The videos I watched became popular in ancient times

The Tang Dynasty was in the heyday of Tianbao, when the country was prosperous and the people were safe. Even the Jinghu Lake far away in Zhejiang was still rippling with spring water.

An old man in his eighties walked slowly with a cane.

He returned from a long journey from Chang'an, his gray temples were soaked with sweat, but the joy of returning to his hometown had diluted the fatigue of the journey.

He stopped when he came across a group of children playing.

I bent down and asked them about their hometown in authentic Wu dialect.

The children had no idea who this old man had suddenly appeared. Instead of answering his questions, they jokingly asked him where he came from.

This old man was none other than He Zhizhang, who called himself the Madman of Siming.

However, when the madman encountered such an embarrassing situation, he could only smile bitterly and write poetry.

The young and the young left home and returned to their hometown.

The children met each other, and smiled and asked where the guests came from.

The children in his hometown did not recognize him, but in Chang'an City, thousands of miles away, the anecdotes of this madman were still being told.

Li Bai, known as the Immortal Poet, was ostracized and demoted many times by the foolish and corrupt Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. He was a bold and unrestrained poet.

Su Shi, one of the Eight Great Masters of Tang and Song Dynasties, was arrested and imprisoned because he was involved in the Wudai Poetry Case.

Compared with these two poets, He Zhizhang is undoubtedly lucky.

His political career was smooth and his life was relatively fulfilling.

"It is said that you can tell a child's future by looking at him at the age of three, and his character by looking at him at

"In his youth, He Zhizhang was a man of unrestrained nature, good at talking, and his madness began to show."

"At the age of thirty-six, he successfully passed the imperial examination and entered the official career."

"As the first number one scholar in Zhejiang Province, He Zhizhang can be said to have set a precedent."

"But in the central government, everyone is basically a top student who has passed the imperial examination."

"In the officialdom, emotional intelligence is obviously much more important than IQ."

"In the beginning, He Zhizhang was very open-minded about the ups and downs in officialdom."

"He doesn't care about promotion or wealth at all. He is very happy to be a school official."

"But his cousin, Prime Minister Lu Xiang, couldn't stand it anymore."

"This cousin has always been very optimistic about He Zhizhang. He praised him to others."

"He Zhizhang is a very charming and eloquent man. If I don't see him for a day, I will feel mean."

"With the help of Lu Xiangxian, He Zhizhang went to the Taichang Temple, which marked the beginning of his official career."

"With his talent, He Zhizhang quickly stood out."

"But rather than admiration, he attracted more sour jealousy."

"Speaking in the Wu dialect was He Zhizhang's hallmark, and also a handle for his colleagues to mock him."

"A group of court officials said behind his back that even if He Zhizhang was the gold of the south, he could only shine after coming to the Central Plains."

"When He Zhizhang heard these comments, he smiled and wrote a poem "Answering the Court Officials" in response."

"Clams are placed on a silver plate with inlaid patterns, and water shield from Jinghu Lake is tangled like silk."

"The folk songs are very good these days, but I don't think they are from Wu."

"You people in the Central Plains also think the clams and water shield from Wu are delicious, but you don't mind that these things come from the south."

"So a hero's origin does not matter. Gold shines wherever it goes. Why do you care that I'm from the South?"

"Faced with his superiors' suppression, He Zhizhang also gave a perfect answer with high emotional intelligence."

"When Cantonese Zhang Jiuling was prime minister, for some reason he always disliked He Zhizhang and never promoted him."

"Later, Zhang Jiuling was dismissed from his post as prime minister, and he apologized for fear that He Zhizhang would take the opportunity to take revenge."

"These words made Zhang Jiuling feel very ashamed."

"Many years later, Du Fu recalled He Zhizhang, who had more character and emotional intelligence, and wrote a poem saying this."

"He Gongya Wu dialect, always in office is pure and unrestrained."

"He Zhizhang was in a high position in the government, but he had his own way of dealing with things, which was humorous yet unrestrained."

"But more importantly, he is able to control himself and knows how to solve his problems in the most appropriate way."

"The standard of a madman is to drink heavily, and He Zhizhang is no exception."

"Speaking of He Zhizhang's most famous drinking buddy, it must be Li Bai."

"In the first year of Tianbao, Li Bai came to Chang'an with his poems, hoping to make a name for himself here."

"As soon as he arrived, he met He Zhizhang."

"At that time, Li Bai was just a commoner, while He Zhizhang was already a highly respected guest of the crown prince who held an important position."

Su Shi: He Zhizhang was the first number one scholar in Zhejiang history and the happiest poet in the Tang Dynasty.

He Zhizhang passed the imperial examination and became the top scholar at the age of 37, and lived to be nearly 90 years old.

