Meng Haoran’s life was characterized by his admiration for Meng Haoran’s style of freedom and his desire to fulfill his father’s wish to enter the court as an official

When it comes to Meng Haoran, what does everyone think of? Below, the History Encyclopedia editor will introduce relevant historical events to you.
Meng Haoran, a landscape poet and idol of Li Bai. Born in the prosperous Tang Dynasty, although he had aspirations to serve the world, Haoran, who was known for his’ worldly fame ‘, never entered the officialdom for life.
Throughout Haoran’s life, emotions and rationality were intertwined, ideals and reality were repeatedly intertwined. While he admired Tao Yuanming’s style of freedom, he also longed to fulfill his father’s wish to enter the court and become an official.
However, throughout their lives, they were unable to seek official positions, clothed the common people, acted recklessly, and had a restless heart.
Being free and imprisoned in his heart, Haoran made several important choices that completely changed the trajectory of his life. Perhaps, at some point, he also secretly regretted it …..
Few talented individuals, tomorrow’s stars
In 689 AD, during the prosperous period of the Tang Dynasty, a boy was born in the Meng family in Xiangyang, Hubei. His father firmly believed that they were descendants of Mencius and named his son Haoran after his famous saying, “I am good at nurturing my noble spirit.
Lao Meng’s family has land and farmland, as well as a small fortune. It can be said that they are a very well-off family. They naturally have expectations for their son Haoran. According to Lao Meng’s arrangement, Haoran needs to study poetry and literature, study the Four Books and Five Classics, and then take the college entrance examination. He hopes to have a government position, not wealth or status. As long as he has a formal national establishment, gets married and has children, and lives a stable life, he can be considered satisfied.
Haoran, who was diligent and eager to learn in his youth, was like a bookworm soaking in his study on weekdays. He loved to hold a book called “Tao Yuanming Collection” and learn to read and dance swords with his younger brother. The fragrance of books and sword shadows made him a charming young man. Old Meng felt very pleased in his heart and thought that there would be a successor in the Meng family who would not disappoint his ancestors.
My fellow townsmen and neighbors all know that the young master of the Meng family has a majestic demeanor, extraordinary literary talent, and is a dragon and phoenix among people. Old Meng is very happy in his heart and often fantasizes about the scene of Haoran taking the imperial examination to high school. At that time, he had to find a famous matchmaker to tell Haoran about a wealthy heiress who would bring double happiness to his family, which would make it even more lively!
Becoming famous in the county examination, refusing the scientific examination
In ancient times, scientific exams had to be taken several times, and the exam organized by our county was considered the first round. Seventeen year old Haoran stood out in the county exam and had a bright future. However, at this moment, Haoran made an extremely stubborn decision: the court was in chaos, and I won’t take the exam anymore!
At that time, the situation was turbulent, and since Haoran’s birth, the royal family has changed its leaders three times. Haoran had a strong opinion of Emperor Li Xian at that time, believing that he was unable to conquer the world. When Haoran became angry, he refused to take the imperial examination and did not become an accomplice to this chaotic court.
Haoran, who was in his teens, thought everything too simply and didn’t take the exam, which had no impact on the country or the country. However, the old Meng family exploded, and the whole family took turns persuading him. Haoran remained unmoved and even shouted a slogan: ‘Literature is not for officialdom!’!
Lao Meng was infuriated, with one being his rebellious son and the other being his stubborn father. From then on, the father and son remained silent and unable to calm down.
Run away from home and live in seclusion in the deep mountains
The family was puzzled, the father son relationship was tense, and Haoran felt uneasy all over. Therefore, he ran away from home and imitated Pang Degong to live in seclusion in Lumen Mountain.
In his twenties, he tasted the taste of freedom for the first time. The passionate young people in the local literary and artistic circles often visited him. He lived in a deep mountain cabin, where they talked about poetry and literature, drank alcohol and tea, and discussed the world.
It was at that time that Haoran wrote this famous ancient poem that must be memorized:
Spring sleeps without waking up, and birds sing everywhere. After one night of wind and showers, how many are the fallen flowers? ——Spring Morning
A seemingly unremarkable five character poem, but it hides endless charm. Haoran, who is in his twenties, did not speak clearly. He slept soundly in spring and was disturbed by bird songs. Last night, the wind and rain were constant, and the flowers fell countless. It was spring, and he didn’t care about the blooming flowers, but paid attention to the flowers that were blown down by the wind and rain. What is most deeply hidden in this poem is Haoran’s deepest hesitation and loss.
