The short videos I watched from all dynasties

[The story of Bai Juyi and "Pipa Xing"]

(The video tells the story of Bai Juyi's experience before he was demoted to Sima of Jiangzhou in the first person. The combination of narration and music makes the experience more immersive.)

[I was born in the first month of the seventh year of Emperor Daizong’s Dali reign. Soon after I was born, unrest broke out in Henan, and the people were displaced and in dire straits. I was still ignorant at that time. Later, when I was two years old, my grandfather and grandmother died one after another. In the third year of Jianzhong, I was five years old. There was war everywhere in Xuzhou, so my father sent us to Suzhou for refuge. In the fourth year of Jianzhong, the rebellion of the Two Emperors and Four Kings broke out again, and my family fled to Yuezhong again. The scenes of fleeing along the way will be unforgettable for me. When I was nine years old, I heard others say that there was a Jinshi exam. I thought that if I studied hard and passed the exam, I would be able to change the current situation and help more people.

My father was promoted to Xiangzhou Beijia. I am fourteen years old this year. I want to go to Xiangyang with my father. I thought I would have more time to spend with my father after arriving in Xiangyang, but things happen unexpectedly. Not long after arriving in Xiangyang, my father passed away. In the fourteenth year of Zhenyuan, my brother was appointed as the chief clerk of Fuliang County, Raozhou. I followed him to Fuliang and continued to study. The days of studying were not idle. Sometimes I had sores in my mouth and calluses on my hands. My brother laughed at me that my hair was turning white at such a young age. I didn't feel tired. I only thought that one day I would go to Chang'an to see His Majesty. My ideals and ambitions would come true one day.

Before I knew it, I was already 23 years old, and my thoughts had not changed. I thought, this year is the time to go to Chang'an to participate in the selection. When I arrived in Chang'an, I met Yuan Zhen, and we became close friends. As expected, Yuan Zhen and I passed the examination together! I was appointed as a proofreader in the Ministry of Secretaries! Although the position is low, the proofreader is well paid and promoted quickly, so the future is bright. I think I am one step closer to my goal. Life in Chang'an is not easy. I live like this at the feet of the emperor. What about others? How are their lives?

At the age of 27, I participated in the examination for the candidates with both talent and knowledge, and passed the examination. I was appointed as the lieutenant of Zhuozhen County. A year later, I was appointed as the examiner of Jinshi, the editor of Jixian Academy, and was appointed as the Hanlin Bachelor. The next year, I was appointed as the left picker, and at the same time I married Yang Yuqing's younger sister. The frequent appreciation and promotion made me feel that my ideal was coming true. I thought I must repay the kindness of the current Majesty. So, I began to write letters to express my opinions and wrote many poems reflecting social reality, hoping to make corrections to current politics so that the Majesty could make changes. I also criticized current politics and put forward reform suggestions, hoping to improve social conditions and realize the ideal of "benefiting the world".

In the fourth year of Yuanhe, my good friend Yuan Zhen was promoted to the position of Supervisory Censor. He was ordered to go on a diplomatic mission to Jiannan and Dongchuan. During his time there, he impeached a large number of unjust officials and redressed many unjust cases. I deeply admired him, but I was also a little worried that my friend would be retaliated against. Soon, my friend was really demoted. I quickly wrote a letter to persuade him and plead for him, but it was to no avail. When Yuan Zhen left Chang'an, I went to see him off and we said goodbye on horseback. We didn't see each other again for several years.

When I was 32, my mother passed away and I left my job to mourn. During my stay in Xiagui, I was worried about the government affairs. I have written many poems. I want to use poems to expose the darkness of society. I hope Your Majesty can see the truth. I have always believed that with the joint efforts of everyone, we can achieve social fairness and justice.

Three years later, I returned to Chang'an and was appointed the Prince's Left Praise Doctor, a sinecure, but I still did not give up my ideals and often wrote poems to express my thoughts. In the tenth year of Yuanhe, I was going to court, and the person walking in front of me happened to be the prime minister Wu Yuanheng, so I followed Wu Yuanheng and his servant. I never thought that there would be an assassin in the imperial capital Chang'an to assassinate the prime minister! I saw the tragic scene of Wu Yuanheng's murder with my own eyes, so I wrote a memorial to Your Majesty, requesting that the murderer be arrested as soon as possible to comfort the soul of Prime Minister Wu Yuanheng in heaven. However, something was wrong in the court. Prime Minister Wu Yuanheng was an honest and upright person. He had made remarkable achievements in the seven years he was in charge of Shuzhong, and he also assisted Your Majesty in quelling the rebellion of the vassal states. However, such a prime minister died for no reason.

Is it wrong to demand that the murderer be severely punished after the prime minister was killed? With the assassination of the prime minister and Pei Du, the peace faction in the court quickly gained the upper hand and they were unwilling to punish the murderer.

"When the court is faced with an extraordinary event, I am the only one to present the seal today. I am called loyal and angry, and I have nothing to be ashamed of! I am called reckless and crazy, but how dare I run away?"

I was demoted.

How ridiculous.

Suddenly I thought of the satirical poems I wrote in the past few years. I felt sad because they were of no use.

I want to serve my country, is that wrong?

I sympathize with the hardships of the people. Am I wrong?

The powerful people sitting high in the court must have been very happy because the annoying Bai Juyi, who wrote satirical poems to mock them all day long, had finally left Chang'an.

...]

＜When I was in school, I hated reciting Pipa Xing and Song of Everlasting Regret. Later, after I learned about Bai Juyi and understood the historical background, I finally understood the poems written by Bai Juyi.＞

＜At school: Why are you reciting again [angry], now: You wrote it so well [applaud]＞

＜The name inscribed under the Ci'en Pagoda, the youngest among the seventeen people.＞

＜It is not easy to live in Chang'an where rice is expensive.＞

＜My Yuan Bai is the best [Call]＞

＜“Articles are written for the times, and poems are written for events.” New Yuefu Movement＞

＜Every time I read Bai Juyi’s poems, I am always deeply touched＞

＜I like him for his persistence in speaking up for the grassroots people＞

＜Wu Yuanheng is also a good prime minister [sigh]＞

＜Woo woo woo, you are not wrong [crying]＞

＜Oh, I love Lotte＞

......