His life coincided with the most prosperous and stable period of the Tang Dynasty, and he could be said to have lived a long and blessed life.

He lived through the reigns of four emperors: Wu Zetian, Emperor Zhongzong of Tang, Emperor Ruizong of Tang, and Emperor Xuanzong of Tang.

He successively served as the Doctor of the Four Subjects of the Imperial Academy, the Doctor of the Ministry of Rites, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, the Secretary General, the Prince's Guest, etc., and was a third-rank official.

He lived in a prosperous environment, served as an official for his entire life, and finally returned to his hometown and died at a ripe old age.

Because he was born in a prosperous era and has a broad-minded personality.

The tone of He Zhizhang's poetry is optimistic, graceful, fresh and unrestrained.

He Zhizhang has a free and easy personality and loves wine.

Zhizhang rode a horse like a boat, dazzled and fell asleep.

It is said that when he was drunk, he swayed back and forth on the horse, like he was on a boat.

He fell into a well after getting drunk and simply fell asleep at the bottom of the well, making him the number one drunkard.

He is known as one of the Four Masters of Wuzhong along with Zhang Ruoxu, Zhang Xu and Bao Rong.

Together with Li Bai, Li Shizhi and others, they are called the Eight Immortals of Drinking.

He is known as one of the three great calligraphers of the Tang Dynasty along with Zhang Xu and Huaisu.

In the early years of Emperor Xuanzong's Tianbao period, He Zhizhang fell seriously ill and wrote a petition to become a Taoist priest.

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang granted him permission to return to his hometown, Siming, and the Crown Prince and all the ministers of the court gave him a farewell party.

After returning to his hometown, He Zhizhang wrote two poems titled "Occasional Poems on Returning Hometown". This is the second of "Occasional Poems on Returning Hometown".

It has been so many years since I left my hometown, and now I have almost lost touch with the world.

Only the Mirror Lake water in front of the door remains the same as before in the spring breeze.

From the time he passed the imperial examination and left his hometown to serve as an official in Chang'an for 50 years, He Zhizhang realized that the personnel changes in his hometown were too great.

Only the clear water of the Mirror Lake in front of the door was rippling in circles under the spring breeze, just as it had been more than fifty years ago.

"But when he saw the handsome Li Bai, He Zhizhang's intuition told him that the man in front of him was no ordinary person."

"Li Bai couldn't wait to show He Zhizhang his masterpiece, The Difficult Road to Shu."

"Alas, how dangerous and high it is."

"The road to Shu is harder than climbing to the sky!"

"He Zhizhang read the entire poem with great gusto, nodding his head with excitement. Could he be a banished immortal descending to earth?"

"After meeting a banished immortal, we naturally have to celebrate."

"He Zhizhang enthusiastically took Li Bai out for a drink, but as soon as they sat down at the bar, he was embarrassed to find that he had left in a hurry and did not bring any cash."

"Who would have thought that He Zhizhang was not disturbed."

"Instead, he took off the golden tortoise shell on his waist without hesitation, which indicated his official rank, and exchanged it for a few pots of warm wine to drink with Li Bai."

"So, this pair of drinking buddies, who were 42 years apart in age, drank and chatted in a tavern in Chang'an City and had a great time."

"Afterwards, He Zhizhang recommended Li Bai to Emperor Xuanzong of Tang."

"This meeting is of great significance to Li Bai."

"So much so that many years later when He Zhizhang passed away, Li Bai missed him sincerely several times."

"Later, Du Fu recalled these famous drinkers in Chang'an and wrote a poem called 'Song of the Eight Immortals of Drinking'. Li and He, who exchanged a golden tortoise for wine, were also among them."

"And He Zhizhang was ranked first by Du Fu because of his age and seniority."

"Zhizhang rides a horse like a boat, and falls asleep under the water in a well."

"And Zhang Xu, who is also one of the Eight Immortals of Drinking, is also He Zhizhang's drinking buddy."

"Zhang Xu was also a madman. He was good at writing cursive script and was called the Cursive Saint."

"But he often wrote after getting drunk, and even took off his hat and used his hair to dip in ink to write amazing works."

"Even in front of the princes and ministers, he would not restrain himself at all."

"For this reason, Zhang Xu is also called Zhang Dian."

"He Zhizhang, who also liked drinking and writing cursive script, often drank heavily with Zhang Xu and then wrote in ink."

"As for where to write the calligraphy, it all depends on the mood of the two people."

"Sometimes it's on the wall, sometimes it's on the screen."

“When inspiration strikes, I put pen to paper.” “And He Zhizhang’s cursive script is also a reflection of his personality.”

