Life

Su Shi was born in Meishan, near Mount Emei today Sichuan province. His brother Su Zhe and his father Su Xun were both famous literati. His given name, Shi, refers to the crossbar railing at the front of a chariot; Su Xun felt that the railing was a humble, but indispensable, part of a carriage.

Su's early education was conducted under a Taoist priest at a local village school. Later his educated mother took over. Su married at the age of 17. Su and his younger brother (Zhe) had a close relationship, and in 1057, when Su was 19, he and his brother both passed the (highest-level) civil service examinations to attain the degree of jinshi, a prerequisite for high government office. His accomplishments at such a young age attracted the attention of Emperor Renzong, and also that of Ouyang Xiu, who became Su's patron thereafter. Ouyang had already been known as an admirer of Su Xun, sanctioning his literary style at court and stating that no other pleased him more. When the 1057 jinshi examinations were given, Ouyang Xiu required—without prior notice—that candidates were to write in the ancient prose style when answering questions on the Confucian classics. The Su brothers gained high honors for what were deemed impeccable answers and achieved celebrity status, especially in the case of Su Shi's exceptional performance in the subsequent 1061 decree examinations.

Beginning in 1060 and throughout the following twenty years, Su held a variety of government positions throughout China; most notably in Hangzhou, where he was responsible for constructing a pedestrian causeway across the West Lake that still bears his name: sudi (苏堤, , Su causeway). He had served as a magistrate in Mi Prefecture, which is located in modern-day Zhucheng County of Shandong province. Later, when he was governor of Xuzhou, he wrote a memorial to the throne in 1078 complaining about the troubling economic conditions and potential for armed rebellion in Liguo Industrial Prefecture, where a large part of the Chinese iron industry was located.

Su Shi was often at odds with a political faction headed by Wang Anshi. Su Shi once wrote a poem criticizing Wang Anshi's reforms, especially the government monopoly imposed on the salt industry. The dominance of the reformist faction at court allowed the New Policy Group greater ability to have Su Shi exiled for political crimes. The claim was that Su was criticizing the emperor, when in fact Su Shi's poetry was aimed at criticizing Wang's reforms. It should be said that Wang Anshi played no part in this action against Su, for he had retired from public life in 1076 and established a cordial relationship with Su Shi. Su Shi's first remote trip of exile (1080–1086) was to Huangzhou, Hubei. This post carried a nominal title, but no stipend, leaving Su in poverty. During this period, he began Buddhist meditation. With help from a friend, Su built a small residence on a parcel of land in 1081. Su Shi lived at a farm called Dongpo ('Eastern Slope'), from which he took his literary pseudonym. While banished to Hubei province, he grew fond of the area he lived in; many of the poems considered his best were written in this period. His most famous piece of calligraphy, Han Shi Tie, was also written there. In 1086, Su and all other banished statesmen were recalled to the capital due to the ascension of a new government. However, Su was banished a second time (1094–1100) to Huizhou (now in Guangdong province) and Hainan island. In 1098 the Dongpo Academy in Hainan was built on the site of the residence that he lived in whilst in exile.

Although political bickering and opposition usually split ministers of court into rivaling groups, there were moments of non-partisanship and cooperation from both sides. For example, although the prominent scientist and statesman Shen Kuo (1031–1095) was one of Wang Anshi's most trusted associates and political allies, Shen nonetheless befriended Su Shi. Su Shi was aware that it was Shen Kuo who, as regional inspector of Zhejiang, presented Su Shi's poetry to the court sometime between 1073 and 1075 with concern that it expressed abusive and hateful sentiments against the Song court. It was these poetry pieces that Li Ding and Shu Dan later utilized in order to instigate a law case against Su Shi, although until that point Su Shi did not think much of Shen Kuo's actions in bringing the poetry to light.

After a long period of political exile, Su received a pardon in 1100 and was posted to Chengdu. However, he died in Changzhou, Jiangsu province after his period of exile and while he was en route to his new assignment in the year 1101. Su Shi was 64 years old. After his death he gained even greater popularity, as people sought to collect his calligraphy, paintings depicting him, stone inscriptions marking his visit to numerous places, and built shrines in his honor. He was also depicted in artwork made posthumously, such as in Li Song's (1190–1225) painting of Su traveling in a boat, known as Su Dongpo at Red Cliff, after Su Song's poem written about a 3rd-century Chinese battle.

Family

Su Shi had three wives. His first wife was Wang Fu (王おう弗どる, 1039–1065), an astute, quiet lady from Sichuan who married him at the age of sixteen. She died 13 years later in 1065, on the second day of the fifth Chinese lunar month (Gregorian calendar June 14), after bearing him a son, Su Mai (蘇そ邁). Heartbroken, Su wrote a memorial for her (《亡妻ぼうさい王おう氏し墓誌ぼし銘めい》), stating Fu was not just a virtuous wife but advised him frequently on the integrity of his acquaintances when he was an official.

