Was Su Shi Overrated? How His Contemporaries Really Saw Him
Introduction: The Man Behind the Legend
Modern literary history crowns Su Shi (1037-1101) as the “Renaissance man of Song China” – a poetic genius, gourmet, and folk hero. But scroll back to the 11th century, and you’ll find a far more controversial figure. Through private letters, court records, and rival commentaries, we uncover the real Su Shi his contemporaries knew.
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I. Through the Eyes of His Enemies
1. Wang Anshi: “A Dangerous Elitist”
“Zizhan (Su Shi) crafts elegant phrases, but peddles heterodox views that threaten state stability.”
— Letter to Lü Huiqing (1075)
- Context: The reformist leader accused Su’s satirical essays (e.g., On War Preparations) of inciting dissent against the New Policies.
- Data point: During the 1079 Poetry Case, 39 of Su’s poems were deemed “seditious,” with 12 directly mocking Wang’s reforms.
2. Sima Guang: “A Reckless Bon Vivant”
“Su Shi would get drunk at banquets and boast lines like ‘On horseback I conquer barbarians, dismounted I draft edicts!'”
— Records of Su River
- Irony alert: Even this conservative ally criticized Su’s “celebrity scholar” persona as unbecoming of statesmen.
II. Backhanded Compliments from Friends
1. Huang Tingjian: “A Flawed Master”
“This calligraphy combines Yan Zhenqing and Yang Ningshi’s virtues – were Dongpo to rewrite it, he might not match this.”
— Postscript to Cold Food Observance
- Reading between lines: Praise for Su’s art came with implied criticism of his inconsistency.
2. Qin Guan: “A Talent That Invited Trouble”
“Dongpo’s literary brilliance was heaven-sent – yet it became his downfall.”
— Letter to Fu Binlao
III. The Silenced Critiques
1. Cheng Yi: “A Corrupting Influence”
“Su Shi’s Red Cliff Ode preaches Daoist ‘flowing water’ nonsense – this defiles Confucian teachings!”
— Surviving Works of the Cheng Brothers
2. Popular Mockery
Southern Song anecdote records a cynical proverb:
“Master Su’s texts memorized? Feast on mutton.
Fail his style? Vegetable gruel for you.”
- Reality check: This actually protested how civil exams privileged Su’s writing style, creating literary conformity.
IV. Reassessing the Myth
| Metric | Northern Song Ranking | Modern Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Poetic influence | 3rd (after Huang, Chen) | 1st |
| Political impact | Works banned repeatedly | Hailed as “reform visionary” |
The Image-Making Machinery
- *12th-century rehab*: Emperor Xiaozong recast Su as a “persecuted loyalist” to unite post-war China.
- Western romanticizing: Scholars like Stephen Owen amplified his “free spirit” narrative.
V. Poll: Does Su Shi Deserve His Fame?
✅ Yes – The GOAT of Song literature
❌ No – Overrated by later eras
➖ Mixed – Brilliant but simplifiedIntroduction: The Man Behind the Legend
