that the scenery of this period of history is extremely beautiful. During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the traditional Confucian emphasis on hierarchy and inferiority gradually collapsed, and the reconstruction of values and the transformation of ideas created some free space for women. During this period, a series of changes took place in the criteria for evaluating outstanding women, the way and content of education women received in the family, and their status in marriage. Xie Daoyun: The self-expression of women in ancient times is no longer limited to the traditional way of chastity and gentleness in "The World Speaks New Words", and the female image we see is no longer limited to the traditional way of chastity. Through Liu Yiqing's brushstrokes, we see a group of lively and lovely women, who are either strong, or wise, or humorous, or delicate, showing an unprecedented free demeanor. Their clear eyes and demure smiles are unforgettable, this is the era of Xie Daoyun.
Xie Daoyun has enjoyed the privileged life brought by his family since he was a child, living in fine clothes and food, receiving the best education, just like his brothers. She is a microcosm of the aristocratic women of that era, although she cannot represent the living conditions of all women, but as the elegant female group standing behind the men of the family, she is undoubtedly a typical representative of that era that cannot be ignored. As a unique individual existence, Xie Daoyun is extremely charismatic and makes people pour pen and ink into it. According to historical records, Xie Daoyun wrote poems, essays, eulogies and debates throughout his life, all of which have been passed down to the world. Her collection of poems, The Book of Sui and the Chronicles of the Sui Dynasty, has two volumes, both of which have been lost. At present, only "Art and Literature Gathering" has preserved her two poems, "Mountaineering" and "Scattered Yongsong in Jizhong", as well as one prose in "Praise of Analects" in "Quanjin Wen". Of course, this is not all Xie Daoyun, and the anecdotes she left behind are richer than her poems.
Xie Daoyun strives to express herself, and her calmness and strength are undoubtedly proving to the world that women can make a difference, too. The talent and forest style she showed, in my opinion, are all her silent arguments and self-resistance.