"In those years, in the wine shops of Chang'an City, there was often an old man who called his friends and came back drunk."

"The calligraphy he left behind is regarded as a treasure by shop owners and ordinary people."

"The deeds he left behind echo in every corner of the emperor's land."

"When He Zhizhang was 86 years old, he fell seriously ill."

"Although he managed to escape death, he felt increasingly confused and wanted to retire and return home."

"So he asked Emperor Xuanzong of Tang to resign."

"Although Emperor Xuanzong of Tang was reluctant, he still granted the old minister's permission."

"In order to express his affection for He Zhizhang, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang specially gave him a corner of Jianhu Lake in front of He Zhizhang's house."

Xin Qiji: He Zhizhang, the koi poet, served as the emperor's teacher during four dynasties and was the first number one scholar in Zhejiang.

He Zhizhang, whose courtesy name was Jizhen, was from Yongxing, Yuezhou, and is also from Xiaoshan, Hangzhou, Zhejiang today.

Among the Tang Dynasty poets, He Zhizhang can be said to be a leader.

Compared with many poets, He Zhizhang can be said to be a late bloomer.

He was named on the imperial examination list when he was 37 years old. At the age of 47, he was known as one of the Four Scholars of Wuzhong together with Zhang Xu. Since then, He Zhizhang became famous.

He Zhizhang was extremely intelligent and knowledgeable since childhood and received a good education.

He is upright, generous and open-minded, and is the hope of the entire family.

At the age of 37, He Zhizhang passed the imperial examination with his unremitting efforts and became the first new top scholar in Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions.

But even so, He Zhizhang never put on airs as an official and often composed poetry and prose with his companions.

In dealing with people and things, He Zhizhang is not only reasonable.

He is also very talented, and his calligraphy is also very vigorous.

In the treacherous officialdom, He Zhizhang never suffered any setbacks.

Although he did not follow the crowd, He Zhizhang was also an optimist. He looked at everything very quickly and had a very high emotional intelligence.

That year, Zhang Shuo won a great victory in his campaign against the Turkic rebels. He Zhizhang, on the emperor's orders, wrote a frontier poem to congratulate him.

Zhang Shuo liked this catchy poem very much.

As Zhang Shuo was promoted, He Zhizhang also rose to prominence and was promoted to the Minister of Rites and concurrently a scholar in the Jixian Academy, which was an extremely glorious period.

At that time, many poets and writers were unsuccessful, but He Zhizhang was a lucky one.

He did not understand Li Bai's frustration, nor could he understand Meng Haoran's predicament.

In the officialdom, He Zhizhang always used his unique way of being an official to make his career smooth.

Even when he was in a dangerous vortex, he was able to protect himself.

Even Zhang Shuo, who had a bad temper, liked He Zhizhang very much and recommended He Zhizhang to compile books many times.

Zhang Shuo was also very satisfied with He Zhizhang's outstanding performance.

Perhaps in the officialdom, He Zhizhang not only has high political ability, but also high emotional intelligence, which makes his career stable.
As he got older, He Zhizhang made a decision that surprised many people. He resigned from his official position and chose to return home.

When Emperor Xuanzong of Tang heard He Zhizhang's decision, he was also very reluctant.

This veteran who had served in four dynasties could have continued his studies in the palace, but he chose to return home. Emperor Xuanzong of Tang had no choice but to agree.

With the help of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, He Zhizhang transformed the old house in his hometown into a Taoist temple. After taking off his official robes, He Zhizhang lived a peaceful life.

After returning to his hometown with success and fame, He Zhizhang created the poem "One of the Poems Written on Returning Home" which has been passed down through the ages.

The young and the young left home and returned to their hometown.

The children met each other, and smiled and asked where the guests came from.

The black hair turned to white hair, although the accent did not change.

However, He Zhizhang, who was wandering far away in a foreign land, missed his hometown very much, and he lived a very comfortable life in his later years.

However, due to his increasing age, He Zhizhang's health deteriorated and he died of illness in the third year of Tianbao.

"On the day He Zhizhang left Chang'an, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang held a banquet at the East Gate. He Zhizhang's students, Crown Prince Li Heng and officials wrote poems to see him off."

"It can be said that He Zhizhang enjoyed the highest-level farewell party in the Tang Dynasty."

"Li Bai, who was serving as a Hanlin scholar at the time, was also among them. He still remembered the day when he first met He Zhizhang."

"He was a man of open-minded character, and he also wrote a poem to send this madman back home."

"The water of Mirror Lake ripples with clear waves, and the mad travelers return to their boats in high spirits."

"If I meet the Taoist priest in Shanyin, I should write Huang Ting in exchange for a white goose."

