We all know that there was a legendary figure in the Tang Dynasty - He Zhizhang, who was not only a literati and a, but also the number one wine fairy in the Tang Dynasty. His poems are far-reaching, heroic and passionate, and are praised by the world; His personality is resolute and handsome, self-reliant, and he pursues the totem of the Jin Dynasty, a model of the Qin and Han dynasties. He Zhizhang, the honorary and talented poet, his date of birth shows that he was born in Yongxing, Yuezhou, in 659 AD, and was originally from a poor family. However, his life journey has been full of serious challenges and opportunities. You may ask, how did he stand out in the turbulent Tang Dynasty? To answer this question, let's unveil the curtain on his extraordinary and heroic journey!
He Zhizhang is open-minded and cheerful by nature, bold and arrogant, free and humorous, and good at talking with people. At a young age, he made a name for himself because of his talent. However, if you want to climb to the peak of your career, this road is full of hardships and bumps, and it takes countless sweat and wisdom. At the age of 36, with his unremitting efforts, He Zhizhang became the first champion in the history of Zhejiang Province, which undoubtedly paved the way for his career journey. From this moment on, he stepped into the ranks, step by step. He set sail from Dr. Guozi Temple, and successively served as Taichang Shaoqing and the Ministry of Works. In 738 AD, He Zhizhang was promoted to the crown prince's guest Yingqing and Guanglu doctor. When it comes to political appointments, he goes one step further and works part-time as a secretary and supervisor, hence the title"Secretarial and external supervisors"This lofty title.
His poems are fresh and chic, with a unique style, and his masterpieces such as Yongliu and Lotus Picking are still sung today. He is known for his profound calligraphy attainments, especially in cursive and official script. It is especially worth mentioning that in his later life, his behavior was jaw-dropping, and he was even known as one of the "Four Maniacs", addicted to alcohol, and wrote every time because of alcohol. He kept splashing ink without any embellishment, which was really scribbling. He Zhizhang often wrote a few crosses when his enthusiasm was high, and these words then became delicacies, and their precious value is immeasurable.
Historical records tell us that in 742 AD, He Zhizhang met the literary giant Li Bai by chance. He Zhizhang, who was already fascinated by Li Bai's poems, was deeply amazed by Li Bai's talent and admired it. So, he asked Li Bai if he had recently created new poetry works. Li Bai was ecstatic and took out his new work "Shu Dao Difficulty" for He Zhizhang to appreciate. When He Zhizhang roamed to Chang'an, he had more contact with Li Bai, and the two drank tea together and complained to each other. At this time, He Zhizhang found that he did not have enough silver on his body to pay for the wine, so he did not hesitate to untie the golden turtle he wore high on his chest in exchange for wine.
According to legend, although He Zhizhang was rich, he lived a very frugal life and was extremely rich in spirit. The horse he rode was like a boat crossing the river, and when he was drunk and hazy, he fell into the well water, and actually slept peacefully in it. Often, after an accidental fall, ordinary people only need to spray cold water to wake up immediately. However, He Zhizhang was extraordinary, and his brain did not seem to be affected by this, but instead spent his peaceful dreams comfortably at the bottom of the well. In such a situation, people can't help but sigh, He Zhizhang can really be called the first wine fairy in the world.
However, in 758 BC, the heroic and innovative He Zhizhang suddenly fell ill and almost lost his life. After being reborn after the catastrophe, he chose to leave the imperial court and return to his hometown to become a devout Taoist priest. Before agreeing to his request, Tang Xuanzong specially invited He Zhizhang, who had been promoted to the court as an official for more than 50 years, to have a banquet and food, and gave poems and gifts, and the words of deep hospitality jumped on the paper. This kind of courtesy is rare in the entire history of the Tang Dynasty. In his later years, He Zhizhang returned to his hometown after a long absence, and was full of emotion, so he wrote the popular nostalgic poem "Return.