Su Shi

Su Shi (1037–1101), courtesy name Zizhan and literary name Dongpo Jushi, was a Northern Song dynasty man of letters, calligrapher, painter, and statesman. As the leading figure of the heroic and unrestrained school of ci poetry, his official career suffered repeated banishments, yet he achieved outstanding accomplishments in both literature and governance.

BaZi Chart

At the core of Su Shi's BaZi chart is a Gui Water Day Master. The Year Stem Bing Fire, Month Stem Xin Metal, and Hour Stem Jia Wood interact through clashes and combinations, while the Earthly Branches feature abundant Water in Zi and Hai, mixed with the Earth and Wood of Chou and Yin. This manifests primarily as a structure pairing the Hurting Officer (Shang Guan) with the Resource, resulting in a complex distribution of the Ten Gods.

Literary Talent

The prominent Hurting Officer / Eating God (Shi Shen) structure in Su Shi's BaZi directly reflects his quick wit and creative power. The mutual generation of Water and Wood in his chart favors expression through poetry, calligraphy, and painting. This structure is closely tied to his literary achievements: his poems and ci lyrics are imbued with a heroic, unrestrained spirit and profound imagery, precisely the talent bestowed by the Hurting Officer structure.

Political Edge

An overly exposed Hurting Officer and the restless agitation of Friend (Bi Jian) led him to speak bluntly and hold clear stances in court; when triggered by Luck Pillars (Da Yun), this easily brought him into conflict with those in power. This aspect is fully reflected in Su Shi's political career. He was repeatedly banished for speaking out in protest, yet his political ideals and moral convictions remained steadfast.

Creative Resilience in Adversity

During unfavorable Luck Pillars and Annual Pillars (Liu Nian)—such as the Crow Terrace Poetry Trial and his exile in Huangzhou—the Hurting Officer and Indirect Resource (Pian Yin) reinforced each other, catalyzing prolific creative output and a profound elevation of his inner state. During his banishments, Su Shi produced a large volume of exceptional poetry, works that became an important part of his literary legacy.

People-Centered Philosophy and Practical Governance

Wealth cycles such as Bing Wu and Ding Wei, along with the Earth and Wood configuration in the branches, supported his practical governance, disaster relief, and construction of flood embankments. This reflects the pragmatic inclination of Direct Wealth (Zheng Cai) / Indirect Wealth and the capacity of Earth in the branches. This too was borne out in Su Shi's political practice: while serving in local office, he actively implemented reforms, built water conservancy projects, and relieved disaster victims, earning the deep respect of the people.

Life Timeline

1. 1056: The red phoenix star stirred, and a talented woman of Qingshen entered the Su family. Su Shi married Wang Fu, daughter of Wang Fang, a provincial graduate from Qingshen County. This intelligent and virtuous woman became the first important companion and soulmate of his life.
2. 1057: Topping the imperial examination, his literary star shone over the capital. Su Shi and his younger brother Su Zhe traveled to the capital to sit for the metropolitan examination. With his essay "On the Ultimate Virtue of Leniency in Punishment and Reward," he won the admiration of chief examiner Ouyang Xiu and placed in the second tier of the jinshi degree. From then on, his fame shook the capital, launching his magnificent career in both officialdom and literature.
3. 1057: The sorrow of the cold spring, observing the mourning period. His mother, née Cheng, passed away. Following ritual protocol, Su Shi returned to his hometown to begin a three-year mourning period.
4. 1061: Worthy and upright, first in a century. He sat for the special palace examination for the "Worthy, Upright, and Capable of Speaking Bluntly and Admonishing" track. With his outstanding talent and insight, he stood out in fierce competition, placing in the third tier—a result hailed as "first in a century." He was appointed as an evaluator in the Court of Judicature and Revision and as assistant prefect of Fengxiang, officially embarking on his official career.
5. 1066: Returning to Shu after his father's death, draped in the symbolic canopy of mourning. His father, Su Xun, passed away. Su Shi and his brother Su Zhe escorted the coffin back to their hometown in Shu, where they observed a three-year mourning period for their father.
6. 1069: Speaking out against the reforms, his sharp edge first revealed. He openly opposed Wang Anshi's reforms to the imperial examination system, sparking intense conflict with those in power and leading to his marginalization.
7. 1071: Sent out to Hangzhou, using retreat as an advance. Due to court disputes, he actively requested a provincial assignment and was appointed as the vice prefect of Hangzhou. This opened a new chapter in his career as a local official; though effectively a demotion, it allowed him to distance himself from the center of the political maelstrom.
8. 1079: The literary inquisition begins, suffering at the Crow Terrace. Impeached by the Censorate for his poetry and prose, he was arrested under the name of the "Crow Terrace Poetry Trial" and escorted to the capital. He spent over a hundred days in prison, nearly losing his life.
9. 1080: After the Crow Terrace Poetry Trial, his exile in Huangzhou begins. As a result of the trial, he was demoted to the position of deputy militia trainer in Huangzhou—effectively a banishment. Upon first arriving in Huangzhou, he lodged at the Dinghui Monastery, marking a major setback in his political career.
10. 1081: Farming the Eastern Slope himself, a spiritual rebirth. He personally reclaimed wasteland on the eastern slope of Huangzhou and gave himself the sobriquet "Dongpo Jushi" (Layman of the Eastern Slope). Though his life was austere, his spiritual world was greatly elevated, completing his transformation from a traditional scholar-official to a broad-minded man of letters.
11. 1082: The river and moon at Red Cliff, immortal prose: two rhapsodies establish the pinnacle of the literary world. In his middle years, Su Shi visited the Red Cliff in Huangzhou twice, wielding his brush to write the "First Rhapsody on the Red Cliff" and the "Second Rhapsody on the Red Cliff." These two masterpieces not only depict the magnificent scenery of Red Cliff but also profoundly explore the philosophy of the cosmos, life, and time. They became the highest peak of his literary creation and cemented his immortal status in the history of Chinese literature.