The Song dynasty in A Witty History of the Song is an era that leaves you laughing, then suddenly falling silent.
Su Shi roasted pork in Huangzhou while writing, “The finest taste in life is a quiet contentment.” Lu You rode a donkey across the land, weaving his dream of a northern campaign into verse. Li Qingzhao enjoyed the refined pleasures of betting on books and splashing tea, while Yue Fei’s rage and grief burned fierce.
In the marketplaces, courtesans’ quarters and theaters sang Liu Yong’s new lyrics, while soldiers secretly ran side hustles in taverns and teahouses. At court, Wang Anshi’s reforms sparked furious arguments, while Qin Hui worked the numbers more shrewdly than anyone.
The dynasty was astonishingly prosperous: sails on the Bian River could block out the sunset. Yet its anguish cut to the bone. The names of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun became a perennial affliction for generations of rulers and ministers.
As you read these stories of colorful people and curious events, Su Shi’s openness will make you laugh, Lu You’s perseverance will move you, and Yue Fei’s fate will make you pound the table in outrage. Between a lighthearted chuckle and a quiet silence, you’ll come to understand the many sides of a dynasty: sweetness like sugar frost, and pain like a blade’s edge.
