In the Tang Dynasty, where people were recruited by the imperial examinations, the entry degree was especially valued by the world, and the treatment of those who won the exams was undoubtedly the most favorable; admittedly, there were some man-made "cats and dogs" in the process. Especially in the Late Tang Dynasty, the malpractice of favoritism and fraud in the imperial examination field became more and more obvious, which was reflected in a large number of poems. Gao Toad's seven-character poem "On the High Servant" (上高侍郎), which was selected for inclusion in the Thousand Poems, is one of the most famous of these poems.
Born in a poor family in Heshuo, Gao Toad was gifted, elegant, and had a strong sense of honor; at that time, some people wanted to support him with thousands of dollars for no reason, but he refused categorically, saying that even if he starved to death, he wouldn't accept such an unexplained gift from the other party. Therefore, this bright and upright behavior of his naturally attracted the respect of some people. He was close friends with the famous poet Zheng Gu Lang, and Zheng was repeatedly called Senior Gao in his rewarding poems, even though Gao Toad was repeatedly frustrated on his way to take the examination for a bachelor's degree.
The ice columns prop up the sun, and the gates of heaven lock up the time of day?
There is no root in the spring, but the east wind is blowing.
While Gao toad's poem, which is quite angry and forward-looking, has played a certain role, so that most people also think that this examination is really a bit unfair, however, the result has not changed much; that is to say, Gao toad is still just a disappointment and return. In this way, he can only have to imagine the capital Chang'an Qujiang River side of the banquet when the spectators like clouds, the successful candidate is extremely glorious scene; for this reason, the heart has unlimited pain and resentment of the high toad, then to the high minister of the poem:
Heavenly green peach and dew planted, the side of the sun apricot leaning on the clouds planted.
The hibiscus was born on the Autumn River, but it did not open to the east wind!
The man who had won the prize was a man of honor, and he himself had been defeated by unfair and unreasonable competition; and he imagined a very noisy and lively banquet, while he himself was undoubtedly even more despondent. But even so, he never coerced shoulders and flattered to pander to the powers that be, so that he can obtain some secular interests. His poem, which is not overbearing or condescending, is an indictment of the current situation, but it is also confident of his own talent, even though he appears to be a bit of a loner in the poem. After reading it carefully, Squire Gao sympathized with him. As for what Gao Toad said in another poem, "the color is like a flower and the life is like a leaf", of course, it is also a subtle reflection of his grief and anger.
After admiring the poem again and again, Mr. Gao felt that the scholar Gao Toad was really very good, and he really wanted to help him; so Mr. Gao recommended Gao Toad's outstanding talent to a group of princes and ministers. The next year, that is, the third year of Emperor Xi's Qianfu (876), it was the time for Li Zhaozhi's examination, and due to the strong recommendation of Mr. Gao, Gao Toad finally succeeded in the examination after ten years of trials and tribulations. During the reign of Emperor Zhaozong (around 896), Gao toad also achieved the higher official position of the Imperial Historian.
By the way: ① Regarding the title of this poem, the All-Tang Dynasty Poetry is written as After the Discharge from the Imperial Household, I went up to Servant Gao in Yongchong. The title of the poem is "Gao Shilang", which is referred to as "Gao Pian" in the "Thousand Poems", so this article is based on this line of text. And the Dictionary of Chinese Literature from the "Tang Cai Zi Biography" as "Ma Shulang", I am afraid that is not true.