Ten years after the death of his first wife, Su composed a (ci) poem after dreaming of the deceased Fu in the night at Mi Prefecture. The poem, To the tune of 'Of Jinling' (江こう城しろ子こ), remains one of the most famous poems Su wrote.

In 1068, two years after Wang Fu's death, Su married Wang Runzhi (王おう閏うるう之の, 1048–93), cousin of his first wife, and 11 years his junior. Wang Runzhi spent the next 15 years accompanying Su through his ups and downs in officialdom and political exile. Su praised Runzhi for being an understanding wife who treated his three sons equally (his eldest, Su Mai（苏迈，蘇そ邁）, was born by Fu). Once, Su was angry with his young son for not understanding his unhappiness during his political exile. Wang chided Su for his silliness, prompting Su to write the domestic poem Young Son (《小兒しょうに》).

Wang Runzhi died in 1093, at forty-six, after bearing Su two sons, Su Dai (苏迨，蘇そ迨) and Su Guo (苏过，蘇そ過か). Overcame with grief, Su expressed his wish to be buried with her in her memorial (see memorial 《祭まつり亡妻ぼうさい同どう安やす郡ぐん君くん文ぶん》). On his second wife's second birthday after her death, Su wrote another ci poem, To the tune of 'Butterflies going after Flowers' (《蝶ちょう戀こい花はな》), for her.

Su's third wife, Wang Zhaoyun (王朝おうちょう雲くも, 1062–1095) was his handmaiden who was a former Qiantang singing artiste. Wang was only about ten (eleven sui) when she became his personal slave. After she taught, herself to read though she was formerly illiterate. Zhaoyun was probably the most famous of Su's companions. Su's friend Qin Guan wrote a poem, A Gift for Dongpo's concubine Zhaoyun (《贈おく東ひがし坡妾朝あさ雲くも》), praising her beauty and lovely voice. Su dedicated a number of his poems to Zhaoyun, like To the Tune of 'Song of the South』《南みなみ歌子うたこ》, Verses for Zhaoyun (《朝あさ雲くも詩し》), To the Tune of 'The Beauty Who asks One to Stay' (《殢人嬌·贈おく朝あさ雲くも》), To the Tune of 'The Moon at Western Stream' 《西にし江月えつき》. Zhaoyun remained a faithful companion to Su after Runzhi's death, but died of illness on 13 August 1095 (紹聖三さん年ねん七なな月がつ五ご日にち) at Huizhou. Zhaoyun bore Su a son, Su Dun (蘇そ遁) on 15 November 1083, who died in his infancy. After Zhaoyun's death, Su never married again.

Being a government official in a family of officials, Su was often separated from his loved ones depending on his posting. In 1078, he was serving as prefect of Suzhou. His beloved younger brother was able to join him for the mid-autumn festival, which inspired the poem "Mid-Autumn Moon" reflecting on the preciousness of time with family. It was written to be sung to the tune of "Yang Pass."

:As evening clouds withdraw a clear cool air floods in

:the jade wheel passes silently across the Silver River

:this life this night has rarely been kind

:where will we see this moon next year

:(translation by Red Pine)

Su Shi had three adult sons, the eldest son being Su Mai (蘇そ邁), who would also become a government official by 1084. Su Dai (蘇そ迨) and Su Guo (蘇そ過か) are his other sons. When Su Shi died in 1101, his younger brother Su Zhe (蘇そ轍わだち) buried him alongside second wife Wang Runzhi according to his wishes.

Work

Poetry

Around 2,700 of Su Song's poems have survived, along with 800 written letters. Su Dongpo excelled in the shi, ci and fu forms of poetry, as well as prose, calligraphy and painting. Some of his notable works include the First and Second Chibifu ( The Red Cliffs, written during his first exile), Nian Nu Jiao: Chibi Huai Gu ( Remembering Chibi, to the tune of Nian Nu Jiao) and Shui diao ge tou ( Remembering Su Zhe on the Mid-Autumn Festival, ). The two former poems were inspired by the Battle of Chibi, a naval battle of the Three Kingdoms era that occurred in the year 208. The bulk of his poems are in the shi style, but his poetic fame rests largely on his 350 ci style poems. Su Shi also founded the haofang school, which cultivated an attitude of heroic abandon. In both his written works and his visual art, he combined spontaneity, objectivity and vivid descriptions of natural phenomena. Su Shi wrote essays as well, many of which are on politics and governance, including his Liuhoulun. His popular politically charged poetry was often the reason for the wrath of Wang Anshi's supporters towards him, culminating with the Crow Terrace Poetry Trial of 1079. He also wrote poems on Buddhist topics, including a poem later extensively commented on by Eihei Dōgen, the founder of the Japanese Sōtō school of Zen, in a chapter of his work Shōbōgenzō entitled The Sounds of Valley Streams, the Forms of Mountains.

