Traditional Culture Encyclopedia - Travel guide - Ancient poets liked to travel, so how did they travel?

Ancient poets liked to travel, so how did they travel?

Ancient poets liked to travel, and they rented cars to travel. Ancient poets liked to travel around mountains and rivers, both to learn and to find inspiration.

Ordinary people did not travel much in ancient times. After all, it took a long time to travel to a place. Unless it is a relocation of residence or a businessman, there are also poets. The poet's travel path can be comparable to a hornet's nest, or it can be so densely packed that it makes you sigh. For example, Du Fu was affected by his official career and moved everywhere, almost circling the land at that time. Su Shi followed the pattern of finding food wherever he was demoted, and there was a small question mark on his path.

Poets travel, sometimes to learn and to find inspiration. Especially because the official position is affected, it is particularly necessary to go out and see the mountains and rivers to express one's mood. For example, when Li Bai was young, he traveled to study and increase his knowledge. When he was older, it was just to relax and get acquainted with poets such as Du Fu. Ancient poets traveled on foot or by car.

Normally, you rent a "Taiping Car", which is pulled by oxen. Although it is a bit slow, you can still put your luggage in it. When traveling, you also need to play the guqin, use paper, ink, pen and inkstone, and even bring a singer or servant with you. If you have no money, walk. If you encounter waterways, take a detour and insist on walking all over the place. There are also some poets who travel together so that they can have someone to look after them along the way, and they rarely walk alone.

Before these poets went on a trip, they must first read the divination books and choose a good time before setting off. Since the Tang Dynasty, there have been relevant travel books and travel maps, which not only introduce places of interest, but also write about available B&Bs and precautions.

Many poets will also read Shen Kuo's "Yandang Mountain", Su Shi's "Front (Back) Red Cliff Ode", Xu Xiake's "Xu Xiake's Travels", etc., which will further arouse the desire to travel. Sometimes there are no toilets on the way, so you will also bring daily necessities such as chamber pots and toilets. Although the poets describe beautifully, the actual problems encountered on the road are much more troublesome than when we travel by car, but they have a pair of eyes that are good at discovering beauty.