Talk about Han Yu in Chaozhou

Walking around

Recently, I drove to Chaozhou with my cousin and five other people. Flowers, although the time is short, the feelings are deep.

Going to Chaozhou is, in a certain sense, a visit to Han Yu across the ages. Most of the landscapes here bear the mark of the Han family: Hanshan, Hanjiang, Handi, Hanwengong Temple, Changli Road, Yanghan Pavilion, Jinghan Pavilion, Crocodile Sacrifice Platform, etc.

? A man who died nearly 1,200 years ago is still like a god and is revered and worshiped by the local people, which shows his good reputation and far-reaching influence.

? Han Yu, who had a difficult life, was demoted to Chaozhou in 819 AD. The reason was that the article "On the Bone List of Buddha" offended the emperor's dignity, and the consequences were serious. Reported in the morning and demoted in the evening, revenge comes very quickly. Therefore, Master Han, who was over fifty years old, came to this barbaric land in Lingnan at that time.

Han Yu's arrival in Chaozhou was unfortunate for the court, but a great blessing for the people of Chaozhou. Han Yu was Han Yu. Although he was demoted, he was unwilling to sink. He cared about the people, was diligent and honest in government, and did a lot of good things that benefited the local people.

? There is a Jinshan Creek canal in Lixi District, Chaozhou, which is still sparkling and gurgling, nourishing the fertile fields on both sides of the bank and exhaling the fragrance of rice flowers. This small river was dug by Han Yu back then.

"An ancient scholar must have a teacher" is Han Yu's famous saying. If you have a teacher, you must also have a place to run a school - a school. In Chaozhou, he regarded the establishment of schools and the implementation of education as a century-old plan. Not long after arriving in Chaozhou, Han Yu wrote the "Chaozhou Request for the Establishment of a Rural School" to promote the establishment of schools. Due to lack of funds, he took the lead in donating his salary and providing free meals to students. Under his leadership and influence, respect for teachers and education has become a common practice here.

Han Yu’s establishment of education has made great contributions to the present generation and will benefit future generations. After Han Yu went to the Southern Song Dynasty, there were 172 Jinshi, which earned Chaozhou the reputation of "Seaside Zoulu". Rao Tsung-i, a famous contemporary Chinese master known as the "Southern Raobei Ji" in the academic circles, is from here.

We strolled on several streets near Guangji Tower. Row upon row of neatly arranged archways, in a unique way, silently show the world the many celebrities in Chaozhou history.

Han Yu also did something praised by the poor people in Chaozhou, which was to redeem slaves. He ordered the eradication of the bad custom of "enslavement of the unscrupulous". "When people are plundered and sold, they will be spared without calculating the value, and they will be redeemed with money. When they are returned, they will be issued with an amnesty order." Some practical measures were taken, and famous provisions were made in the form of law.

When I was a child, I saw Han Yu’s "Essay on Sacrifice to the Crocodile" in my grandfather's ancient thread-bound vertical book "Guwen Guanzhi". I never thought that this time I would come to the place where the story takes place.

It seems absurd that an article actually scared away crocodiles. According to local people, South Korea has also adopted a series of supporting measures. From this point of view, the article was undoubtedly just a war cry against crocodiles. Anyway, from then on, crocodiles became extinct within a few years.

? A wonderful pen that expresses the author's concern and love for the people. The simple and simple crocodile sacrificial platform on the edge of the Han River silently conveys the legendary millennium story to people.

? Han Yu, known as "the decline of the Eight Dynasties of Literature", ranks first among the eight great writers of the Tang and Song Dynasties. Such a scholar with profound attainments in literature has done a lot of practical and good things that benefit the country and the people in just eight months since he came to Chaozhou. This was unthinkable at the time.

In the Tang Dynasty, most of the people who were relegated to the frontiers were indifferent to political affairs and cynical. They loved the mountains and rivers, sang poems and drank wine to relieve their dissatisfaction and depression.

Han Yu, who was old and frail, traveled eight thousand miles and traveled nearly a hundred days. His beloved daughter, who was only twelve years old, died of illness on the way. The bad luck in his official career and his family's suffering can be imagined as a blow to him.

But as soon as he arrived at the tide and took office, he summoned officials to manage state affairs. He wore bamboo sticks, mango shoes, bamboo hats and coir raincoats, and visited farmers in the villages to inquire about the sufferings of the people. When problems are discovered, they are solved immediately without any slack.

? A state-level top leader is roughly equivalent to the current prefecture-level chief executive. In an era when there were many officials, in just eight months, he probably didn't even know all the subordinate officials. Han Yu did not waste a day, he was loyal to his duties, diligent in political affairs, and worked hard for eight months. It has established a monument in the hearts of Chaozhou people.

History cannot be blasphemed, and justice is in the hearts of the people. There is a poem by later generations: "It is true that he was banished eight thousand miles to the south, and he won the country with the surname Han." Han Yu deserved such an evaluation. It is also a kind of comfort that cannot be bought for money.

? He who heals will get better. Han Yu is a peak in Chinese history, far beyond his predecessors and difficult for future generations to surpass. The name is just like the person he is, and Old Master Han is worthy of the word Yu. Suddenly, I thought of such a passage, which is superfluous in writing this short article.