Travel record literature

Su Shi also wrote of his travel experiences in 'daytrip essays', which belonged in part to the popular Song era literary category of 'travel record literature' (youji wenxue) that employed the use of narrative, diary, and prose styles of writing. Although other works in Chinese travel literature contained a wealth of cultural, geographical, topographical, and technical information, the central purpose of the daytrip essay was to use a setting and event in order to convey a philosophical or moral argument, which often employed persuasive writing. For example, Su Shi's daytrip essay known as Record of Stone Bell Mountain investigates and then judges whether or not ancient texts on 'stone bells' were factually accurate.

A memorial concerning the iron industry

While acting as Governor of Xuzhou, Su Shi in 1078 AD wrote a memorial to the imperial court about problems faced in the Liguo Industrial Prefecture which was under his watch and administration. In an interesting and revealing passage about the Chinese iron industry during the latter half of the 11th century, Su Shi wrote about the enormous size of the workforce employed in the iron industry, competing provinces that had rival iron manufacturers seeking favor from the central government, as well as the danger of rising local strongmen who had the capability of raiding the industry and threatening the government with effectively armed rebellion. It also becomes clear in reading the text that prefectural government officials in Su's time often had to negotiate with the central government in order to meet the demands of local conditions.

Technical issues of hydraulic engineering

During the ancient Han Dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD) of China, the sluice gate and canal lock of the flash lock had been known. By the 10th century the latter design was improved upon in China with the invention of the canal pound lock, allowing different adjusted levels of water along separated and gated segments of a canal. This innovation allowed for larger transport barges to pass safely without danger of wrecking upon the embankments, and was an innovation praised by those such as Shen Kuo (1031–1095). Shen also wrote in his Dream Pool Essays of the year 1088 that, if properly used, sluice gates positioned along irrigation canals were most effective in depositing silt for fertilization. Writing earlier in his Dongpo Zhilin of 1060, Su Shi came to a different conclusion, writing that the Chinese of a few centuries past had perfected this method and noted that it was ineffective in use by his own time.

Although Su Shi made no note of it in his writing, the root of this problem was merely the needs of agriculture and transportation conflicting with one another.

Gastronome

Su is called one of the four classical gastronomes. The other three are Ni Zan (1301–74), Xu Wei (1521–93), and Yuan Mei (1716–97). There is a legend, for which there is no evidence, that by accident he invented Dongpo pork, a famous dish in later centuries. Lin Hsiang Ju and Lin Tsuifeng in their scholarly Chinese Gastronomy give a recipe, "The Fragrance of Pork: Tungpo Pork", and remark that the "square of fat is named after Su Dongpo, the poet, for unknown reasons. Perhaps it is just because he would have liked it." A story runs that once Su Dongpo decided to make stewed pork. Then an old friend visited him in the middle of the cooking and challenged him to a game of Chinese chess. Su had totally forgotten the stew, which in the meantime had now become extremely thick-cooked, until its very fragrant smell reminded him of it.

Su, to explain his vegetarian inclinations, said that he never had been comfortable with killing animals for his dinner table, but had a craving for certain foods, such as clams, so he could not desist. When he was imprisoned his views changed: "Since my imprisonment I have not killed a single thing... having experienced such worry and danger myself, when I felt just like a fowl waiting in the kitchen, I can no longer bear to cause any living creature to suffer immeasurable fright and pain simply to please my palate."

生平おいだいら

家いえ世よ

祖父そふ蘇そ序じょ，表おもて字じ仲なか先さき。祖母そぼ史し氏し。父ちち蘇そ洵まこと，母はは程ほど氏し。宋そう仁ひとし宗むね景けい祐ゆう三さん年ねん（1037年ねん）十二月じゅうにがつ十じゅう九きゅう日にち乙おつ卯う時じ，蘇そ軾生於眉州しゅう眉山びざん（今こん四川しせん省しょう眉山びざん市し）。其父親ちちおや將はた他た命名めいめい「軾」，意い為ため車しゃ前まえ的てき扶手，取と其默默もくもく無む聞卻扶危救すくえ困こま，不可ふか或ある缺かけ之の意い。蘇そ軾有一いち個こ弟おとうと弟おとうと蘇そ轍わだち，小しょう他た兩りょう歲とし（1039年ねん出生しゅっしょう），兩りょう兄弟きょうだい從したがえ小しょう到いた大だい一いち起おこり讀書どくしょ遊ゆう玩，後來こうらい也同一いち年ねん中ちゅう進士しんし。

