Su Shi, a famous literary figure and painter of the Northern Song Dynasty, was praised as "a giant in the literary world". However, his private life has been criticized by later generations. This article will explore the reasons for the criticism of Su Shi's private life from multiple perspectives.

Firstly, the transformation of marital values. Su Shi lived in the Northern Song Dynasty, where marital values were significantly different from those of later generations. In that era, men could take concubines and prostitutes, while women were expected to uphold chastity. Although Su Shi was a talented scholar, his marital values did not conform to the social norm of the time. He married two wives and took a concubine, which was considered inappropriate and led to criticism of his private life.

Secondly, family conflicts. Family conflicts were also a factor that led to the criticism of Su Shi's private life. His first wife, Wang Fu, had a strong personality that did not mesh well with his, leading to tense relations between them. Later, Su Shi married his second wife, Wang Zhaoyun, but she died shortly after giving birth to their son, Su Mai. This made the family conflicts even more severe and drew even more criticism to his marital life.

Thirdly, the controversy over taking a concubine. Su Shi's decision to take a concubine was another reason for the criticism of his private life. While taking concubines was not uncommon among the scholar-official class at that time, Su Shi's behavior caused a lot of controversy. Some believed that he took a concubine because he could not bear the monotony of family life and sought excitement. This view added to the criticism of his private life.

Fourthly, his relationship with prostitutes. Su Shi's relationship with prostitutes was another reason for the criticism of his private life. According to historical records, Su Shi had a romantic relationship with a prostitute named Li Shishi. Although this relationship did not affect his career, it drew criticism to his private life.

In conclusion, the reasons for the criticism of Su Shi's private life mainly stem from his marital values, family conflicts, controversy over taking a concubine, and his relationship with prostitutes. However, these so-called "criticisms" cannot negate his outstanding achievements in literature, painting, and calligraphy. As the ancient saying goes, "No one is perfect, not even saints." We should approach the private lives of historical figures with a more tolerant attitude to better understand and inherit their cultural spirit.

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