During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, many famous poets emerged, such as Li Bai, Du Fu, Wang Wei, Meng Haoran, and others. They lived in the same era and were both renowned talents, so they were also good friends with each other.
When Meng Haoran was 40 years old, he came to Chang’an and wanted to showcase his ambitions here. Unfortunately, Meng Haoran did not pass the imperial examination. Although Meng Haoran’s mood was not good, he did not give up on becoming an official. He stayed in Chang’an city to find an opportunity to offer poetry to those in power, hoping to be guided by this opportunity. During this period, Meng Haoran wrote a poem titled ‘Looking at Dongting Lake to Present to Prime Minister Zhang Jiuling’.
Zhang Jiuling also had a high level of literary accomplishment, and he could see in his poetry Meng Haoran’s desire to enter the court and become an official. Meng Haoran is very talented, and Zhang Jiuling also admires him. He is planning to find an opportunity to recommend Meng Haoran. However, Zhang Jiuling never had the opportunity to recommend Meng Haoran because he wrote the most failed poem, which angered Emperor Xuanzong of Tang.
At that time, Meng Haoran failed the exam and stayed in Chang’an, where he met Wang Wei and others. Meng Haoran and Wang Wei are over ten years apart, but due to their similar poetic styles, they became lifelong friends.
At a young age, Wang Wei learned to be wealthy and proficient in music, calligraphy, and painting, making him a very talented young person. When Meng Haoran met Wang Wei, he worked as a clerk in the inner office of the royal treasury’s clothing department. Work is very leisurely, every day I just flip through clothes, count the number of clothes, and register them.
Wang Wei often invites Meng Haoran to the inner office to chat and appreciate poetry while on duty. The internal office is not a highly confidential area, and the guards guarding it only turn a blind eye and do not manage it very strictly.
That day, Meng Haoran came to play with Wang Wei again. Wang Wei took out his newly written poem and asked Meng Haoran to appreciate it. Suddenly, someone outside shouted, ‘The emperor has arrived!’ Meng Haoran was extremely panicked. After all, he was just a commoner in plain clothes. If the emperor discovered him, not only would he be punished, but he would also implicate Wang Wei. Meng Haoran quickly hid.
Tang Xuanzong entered the room and saw Meng Haoran’s hem, and Wang Weishun followed the emperor’s gaze and also saw it. So Wang Wei reported to Tang Xuanzong in detail about his friendship with Meng Haoran and his frequent invitation to play.
Meng Haoran was exceptionally talented, and Emperor Xuanzong of Tang had also heard of his great name, so he let Meng Haoran come out and meet him. After hearing this, Meng Haoran tidied up his clothes and went out to see the driver. Tang Xuanzong asked Meng Haoran to sing his new work, which was a godsend opportunity for Meng Haoran.
However, Meng Haoran didn’t know if it was his first time seeing the holy chariot, he was too nervous, or what was going on. He actually recited a poem called ‘Returning to Nanshan at the end of the year’. Although this poem is excellent, the two lines’ Not being wise and abandoning the master, being sick and distant from old friends’ in the poem angered Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. Emperor Xuanzong of Tang coldly said, “You do not seek official positions, and I have never abandoned you. How could you falsely accuse me?” He then brushed his sleeve and left.
After Tang Xuanzong left, Meng Haoran lowered his head dejectedly, filled with regret. On one side, Wang Wei didn’t know what to say. Meng Haoran had offended Dang Pilgrim, and he probably had little chance of becoming an official in his lifetime. Before long, Meng Haoran left Chang’an and returned to his hometown, never serving as an official in his entire life.
Misfortune and fortune depend on each other, and fortune and misfortune lie beneath each other. Meng Haoran met good friends like Wang Wei due to his downfall, but also offended Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. This is probably what Buddhism calls’ marriage ‘!
