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The Fatal Alliance: Inviting the Wolf into the House [Song & Yuan]
This article tells the Northern Song’s fatal mistake under Emperor Huizong. His luxury and misrule sparked the Fang La Rebellion. To reclaim lost lands, he allied with the Jurchen Jin against Liao. The weak Song army failed, exposing its decline. After destroying Liao, Jin turned on Song, leading to disaster.
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Cherishing Nüjiao – Lamenting the Past at Red Cliff
By Su Shi The mighty Yangtze River flows eastward –Its waves wash away all heroes of bygone ages.
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Su Shi
Su Shi (1037–1101) was a preeminent literatus, poet, calligrapher, and painter of the Northern Song dynasty. His courtesy name was Zizhan, and he adopted the literary sobriquet “Dongpo Jushi” (Householder of the Eastern Slope). Born in Meishan, Meizhou (in present-day Sichuan Province), he is collectively known with his father Su Xun and younger brother…
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The Crow Terrace Poetry Case [Song & Yuan]
This article recounts the Crow Terrace Poetry Case, a famous literary inquisition in the Northern Song. Su Shi’s poems criticizing political reforms were exploited, leading to his imprisonment. Saved by public appeals, he was exiled to Huangzhou, where he created timeless literary works. The case reflects fierce factional conflicts and the risks of outspoken…