Do you really understand Xue Tao’s story? Today, the history encyclopedia editor brings you a brand new interpretation~
When it comes to talented women in history, there have always been a few representatives emerging in each dynasty. But when it comes to the four female poets of the Tang Dynasty, how many of them can name them one by one. Xue Tao is one of them, this seemingly male name is actually a truly beautiful and intelligent woman.
Xue Tao was born into a family of officials in Chang’an, and later moved with his family to Shu with his exiled father. The wealth and beautiful scenery of the Land of Abundance have nurtured her sentiments. But the good times didn’t last long. My father Xue Xun, who was sent to Nanzhao, contracted a serious illness and died. The family began to decline without a pillar of support, and Xue Tao, who had a beautiful childhood, could no longer find shelter. At the age of 16, he had to resort to music to make ends meet. But the education she received from a young age allowed Xue Tao to maintain her integrity, and she only became a clean official.
Who says that a woman without talent is virtuous? In the civilized Tang Dynasty, cultural prosperity was also revered. With his talent and literary achievements, Xue Tao has gained the appreciation and admiration of many celebrities, scholars, and officials, including famous poets such as Bai Juyi, Liu Yuxi, and Zhang Ji.
Perhaps Xue Tao thought he had fallen into obscurity and would never meet the person he admired in his lifetime. When she met Wei Gao, she thought she had found a lifelong confidant. The Jiannan Xichuan Jiedushi, who couldn’t help but applaud and exclaim at his impromptu creation of ‘Visiting Wushan Temple’, was firmly engraved in his heart at first sight.
Wei Gao often invited Xue Tao to recite poems together, gradually earning her the title of “Women’s School Secretary outside the Wanli Bridge”. However, the self proclaimed female poet still had a slight incompatibility with the ministers who dominated the officialdom. In order to prove his innocence and integrity, Wei Gao sent Xue Tao, who had received gifts from others, to the southwestern border of Songzhou. Xue Tao ultimately misjudged the right person. On the way, she wrote a poem of ten miles and sent someone to give it to Wei Gao. After Wei Gao read it, he couldn’t help but soften his heart and finally intercepted Xue Tao halfway. After this ordeal, Xue Tao also saw through it thoroughly. She resolutely left Yueji and gained freedom. I no longer want to think about the beautiful expectations of a good future, but settle in the Huanhua River in the western suburbs of Chengdu, adjacent to loquat trees and accompanied by poetry.
Living peacefully like this in Xue Tao’s early forties was shattered, and who would have thought that at the age of a middle-aged woman with charm, Xu Niang would be moved. Faced with the censor who was ten years younger than him, Yuan Zhen, who wrote “Once experienced the difficulties of the sea, except for Wushan, which is not a cloud”, Xue Tao wrote “Living on the green pond, flying back together in the morning and evening”. Unfortunately, the infatuated woman met a passionate man, and Yuan Zhen’s brief secondment to Sichuan only treated Xue Tao as a passerby in his life, hastily parting ways for three months and never seeing each other again.
Xue Tao foolishly hoped to pass on the message to Hongyan, but who in the clouds would send the brocade book. That brocade book was not written by the Yuan Lang you have been eagerly waiting for. At this time, Xue Tao created the “Xue Tao Jian”, a small eight line paper in deep red that is more convenient for writing small poems. This time, Xue Tao’s heart was pounding uncontrollably, and in his 40s, he finally realized that he probably wouldn’t meet the right person in his life.
The lines of poetry such as “Without united people, empty united grass” also express Xue Tao’s state of mind. Perhaps in her desolate heart, there are already wild weeds that no good person can pull out. Still living alone by the Huanhua River, listening to the chirping of birds and smelling the fragrance of flowers every day, taking the time to express his feelings through words, or chatting with friends through poetry, Xue Tao is undoubtedly free and unrestrained.
Throughout history, women have always been particularly harshly criticized, and the more talented a woman is, the more she is criticized. As a literati, Xue Tao not only wrote melancholic poems like “Spring Prayer”, but also wrote a 28 word quatrain called “Farewell to a Friend” that can be compared with many literary giants in the Tang Dynasty. There is frost on the night of the water country’s tea leaves, and the moon is cold and the mountains are all green.
Who says thousands of miles from tonight, as far away from dreams as a long pass. ”The poems are full of quotes from previous poetry without any trace, each sentence contains emotions but carries a clear artistic conception. Without a calm heart, one cannot create such poetry. It can be seen that Xue Tao truly let go of his emotions and love when he was in his forties, with his eyes filled with emptiness and contemplation.
Her family background was decent when she was young, and she was able to cultivate her talents; When I was young, my family was in decline and I had to personally experience the reality of the world; Later on, his talent was revealed and appreciated by others, but he had to sacrifice himself to become the one who was sacrificed. Living alone for more than ten years, I thought the plum blossom had bloomed twice, but it turned out to be a garden dream. Finally, after witnessing all the complexities of the human world, Xue Tao let go of all her beautiful aspirations and no longer hoped to marry a desirable man. Her deep affection was no longer promised to others, but only left to herself, blending it into those resounding lines of poetry.
Fortunately, Xue Tao met two important men in her life who gave her warmth, and she did not end up being deceived like other ancient women. Ultimately, it was her own choice that saved her and prevented her from experiencing too many hardships throughout her life. The talented girls’ school teacher who left Huanhua Creek and moved to Bijifang to build a poetry tower completed her life at the age of 64. I hope that in this beautiful land of Shu, she can transform into her beloved loquat tree, scattering her longing all over and silently watching the affairs of the world.