蘇そ軾年幼時ようじ父親ちちおや出で遊ゆう在外ざいがい，母親ははおや將はた其養大だい，並なみ教きょう他た讀書どくしょ，曾令其以范滂為ため榜樣。蘇そ軾生性せい放ひ達たち，好こう交友こうゆう。和わ其父蘇そ洵まこと、其弟蘇そ轍わだち並稱へいしょう「三さん蘇そ」。

蘇そ洵まこと修おさむ編へん族ぞく譜ふ，自稱じしょう是ぜ初はつ唐から相國しょうこく蘇そ味あじ道どう後裔こうえい。然しか而蘇洵まこと自己じこ也承認しょうにん蘇そ味あじ道どう的てき後人こうじん與あずか自己じこ的てき高祖こうそ之の間あいだ世よ系けい不可ふか考証こうしょう，蘇そ洵まこと的てき高祖こうそ才ざい是ぜ信しん史し的てき上限じょうげん。蘇そ洵まこと的てき尋ひろ根方ねかた法ほう，在ざい當時とうじ就有人じん不ふ以為然しか。柳やなぎ立言りつげん認みとめ為ため蘇そ洵まこと修おさむ撰せん族ぞく譜ふ編へん寫うつし世よ系けい，將はた三さん百多年前的唐代宰相蘇味道當做自己家族的始遷祖，是ぜ看み中ちゅう蘇そ味あじ道どう的てき知名度ちめいど，蘇そ洵まこと編へん訂てい族ぞく譜ふ的てき目的もくてき是ぜ不問ふもん親おや疏，團結だんけつ蘇そ姓せい人士じんし，爭そう取と共きょう享とおる政治せいじ和わ社會しゃかい資源しげん，以虛構きょこう始祖しそ來らい聯れん宗むね。

履歷りれき

慶けい曆れき二に年ねん（1042年ねん），蘇そ軾入小學しょうがく，拜はい道士どうし張ちょう易えき簡為師し，當時とうじ居住きょじゅう在ざい眉まゆ州しゅう一處叫紗縠行的地方。三さん年ねん，蘇そ軾入鄉きょう校こう，以韓かん琦、范仲淹、富とみ弼、歐おう陽ひ修おさむ為ため榜樣、楷模。五ご年ねん，父親ちちおや蘇そ洵まこと因いん公こう在外ざいがい，他た的てき教育きょういく都と由ゆかり母親ははおや程ほど夫人ふじん負ふ責せめ。至いたり和わ元年がんねん（1056年ねん），娶めと妻つま王おう氏し，為ため青あお神人しんじん王おう方かた之の女おんな。二に年ねん，前ぜん往成都と遊覽ゆうらん，拜はい訪おとずれ了りょう張ちょう安やすし道どう。

嘉よしみ佑たすく二に年ねん（1057年ねん），蘇そ軾才20歲さい，與あずか弟おとうと弟おとうと蘇そ轍わだち一同進京參加會考，蘇そ軾中進士しんし第だい二に名めい。當時とうじ蘇そ軾以一いち篇へん《刑けい賞しょう忠ただ厚あつ之の至論しろん》的てき論文ろんぶん得え到いた考こう官かん梅うめ堯臣的てき青あお睞，且由此將該文推薦すいせん給きゅう主しゅ試ためし官かん歐おう陽ひ修おさむ，而歐陽ひ修おさむ亦また十じゅう分ふん讚たたえ賞しょう，原本げんぽん欲よく拔擢ばってき為ため第だい一いち，但ただし又また怕該文ぶん為ため自己じこ的てき門生もんせい曾鞏所作しょさ，為ため了りょう避嫌而列為ため第だい二に，結果けっか試ためし卷まき拆封後ご才ざい發現はつげん該文為ため蘇そ軾所作さく。到いた了りょう禮れい部ぶ複ふく試ためし時じ，蘇そ軾再以《春秋しゅんじゅう》對たい義ぎ取と為ため第だい一いち，中ちゅう乙おつ科か。同年どうねん四よん月がつ，蘇そ軾母親ははおや程ほど氏し去さ世よ，他た不ふ得とく不ふ按禮法ほう丁ちょう憂ゆう回かい鄉きょう。