It was during this period of seclusion that Haoran met a singer and quickly fell in love, discussing marriage.
Willful marriage, father passed away due to illness
How could the Lao Meng family approve of a singing girl? Haoran was certain of this, so he didn’t want to obtain his parents’ consent and went straight to the singing girl’s house to get married. He thought that if he cooked raw rice and cooked it, his parents would also compromise. However, he underestimated his father’s stubbornness and refused to let them in. The Lao Meng family didn’t recognize this daughter-in-law, and Haoran had no way out. His relationship with Lao Meng became even more rigid and they refused to compromise.
But in the end, Lao Meng still couldn’t get through it. Perhaps due to a sense of urgency, he passed away at home five years later. Before dying, I also reminded my family not to let that singer enter the house, and mourning is not allowed either!
Haoran was capricious twice, once for his career and once for his marriage, without listening to his parents’ opinions. Soon after, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang ascended the throne, and the prosperous era of the Kaiyuan era brought forth the vibrant Tang Dynasty. At this moment, Haoran may have a slight regret. If he chose to continue his studies, he could have successfully fulfilled his father’s long cherished wish, which has now turned into a last wish.
Haoran burst into tears in front of Lao Meng’s spiritual throne, swore to observe filial piety for three years, and then sought official positions to bring glory to his ancestors!
Roaming through Wuyue, seeking opportunities
Back then, he proudly shouted the slogan “Literature is not for officialdom”, but now he doesn’t care about it anymore. Perhaps his ultimate tenacity is not to participate in the imperial examination, so he has to find another way, hoping to get someone else’s recommendation.
At the age of 29, Haoran embarked on a journey to Wuyue, making friends and seeking opportunities.
Haoran naturally gained many friends, including down and out literati, exiled officials, fellow travelers on the same boat, and even hotel mistresses who stayed for months. Friends were everywhere, and the poems he wrote during this period can be seen from them:
My friend is going to Jiangnan, and he wrote a poem to express his reluctance to leave:
Jingwu is connected by water as a township, and when you go, the spring river is vast and clear. Where to berth the sail at dusk, and at a glance from afar, one’s heart is broken. ——Sending Du Fourteen to Jiangnan
Express the fate of “solidarity in the same boat” to the people on board:
The tide falls and the river is calm without wind, and the flat boats work together with you. Always leading to the end of the sky, where is the green mountain in the middle. ——Crossing Zhejiang and Asking the People in the Boat
I went to visit a very talented person, but unexpectedly found out that he had been demoted:
Luoyang visits talented scholars, Jiangling becomes a mediocre person. It is said that plum blossoms come early, like spring in the north. ——Encounter with Yuan Shiyi during the Visit to Luoyang
In the blink of an eye, eight years passed. At the age of 37, Haoran wandered aimlessly without success, so he began to “pay respects” again, which is now known as “going through the back door”. Haoran wrote a poem to Prime Minister Zhang Jiuling:
In August, the lake is at a level where there is a mix of emptiness and clarity. Steaming clouds and dreams, waves shake the city of Yueyang. Without a boat to help, one must live in shame and righteousness. Sitting and watching anglers, there is only envy for the fish. ——Viewing Dongting Lake as a Gift to Prime Minister Zhang
The vast and majestic 800 mile Dongting Lake, with its misty waves and majestic atmosphere, I want to go there, but unfortunately I don’t have a boat or oars. I can only watch helplessly as people fish there.
This poem can be said to be a benchmark work of “Ganyu Poetry”. Zhang Jiuling immediately understood it and appreciated Haoran’s literary talent and ambition. She recommended him to Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, but unfortunately, the recommendation letter was not returned and there was no response.
Disappointed, Haoran went down to Wuyue to visit Sima Chengzhen, the Baiyun Taoist recommended to Li Bai. When he arrived at Tiantai Mountain, he found out that he had grown up in Luoyang for three years!
On this day, it was already late and Haoran was stranded on the Jiande River at night. The vast and peaceful space between heaven and earth, alone, accompanied by the bright moon, with a bleak future and a difficult home to return to. Haoran tossed and turned, unable to sleep, sitting at the bow of the boat, a moment of melancholy surged in his heart:
Moving the boat to the Yanzhu, the guests worry about novelty at dusk. Wild sky with low trees, clear river and moon close to people. ——Su Jiande River
At this point, Haoran’s poetry had already developed a unique style, light yet flavorful, with a natural charm, and words that were light yet profound in meaning.
In his forties, he went to Beijing for an exam
Haoran, who is nearly forty years old, finally made up his mind to go home and prepare to take the exam in Beijing.
