Su Dongpo's "Red Cliff Ode" is a classic of ancient Chinese literature. The following is its content:
The breeze is coming slowly, but the water is calm. Lifting wine to the guests, reciting poems about the bright moon, and singing graceful chapters. After a while, the moon rose above the east mountain, wandering among the bullfights. White dew flows across the river, and the water reaches the sky. Even though a reed is like this, thousands of hectares are at a loss. The vastness is as if Feng Xu is riding the wind without knowing where it is going; the flutteringness is as if he is left alone in the world, becoming an immortal and ascending to immortality.
So they drank and had a lot of fun, and sang along to the boat. The song says: The osmanthus sticks and the orchid oar hit the sky and the bright light traces back to the flowing light. I feel so vague in my heart, and look forward to the beauty in the sky. There is a guest who plays the dongxiao, and he sings to make peace with him. His voice is whining, like resentment, admiration, weeping, and complaining; the lingering sound is lingering, like a wisp. The lurking dragon dances in the secluded ravine, and the concubine weeps in the lonely boat.
Su Zi was stunned. He sat upright and asked the guest: "Why is this so?" The guest said: The moon and stars are sparse, and the black magpies are flying south. Isn’t this a poem by Cao Mengde? Looking to the west of Xiakou and to the east of Wuchang, the mountains and rivers are close to each other and the sky is lush. Isn't this what Meng De was trapped in Zhou Lang? Fang Qi defeated Jingzhou, went down to Jiangling, followed the river to the east, sailed boats thousands of miles away, covered the sky with flags, drank wine by the river, and wrote poems across the river.
He has been a hero for a lifetime, but where is he now? Kuang Wu and his son were fishing and woodcutting on the river, living with fish and shrimps and elk. They rode a small boat with a leaf and raised bottles to show their friendship. They sent mayflies to the sky and the earth, just a drop in the vast sea. I mourn the brief moment of my life, and envy the boundlessness of the Yangtze River. Carrying the flying immortals to travel, holding the bright moon to the end. I don't know how unexpected it is, but I left it in the sad wind.
Su Zi said: Does a guest also know that my husband has water and the moon? Those who have passed away are like this, but they have not yet passed away; those who are full and empty are like that, but their deaths are not waxing and waning. If you look at the things that have changed, you will see that heaven and earth cannot last for a moment; if you look at the things that do not change, you will see that things and I are endless. And why would you envy it? Moreover, in heaven and earth, everything has its own owner. If it is not my property, I will not take even a single cent of it.
But the cool breeze on the river and the bright moon in the mountains can be heard by the ears and become sounds, and the eyes can see them as colors. They can be taken without restraint and used inexhaustibly. This is the endless treasure of the Creator, and my son and I are so comfortable that the guests are happy and smile, and we wash the cup and drink more. The core of the food is gone, and the cups and plates are in a mess. The couple and their pillows were spread out in the boat, unaware of the whiteness of the east.
Su Dongpo’s achievements:
1. In the field of literature, Su Dongpo’s poetry is considered the pinnacle of Song Dynasty literature. His works are fresh and bold, reflecting his broad-minded attitude towards life and profound literary attainments. Many of his poems, such as "Nian Nujiao·Chibi Nostalgia", "Shui Tiao Ge Tou·When Will the Bright Moon Come", etc. have been passed down through the ages and have become treasures of Chinese culture.
2. Politically, although Su Dongpo went through ups and downs, he always adhered to his principles and ideas. He opposed Wang Anshi's reforms, advocated putting the people first, and emphasized reducing the people's burden. His political opinions and ideas reflect his noble sentiments and deep concern.
3. In terms of art, Su Dongpo's paintings are considered to be representatives of Chinese literati paintings. His paintings focus on artistic conception, with ink as the bone and poetry as the soul. His paintings convey his profound understanding and perception of nature and life, and are a valuable asset of Chinese painting art.
4. Su Dongpo’s calligraphy is also highly regarded. His calligraphy style is uninhibited and unique, and is known as the Soviet style. His calligraphy works not only have extremely high artistic value, but also represent an important style of Chinese calligraphy art.