嘉よしみ佑たすく四よん年ねん（1059年ねん），完成かんせい服喪ふくも後ご的てき蘇そ軾跟隨ずい父親ちちおや蘇そ洵まこと與あずか弟おとうと弟おとうと蘇そ轍わだち一起沿著長江下溯，前ぜん往荊楚すわえ之の地ち。有ゆう《南みなみ行ぎょう集しゅう》。五ご年ねん，授河南かなん府ふ福ふく昌あきら縣けん主ぬし簿ぼ，但ただし蘇そ軾並未み就任しゅうにん。嘉よしみ佑たすく六ろく年ねん（1061年ねん），參加さんか制せい科か考試こうし，位い列れつ賢良けんりょう方正ほうせい、能のう直言ちょくげん極ごく諫者第だい三さん等とう。當時とうじ韓かん琦說：「今こん歲とし制せい科か，唯ただ蘇そ軾、蘇そ轍わだち最さい有ゆう聲望せいぼう。」授大理り評ひょう事ごと，除じょ簽書鳳おおとり翔しょう判官ほうがん。十一月じゅういちがつ十じゅう九きゅう日にち，與あずか蘇そ轍わだち在ざい鄭てい州しゅう西門にしもん外がい告別こくべつ，當年とうねん十じゅう二に月がつ到いた任にん。當時とうじ鳳おおとり翔しょう府ふ主ぬし政せい者しゃ陳ちん希のぞみ亮あきら，與あずか蘇そ軾個人こじん關係かんけい極きょく差さ，兩人りょうにん互相看み不ふ起おこり。不ふ過か，蘇そ軾後來き在ざい密みつ州しゅう與あずか希まれ亮子あきこ陳ひね慥相得とく甚歡。治平じへい二に年ねん（1065年ねん），罷やめ任にん鳳おおとり翔しょう簽判，還かえ朝あさ直史なおふみ館かん。

治平じへい三さん年ねん（1066年ねん），父ちち蘇そ洵まこと過か世よ，蘇そ軾回蜀しょく守もり喪も，英えい宗むね憐之，同意どうい以官船せん載の運うん蘇そ軾一家いっか。

熙寧二に年ねん（1069年ねん），服ふく闋（守まもり喪も完かん畢）任にん判官ほうがん誥院兼けん祠ほこら部員ぶいん外郎ういろう，反對はんたい王おう安やす石せき變へん法ほう中ちゅう對たい科か舉制度せいど的てき改あらため動どう，王おう安やすし石せき於是屢次在ざい神かみ宗はじめ面前めんぜん詆毀蘇そ軾，司馬しば光ひかり、范鎮舉薦蘇そ軾作諫官，王おう安やすし石いし力りょく反はん之これ，神かみ宗はじめ想そう讓ゆずる蘇そ軾寫起居ききょ注ちゅう，王おう安やすし石せき向こう神かみ宗むね進言しんげん，說せつ蘇そ軾在回かい家守かもり喪も時じ，乘じょう機き販運蘇そ木き（一種いっしゅ染料せんりょう），最後さいご神しん宗むね放棄ほうき這個任命にんめい。三さん年ねん，因いん為ため蘇そ軾一直ちょく反對はんたい王おう安やす石せき，王おう安やすし石門せきもん下か的てき御ご史し謝しゃ景けい溫ぬる又また誣陷蘇そ軾販賣はんばい私わたし鹽しお，范鎮極きょく辯べん蘇そ軾販鹽しお之の誣，並なみ願意がんい退すさ休きゅう負ふ責せめ。

熙寧三さん年ねん（1070年ねん），蘇そ軾擔任たんにん當年度とうねんど的てき科か舉主考こう官かん，蘇そ軾本欲よく擬なずらえ上官じょうかん均ひとし為ため第だい一いち名めい（狀じょう元もと），因いん發現はつげん上官じょうかん均ひとし的てき策さく論ろん有ゆう詆毀王おう安やす石せき變へん法的ほうてき情況じょうきょう，便びん改あらため上官じょうかん均ひとし為ため第だい二に名めい。

熙寧四よん年ねん（1071年ねん）蘇そ軾遷太ふと常つね博士はかせ攝と開封かいふう推官，因いん不堪ふかん新黨しんとう的てき迫害はくがい，求もとめ外がい職しょく，神かみ宗はじめ本ほん欲よく予よ以知ち州しゅう，但ただし王おう安やす石せき只ただ願ねがい予よ之の潁州通どおり判ばん，神かみ宗はじめ最後さいご折中せっちゅう，讓ゆずる蘇そ軾擔任たんにん比較ひかく好このみ的てき杭州こうしゅう通どおり判ばん。先さき是ぜ熙寧三さん年ねん，王おう安やすし石せき的てき姻親謝しゃ景けい溫ゆたか彈劾だんがい蘇そ軾居喪も往返途中とちゅう順じゅん道どう做買賣うり生せい意い，但ただし查無實證じっしょう。滯留たいりゅう京きょう城じょう至いたる熙寧四よん年ねん夏なつ末まつ，神かみ宗はじめ批示「改あらため通どおり判ばん杭州こうしゅう」，遂とげ經由けいゆ陳ひね州しゅう赴杭，十一月じゅういちがつ到いた任にん。神かみ宗はじめ當時とうじ對たい司馬しば光ひかり說せつ：「蘇そ軾非佳けい士し，卿きょう誤あやま識之。」司馬しば光ひかり則のり不ふ以為然しか，為ため蘇そ軾做了りょう辯解べんかい，而蘇軾本人ほんにん則そく迫はさま于壓力りょく，並なみ沒ぼつ有ゆう對たい此處ここら置おけ發表はっぴょう任にん何なん意見いけん。初はつ到いた杭州こうしゅう時じ，前任ぜんにん刺史しし沈立尚なお未み卸おろし任にん，于是蘇そ軾便受命じゅめい監かん考こう，得とく閒あいだ二に十じゅう餘よ日にち，其間亦また多た有ゆう唱酬。熙寧五ご年ねん，陳ちん堯佐之子ゆきこ陳ちん襄じょう接せっ任にん杭州こうしゅう刺史しし。蘇そ軾被派は往湖州しゅう勘かん察堤壩情況きょう，期間きかん與あずか湖みずうみ州しゅう太守たいしゅ孫まご莘老相しょう遇ぐう並なみ作詩さくし。

