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Su Dongpo's Life and the Wutai Poetry Case

Sep 27, 2025

Overview

This lecture introduces Su Dongpo's life, character, and the famous Wutai Poetry Case, exploring his experiences, mental journey, and impact.

Su Dongpo's Growth and Family Background

  • Su Dongpo was born in Meishan, Sichuan, and showed talent from a young age.
  • The Su family trio (Su Xun, Su Shi, Su Zhe) were all literary masters, known as the "Three Sus."
  • In 1056, he went to Bianjing with his father and brother to take the imperial examination; Ouyang Xiu was the chief examiner and appreciated his talent.

Official Career and Personality Traits

  • Passed the imperial examination at twenty and became famous by thirty.
  • Straightforward personality, openly talented, not good at being tactful, prone to conflicts with powerful figures.
  • Had conflicts with Chen Xiliang while serving in Fengxiang; controversies arose from his satirical writings, later leading to self-reflection and remorse.

Wang Anshi's Reforms and Su Dongpo's Attitude

  • The Northern Song was impoverished and weak; Wang Anshi implemented reforms aimed at strengthening the country.
  • Su Dongpo did not oppose the reforms themselves but opposed their rushed implementation and autocratic methods.
  • He submitted memorials to Emperor Shenzong expressing his political views, but they were not accepted.

The Wutai Poetry Case

  • Su Dongpo was effective in governance during his local posts and was deeply loved by the people.
  • He satirized the new laws in the "Xie Biao" and other poems and writings in Huzhou, leading to impeachment by censors.
  • The court arrested Su Dongpo on charges of using poetry to criticize politics and deceive the emperor, sending him to the capital for trial.

Imprisonment and Brotherly Affection

  • Su Dongpo was imprisoned in Wutai Prison for 130 days, suffering physically and mentally.
  • He shared a deep bond with his brother Su Zhe, with poems expressing their life-and-death loyalty.
  • Many tried to help him, including Wang Anshi and Empress Dowager Cao, who pleaded on his behalf.

Outcome and Life Turning Point

  • After the trial, Su Dongpo was demoted to Huangzhou and had his movements restricted.
  • The Wutai Poetry Case became a major turning point in his life and the starting point of his emotional maturity.

Key Terms & Definitions

  • Three Sus — Su Xun, Su Shi, and Su Zhe, a father and two sons, all famous Song dynasty literati.
  • Wutai Poetry Case — The case in which Su Dongpo was arrested and exiled for poems criticizing the government.
  • Wang Anshi's Reforms — Political and economic reforms implemented by Wang Anshi during the Northern Song.

Action Items / Next Steps

  • Review the relationship between Su Dongpo and Wang Anshi's reforms and the process of the Wutai Poetry Case.
  • Understand Su Shi's poetry and his life philosophy's influence on later generations.