"He Zhizhang served as an official for fifty years. He was talented but not competitive, had high emotional intelligence, was optimistic and unrestrained. I don't know how many talented people he introduced to the Tang Dynasty and how many good stories he left in the court."

"And now, it's time for the madman to leave."

"These fifty years have left their mark on He Zhizhang, but his accent and personality have not changed at all."

"The Mirror Lake in He Zhizhang's hometown has also remained unchanged."

“I have been away from my hometown for many years, and I have lost sight of my current life.”

"Only the mirror lake water in front of the door, the spring breeze does not change the old waves."

"He Zhizhang, who had been away for half his life, was still a young man when he returned."

"After returning home, he seemed to have regained his youth and became the carefree and talkative young man again."

"His most widely circulated poem, Ode to the Willow, was written during this period."

"The jasper is as high as a tree, and there are thousands of green silk ribbons hanging down."

"I don't know who cuts out the thin leaves. The spring breeze in February is like scissors."

"Who would have thought that such a childlike metaphor as 'spring breeze like scissors' would come from the mouth of an 86-year-old man!"

"It was also in this year that He Zhizhang's life came to an end."

"In the Tang Dynasty, when people rarely lived to be 70, He Zhizhang was a well-deserved longevity poet."

"What's even more surprising is that his life was surprisingly stable and smooth. It can be said that his happiness index was off the charts."

"As a poet, his poetry is passed down through the ages."

"As a calligrapher, he is highly praised for his cursive script."

"As a court official, he is also deeply trusted and relied upon by the emperor."

“Almost all those who have interacted with him have been impressed by his charisma.”

"Although he calls himself the Siming Madman, his madness is accompanied by high emotional intelligence, so he will not offend others."

"So, what He Zhizhang left behind was only his distinct background of madness, his gentle way of dealing with people, and the attitude of an old naughty boy who showed his youthful madness."

“When we live in this world, we all hope to live freely and happily.”

"And He Zhizhang, a madman with high IQ and EQ, is a role model."

"He is so open-minded and careless that he doesn't let trivial matters get to his mind."

"He also has a high emotional intelligence and can respond to all challenges in a humorous way and face all adversities with a positive and humorous attitude."

"This is He Zhizhang's philosophy of doing things, and it is also the wisdom he left us."

“May we all be true to our nature, be kind to others, and live a happy and wild life.”

Wang Anshi: Li Bai was demoted, Su Shi was framed and imprisoned, but only He Zhizhang had a smooth political career and a fulfilling life.

He lived through the reigns of Wu Zetian, Emperor Zhongzong, Emperor Ruizong and Emperor Xuanzong. It was Emperor Xuanzong himself who accompanied him back to his hometown in his later years.

Look at how many things happened during the period from Wu Zetian to Emperor Xuanzong of Tang.

He Zhizhang was never exiled because of any scandal, unlike other poets who were banished to some corner at the slightest scandal.

It can be said that He Zhizhang just happened to live in the most prosperous period of the Tang Dynasty. Although there were some turmoil, it did not affect his life.

Although I left home when I was young and returned when I was old, my accent has not changed, but my hair has turned gray.

But isn’t this poem a portrayal of people going out to explore the world when they are young and returning to their hometown in their old age for thousands of years?

He Zhizhang also taught an emperor named Li Heng, who later became Emperor Suzong of Tang, and they had a deep teacher-student relationship.

In the early years of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang's Tianbao period, He Zhizhang was already 86 years old, so he went to the emperor to ask for retirement.

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang approved the request and also issued an edict to set up a tent at the east gate of the capital for all officials to give a farewell party.

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang also wrote three poems in his own hand to see He Zhizhang off.

There are very few emperors in history who have done this, and some were even fired after retirement.

He Zhizhang was very grateful to Li Bai for his help. After reading Li Bai's "The Road to Shu", he was amazed and called Li Bai an immortal who had descended to the earth.

He Zhizhang and Li Bai were both famous drunkards. When drunk, they would sway back and forth on their horses as if they were sitting on a boat.

Other similar anecdotes include buying cakes with a pearl, begging for fame for one's son, exchanging a golden turtle for wine, etc.

It feels like just a little fun thing in life that was just recorded and passed down.

In fact, from He Zhizhang's life experience, we can see that he is not only a top student, but also a person with high emotional intelligence.

Otherwise, if your emotional intelligence is not high, you will be easily demoted if there is just a little trouble, like a naive young man.

Not to mention the field of literature, there are poems that have been passed down for thousands of years, and calligraphy works, such as He Zhizhang's calligraphy.

It has both the rigorous style of the Tang people and the fluent and flying style of the Jin people, which has a great influence on the calligraphy styles of the late Tang and Song people. (End of this chapter)