I. Summary

The Gay Genius Week2

II. The central question

Q: Why Lin Yutang use three chapters to write about Wang Anshih and his reform?

A: If we want to know someone, we should ask his relatives and friends. However, if we want to know someone more deeply and objectively, we should go and ask his enemies. Wang Anshih was Su Tungpo's political opponent. Su Tungpo against his reform, so from this point we can know about Su Tungpo's political views. It is obvious that Wang Anshih carried out the reform had close connection with his personal characters. On the contrary, Su Tungpo's personality is the important reason for him to came up with different opinion. We could say Lin Yutang wrote lots about Wang Anshih just wanted us know Su Tungpo more comprehensive.

III. Thoughts

第七章到第十章的内容里，有三章的内容是关于王安石的。林语堂用了不少笔墨描写了王安石的变法经过与内容，以及王安石孤僻不合群的性格，作为苏东坡的传记而言，似乎有些偏离主题。但实际上，想要更深入地了解苏东坡，王安石这个人是不可不提的。且不说通过苏东坡对王安石变法的反对能够更进一步了解其政治主张，苏东坡在出仕以来，经历的第一次贬官即与王安石相关，而这影响了苏东坡以后的人生。在性格上，王安石偏执倔强，而苏轼旷达洒脱，如同截然不同的两面，这样强烈的对比更足以衬托苏轼人格魅力。不过，苏轼与王安石虽为政敌，但并非是全然的对立，王安石的确敢于变法，锐意革新，苏轼也并非是顽固保守的守旧派，二人的分歧在于治国主张，而出发点皆是承担身为士大夫的报国之责，因此二人虽个性迥异、政见不合，但都是具有传统儒家价值观的文人士大夫。