Han Yu
Leader of the Classical Prose Movement, exiled to Chaozhou for remonstrating against welcoming the Buddha's bone; "his prose revived letters after the decline of eight dynasties."
Life
Orphan who studied hard
Han Yu lost his father at three and was raised by his elder brother and sister-in-law. He studied diligently and passed the jinshi exam at 25. Opposing the ornate but empty parallel prose of the Six Dynasties, he advocated learning from the prose of the pre-Qin and Han periods, and together with Liu Zongyuan led the Classical Prose Movement.
Classical Prose Movement
In 817 he accompanied the chancellor Pei Du on the campaign against Huaixi as military adjutant and took part in defeating Wu Yuanji. In 819, when Emperor Xianzong of Tang welcomed the Buddha's bone into the palace, he submitted the "Memorial on the Buddha's Bone" in fierce opposition. Xianzong was enraged and nearly had him executed, then demoted him to Prefect of Chaozhou.
Remonstrated against welcoming the Buddha's bone
In Chaozhou he founded schools and drove away crocodiles, earning the people's deep affection. His "On Teachers," "On Horses" and "Explanation of Progress in Learning" had far-reaching influence. Su Shi praised him, saying "his prose revived letters after the decline of eight dynasties." He died in 824.
Legacy
Han Yu was the foremost of the Eight Great Prose Masters of Tang and Song, and the Classical Prose Movement he championed changed the tradition of Chinese prose for more than a thousand years afterward.
Major works & achievements
- Led the Classical Prose Movement
- "On Teachers"
- "Memorial on the Buddha's Bone"
Did you know? The lines "One memorial submitted at dawn to the ninefold heavens; by dusk, banished eight thousand li down the road to Chaozhou" were written on his way into exile.
Key dates
- 792Passed the jinshi exam
- 803Wrote "On Teachers" (approx.)
- 817Joined Pei Du in pacifying Huaixi
- 819Remonstrated against welcoming the Buddha's bone; demoted to Chaozhou
- 824Died