熙寧六ろく年ねん（1073年ねん）正月しょうがつ二に十じゅう七なな日にち及八はち月がつ，兩度りょうど遊覽ゆうらん雲くも泉山いずみやま風水ふうすい洞ほら，作詩さくし並なみ留とめ下か題名だいめい，題名だいめい今こん存そん。冬ふゆ，蘇そ軾沿運河うんが往返於常州しゅう、潤うるう州しゅう、蘇州そしゅう、秀しゅう州しゅう之の間あいだ，賑にぎわい濟ずみ災わざわい民みん。官職かんしょく不變ふへん。至いたり熙寧七年夏回到杭州。過か了りょう幾いく個月かげつ接せっ到いた詔みことのり命いのち前ぜん往密州しゅう，九月二十日告別杭州道友，十じゅう月がつ啟けい程ほど。熙寧八はち年ねん除じょ夕ゆう，蘇そ軾在潤うるう州しゅう度ど過か。熙寧十じゅう年ねん受命じゅめい知ち河中かわなか府ふ，後こう改あらため知ち徐じょ州しゅう。二月與其弟蘇轍會面，四よん月がつ二に十じゅう一いち日にち，到いた徐じょ州しゅう。是ぜ年ねん七なな月がつ七なな日にち，黃河こうが決けつ口こう，水みず困こま徐じょ州しゅう，蘇そ軾參加さんか救すくい災わざわい。元もと豐元とよもと年みのる，改築かいちく徐じょ州しゅう外がい小城おぎ，立たて東門ひがしもん黃き樓ろう。蘇そ軾作《黃き樓ろう賦ふ》。

元もと豐ゆたか二に年ねん（1079年ねん）三さん月がつ，移うつり知ち湖みずうみ州しゅう。四よん月がつ二に十じゅう九きゅう日にち，到いた湖みずうみ州しゅう任にん。七なな月がつ，監かん察御史し何なん正臣まさおみ、舒亶、諫議大夫たいふ李り定じょう、國子くにこ博士はかせ李り宜むべ之これ等とう上じょう疏彈劾蘇軾，說せつ他た謗そし訕朝政ちょうせい、愚弄ぐろう朝廷ちょうてい、妄尊自大じだい云云うんぬん。二に十じゅう八はち日にち，朝廷ちょうてい派遣はけん中ちゅう使つかい皇すめらぎ甫はじめ遵至湖みずうみ州しゅう將はた蘇そ軾逮捕たいほ。八月はちがつ十じゅう八はち日にち，下獄げごく。十一月じゅういちがつ三さん十じゅう日にち結ゆい案あん。此次蘇そ軾因烏がらす臺だい詩し案あん入獄にゅうごく，幾いく死し，因いん為ため寫うつし文章ぶんしょう向こう朝廷ちょうてい訣別けつべつ，太皇太后たいこうたいこう曹氏、王おう安やすし禮れい等とう人出ひとで面めん力りょく挽，神かみ宗はじめ動どう心しん，蘇そ軾終免めん一死いっし，貶謫為ため「檢校けんぎょう尚書しょうしょ、水みず部員ぶいん外郎ういろう、黃き州しゅう團だん練ねり副使ふくし，本州ほんしゅう安置あんち，不ふ得とく簽書公事こうじ」，由ゆかり御ご史し台だい專せん人じん押送おうそう前ぜん往。蘇そ轍わだち也因為ため其兄求もとめ情じょう而遭貶為監かん筠州鹽しお酒しゅ務つとむ。司馬しば光ひかり、黃庭堅おうていけん、乃至ないし王おう安やす石せき之の弟おとうと王おう安上あんじょう皆みな罰ばつ銅どう二に十じゅう斤きん。蘇そ軾在黃き州しゅう「深ふか自じ閉塞へいそく，扁舟へんしゅう革かわ履くつ，放浪ほうろう山水さんすい之の間あいだ，與あずか漁りょう樵きこり雜ざつ處しょ」，與あずか張ちょう懷ふところ民みん交遊こうゆう，也結交禪門もん人士じんし，當時とうじ佛ふつ印しるし擔任たんにん廬いおり山やま歸き宗むね寺てら住持じゅうじ，與あずか蘇そ軾時有ゆう往來おうらい。有ゆう〈戲おどけ答こたえ佛ふつ印しるし偈げ〉曰：「百ひゃく千せん燈とう作さく一いち燈光とうこう，儘是恆つね沙すな妙法みょうほう王おう，是ぜ故こ東ひがし坡不敢借，借か君くん四よん大作たいさく禪ぜん床ゆか。」