When he returned home, a young man with fiery eyes and a long sword on his waist came to visit him. As soon as they met, he gave him a poem:
I love Master Meng, who is well-known throughout the world. Red beauty abandons Xuanmian, white head lies on pine clouds. Drunken moon frequently becomes holy, while infatuated flowers do not concern you. The high mountains are peaceful and can be admired, just like this bowing and bowing.
Haoran looked at this little brother with a myriad of emotions in his heart. He was no longer “promiscuous” anymore. You don’t understand, it’s too plain.
Haoran went through more than 20 years of ups and downs, but ultimately embarked on the path of the imperial examination. However, due to immense pressure, he failed his first and only attempt at the examination.
In Chang’an, Haoran met Wang Wei, who was extremely surprised. There are still such indifferent people in the current officialdom, and the two of them cherish each other deeply:
Silence waits no longer, returning to the sky in the morning. I want to search for fragrant grass, but I regret going against my old friend. When there is no one who is fake on the road, there are few kindred spirits in the world. We should only guard against loneliness and cover the gate of our homeland. ——Farewell to Wang Wei
It was Wang Wei who brought him a rare opportunity.
Encountering the emperor, ruining the opportunity
One day at Wang Wei’s mansion, the emperor suddenly visited, and Wang Wei was overjoyed. Winning the emperor’s appreciation with Haoran’s talent was not difficult, and Haoran naturally wanted to seize this opportunity. So he recited a poem he had recently written, “Returning to Nanshan at the end of the year”:
The northern gate rests and submits a memorial, while the southern mountain returns to my humble abode. Not being wise and abandoning the master, being sick and distant from old friends. White hair accelerates old age, while green sun drives the end of the year. Always holding onto worries and unable to sleep, the window is empty on a moonlit night.
This irritated the emperor. He said not to write to me and wanted to go back to his hometown. You didn’t come to beg me and said you would be abandoned. You do not seek officialdom, and I have never abandoned you. How can you falsely accuse me? “(New Book of Tang, Biography of Literature and Art)
Haoran personally ruined an excellent opportunity, whether it was due to anger or unintentional actions. Wang Wei looked embarrassed beside him, but Haoran felt relieved and relaxed at this moment. His career path was completely hopeless, which could be considered an explanation to his father and himself.
Over fifty years old, returning to the countryside
Haoran returned to his hometown and soon went on a trip to Wuyue to visit his old friends, express his feelings for the mountains and wilderness, and remain indifferent to show his aspirations. Traveling through various places such as Luoyang, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, Shu, and Jingzhou, enjoying the beauty of mountains and rivers, and composing poetry with friends, the most talked about experience was the visit to the Yellow Crane Tower. Li Bai bid farewell to Haoran and wrote a timeless masterpiece:
The old man bid farewell to the Yellow Crane Tower in the west and set off fireworks in Yangzhou in March. The lone sail casts a distant shadow on the blue sky, only revealing the flowing Yangtze River in the sky. ——Yellow Crane Tower: Farewell to Meng Haoran’s Guangling Mausoleum
Later, Haoran, who was over fifty years old, returned to his hometown and began a free and easy rural life.
My old friend has chicken and millet, and invited me to the Tian family. The green tree village borders, and the green mountain wall slopes outwards. Open the Xuan Noodle Field Garden, drink and talk about mulberry and hemp. On Double Ninth Day, come back with chrysanthemums. ——Passing through the Old Man’s Village
At this moment, Haoran had completely let go. What if he couldn’t enter the officialdom? What if he didn’t have a shining family background? Come to this world and have fun!
Haoran, who had been willful all his life, eventually lived the life he loved. The last time he was willful was when he was 52 years old, drinking alcohol and eating seafood at the same table as Wang Changling, and died of back gangrene.
Haoran was born into a prosperous era, but his life was not so smooth. Perhaps it was due to his personality, thoughts, or improper choices. If he could listen to his parents and achieve fame, perhaps his life would also be slightly smoother.
But the real reason is also in Haoran itself, half emotional and half rational. Therefore, in a chaotic period, emotions and rationality mutually influenced each other and made a stubborn choice.
It’s hard to comment on right or wrong, there’s only one Master Meng in the world.
If you really want to explain, perhaps you can find the answer in the book ‘Understanding Human Nature’:
A child will spend their entire life yearning for recognition and understanding from their parents, otherwise they will choose extreme ways to prove themselves.
Haoran’s stubbornness throughout his life is just proving that pursuing freedom is not wrong!