元もと豐ゆたか四よん年ねん，朋友ほうゆう馬ば正せい卿きょう為ため蘇そ軾請到了りょう黃き州しゅう營地以東いとう一塊ひとかたまり地ち，蘇そ軾躬耕こう其中，命名めいめい為ため「東ひがし坡」，複ふく于元豐ゆたか五ご年ねん營造えいぞう雪ゆき堂どう，自じ號ごう東ひがし坡居士し。十じゅう月がつ，過か黃き泥どろ阪ばん，遊覽ゆうらん赤あか壁かべ，作さく《赤あか壁かべ後ご賦ふ》。元もと豐ゆたか七なな年ねん離はなれ開ひらき黃き州しゅう，將はた雪ゆき堂どう留とめ給きゅう當地とうち人じん潘はん邠老，赴任ふにん汝なんじ州しゅう團だん練ねり。途と經けい江え州しゅう，游ゆう廬いおり山さん，作詩さくし有ゆう《題だい西林にしばやし壁かべ》等とう。經過けいか筠州，留とめ蘇そ轍わだち處しょ十じゅう日にち。經けい金きん陵りょう，于泗州しゅう度ど過か除じょ夕ゆう，因いん沒ぼつ有ゆう繼續けいぞく旅行りょこう的てき盤ばん纏まとい而上書うわがき請求せいきゅう允許いんきょ在ざい常つね州しゅう宜興いいしん縣けん居住きょじゅう，獲得かくとく允許いんきょ。八月はちがつ十じゅう七なな日にち，得とく命いのち知ち登のぼり州しゅう，到いた任にん才ざい五ご天てん，蘇そ軾又被ひ召為禮れい部ぶ郎ろう官かん，上京じょうきょう後ご半月はんつき，除じょ起居ききょ舍人とねり，入にゅう侍さむらい延のべ和かず殿どの。

元げん祐ゆう元年がんねん（1086年ねん），宋そう哲あきら宗むね即位そくい，高こう太皇太后たいこうたいこう垂たれ簾すだれ聽政，任にん禮れい部ぶ郎ろう中ちゅう、中書ちゅうしょ舍人とねり。遷翰林りん學士がくし、知ち制せい誥。時とき蘇そ軾無意い間あいだ在ざい祭さい奠司馬しば光ひかり的てき場合ばあい開ひらけ程ほど頤玩笑わらい，指ゆび他た迂まが腐くさ，一開始不以為意，後ご被ひ言げん官かん朱しゅ光ひかり庭にわ抓つめ住じゅう把わ柄え，說せつ他た辱はずかしめ罵ののし司馬しば光ひかり、程ほど頤，連れん章あきら彈劾だんがい，傅でん堯俞、王おう岩いわ叟、孫まご升ます等とう也旋即そく加入かにゅう彈劾だんがい蘇そ軾的行列ぎょうれつ，但ただし朝廷ちょうてい最終さいしゅう沒ぼつ有ゆう給與きゅうよ處分しょぶん，且內批說：「不ふ須彈奏だんそう」。元げん祐ゆう二に年ねん，除じょ翰林かんりん侍讀じどく。蘇そ軾與程ほど頤的關係かんけい進しん一いち步ほ惡化あっか，兩人りょうにん黨とう徒と互相攻おさむ訐。十一月じゅういちがつ，拜戶はいど部ぶ侍さむらい郎ろう。三さん年ねん，蘇そ軾以翰林かんりん學士がくし知ち貢みつぎ舉，負ふ責せめ取と士し。蘇そ軾改革かいかく了りょう宋そう代だい取と士し的てき特とく奏そう名めい制度せいど，當時とうじ但ただし凡是禮れい部ぶ特別とくべつ上奏じょうそう的てき都と濫賜出身しゅっしん，蘇そ軾和孔あな文ぶん仲なか以為不可ふか，遂とげ上じょう《論ろん特とく奏そう名人めいじん恩澤おんたく太ふとし濫劄子こ》。此後朝廷ちょうてい接せっ納おさめ其建議けんぎ，設置せっち了りょう特とく奏そう名めい進士しんし、諸しょ科か取と士し的てき限きり額がく及品階かい。元げん祐ゆう四よん年ねん（1089年ねん）蘇そ軾出知ち杭州こうしゅう，與あずか執政しっせい恩おん例れい（同どう副ふく相あい待遇たいぐう）。到いた杭州こうしゅう之これ日にち，上表じょうひょう云うん：「江山えやま故國ここく，所しょ至いたり如歸，父老ふろう遺のこ民みん，與あずか臣しん相しょう問とい。」元げん祐ゆう五ご年ねん（1090），蘇そ軾聽取ちょうしゅ錢塘ぜんども縣けん尉じょう許もと敦あつし仁じん的てき建議けんぎ開拓かいたく西湖さいこ，取と淤泥作さく堤つつみ壩，在ざい其上築ちく橋はし，是ぜ為ため蘇そ堤つつみ。五月ごがつ，拜はい御ご史し中ちゅう丞すすむ。元げん祐ゆう六ろく年ねん三さん月がつ九きゅう日にち，罷やめ杭州こうしゅう，召還しょうかん朝あさ，除じょ翰林かんりん承うけたまわ旨むね，入にゅう侍さむらい邇英殿どの。八はち月がつ，以龍圖ず閣かく學士がくし知ち潁州。此次還かえ朝あさ後ご出で知ち潁州，其實是ぜ由よし于賈易えき彈劾だんがい蘇そ軾，即そく蜀しょく洛らく黨爭とうそう之の事こと。蘇そ軾曾說せつ：「賈易為ため程ほど頤之死し黨とう，怨臣兄弟きょうだい最深さいしん，志こころざし在ざい必報」。宰相さいしょう呂りょ大だい防ぼう、劉りゅう摯和かず高こう太ふとし后きさき都みやこ覺さとし得とく賈易言げん過か其實，「排擊はいげき人じん太ふと深ふか，須與責せめ降くだ」。為ため了りょう平ひら息いき黨爭とうそう，高こう太ふとし后きさき採用さいよう呂りょ大だい防ぼう的てき建議けんぎ，將はた蘇そ軾與賈易都と外がい放ひ為ため地方ちほう官かん。元げん祐ゆう七なな年ねん正月しょうがつ二に十じゅう八はち日にち，移うつり知ち揚あげ州しゅう。九月くがつ召還しょうかん朝あさ，以兵部ぶ尚書しょうしょ兼けん翰林かんりん侍讀じどく學士がくし，至いたり十じゅう一いち月がつ，又また除じょ端はし明あきら殿どの學士がくし兼けん侍讀じどく。元げん祐ゆう八はち年ねん，言げん官かん黃き慶けい基もと、董ただし敦あつし逸いっ彈劾だんがい蘇そ軾。八はち九きゅう月がつ間あいだ，蘇そ軾出知ち定じょう州しゅう。

紹聖元年がんねん（1094年ねん），章あきら惇あつし、安やす燾執政しっせい，蘇そ軾遭來らい之の邵彈劾だんがい，遂とげ被ひ哲あきら宗そう貶謫至いたり惠めぐみ州しゅう，十じゅう月がつ三さん日にち，到いた貶所，住じゅう在ざい僧そう舍しゃ中ちゅう。二に年ねん三さん月がつ，遷居合いあい江え亭てい。三さん年ねん，惠めぐみ州しゅう修おさむ新橋しんばし，蘇そ軾典賣うり了りょう自己じこ的てき腰帶こしおび以資助じょ建設けんせつ。四よん年ねん（1097年ねん），二に月がつ十じゅう四よん日にち，營建白けんぱく鶴づる峰ほう新居しんきょ。五月責授瓊州別駕、昌あきら化か軍ぐん安置あんち。至いたり四よん月がつ十じゅう七なな日にち，蘇そ軾接到いた命令めいれい，遂とげ貶儋州しゅう。當時とうじ蘇そ轍わだち也被貶謫至いたり雷いかつち州しゅう，兩りょう兄弟きょうだい恰好かっこう相しょう遇ぐう于藤州しゅう，便びん同行どうこう前ぜん往雷州しゅう半島はんとう。六月ろくがつ十じゅう一いち日にち，蘇そ軾告別べつ弟おとうと弟おとうと，出航しゅっこう渡海とかい。七なな月がつ十じゅう三さん日にち，到いた儋州。初はつ到いた時とき無地むじ可か住じゅう，蘇そ軾就在官ざいかん舍しゃ暫住。不ふ久ひさ，當地とうち人為じんい他た建たて了りょう三さん間あいだ房ぼう屋や，蘇そ軾將其命名めいめい為ため桄榔庵あん。