文天祥的一生行迹（1236-1283）
文天祥（1236-1283），字宋瑞，号文山，吉州庐陵（今江西吉安）人，南宋末年抗元名臣、民族英雄。宝祐四年（1256年）状元及第，官至右丞相。元兵南下，他散尽家财起兵勤王，兵败被俘后宁死不屈，在大都囚禁三年写就《正气歌》，从容就义，以身殉国。
庐陵（1236） · 庐陵少年
宋理宗端平三年（1236年），文天祥出生于吉州庐陵（今江西吉安）淳化乡富田村。其家世以儒学传家，父文仪虽未仕进却博学多识，亲自课子读书。少年文天祥见乡中忠义祠所祀欧阳修等人遗像，慨然誓曰：日后若不能跻身其中，便不配为男儿。
临安（及第）（1256） · 状元及第
宋理宗宝祐四年（1256年），二十岁的文天祥赴临安参加殿试，以"法天不息"为策论主旨，洋洋万言，指陈时弊，理宗亲擢为状元。同榜其弟文璧亦中进士，一门双进士传为佳话。
赣州（1275） · 起兵勤王
宋恭帝德祐元年（1275年），元兵大举南下，朝廷下诏勤王。文天祥时知赣州，散尽家产，招募义士万人，率义军北上入卫临安。友人劝其"以乌合之众赴敌，何异驱羊搏虎"，他答曰："吾岂不知？然国家养士三百年，危难之际竟无一人一骑相赴，岂不哀哉！"
临安（使北）（1276） · 起兵勤王
宋恭帝德祐二年（1276年）正月，文天祥以右丞相兼枢密使身份出使元营谈判，被伯颜扣押。他在元营慷慨陈词，痛斥元兵违约。二月，宋帝奉表出降，文天祥被押北上，途经镇江时趁夜脱险南奔。
福州（1276） · 转战南天
宋端宗景炎元年（1276年）五月，文天祥南奔至福州，拥立益王赵昰即位，是为端宗。他被授右丞相兼知枢密院事，开府南剑州（今福建南平），重新召集义军，图谋恢复。在福州，他力主出兵收复江西，与朝中妥协派发生激烈争执。
空坑（1277） · 转战南天
宋端宗景炎二年（1277年），文天祥率军入江西，连克雩都、赣州，一时声势大振。然元军大举反扑，八月败于兴国，退至空坑，妻妾子女皆被元军俘获，只身脱走。此后他收拢残兵，转战粤东，败退南海。
海丰五坡岭（1278） · 转战南天
宋帝昺祥兴元年（1278年）十二月，文天祥在广东海丰五坡岭遭元将张弘范突袭，兵败被俘。他仓皇中吞服龙脑自尽未遂，被执后张弘范使之前招降张世杰，文天祥严词拒绝，写下《过零丁洋》以明志。
大都（1283） · 囚歌正气
元至元十九年（1283年），文天祥被囚大都兵马司土牢三年。元世祖忽必烈许以中书宰相之位，他坚拒不降。狱中作《正气歌》，以历代忠臣义士自励。十二月初九，从容就义于柴市口，年四十七。
The Life Journey of Wen Tianxiang, Martyr of the Righteous Spirit
Wen Tianxiang (1236-1283), of Luling in Jizhou, was first in the empire at twenty, right prime minister of a falling dynasty at forty, and the Mongols' prisoner for the last four years of his life. He raised an army from his own estate, was captured, escaped through the siege-lines, raised another, was captured again — and from the earth-walled cell at Dadu sent out the 'Song of the Righteous Spirit' and the line no Chinese schoolchild is allowed to forget: 'Since ancient times, what man has escaped death? Let me leave a loyal heart to shine in the annals.'
Timeline of the Journey
- 1236 · Luling — Born in Futian village to a schoolmaster's house; at the district shrine of loyalists, seeing the portraits of Ouyang Xiu and the rest, he swore: 'If I do not die among such men, I am no man.'
- 1256 · Lin'an — The palace examination at twenty: ten thousand words on 'modeling oneself on Heaven's unceasingness,' written without a draft. Lizong placed him first; his brother passed the same year — two graduates of one house.
- 1275 · Ganzhou — The Mongol descent, the call to arms: governor of Ganzhou, he sold his estate and raised ten thousand volunteers. 'Driving sheep against tigers?' — 'The state has fed its scholars three hundred years; if none will go, that is what I grieve for.'
- 1276 · Lin'an — Right prime minister, sent to negotiate with the Yuan camp — and detained for his defiance. In February the boy-emperor surrendered; Wen Tianxiang, taken north, escaped at Zhenjiang by night.
- 1276 · Fuzhou — Through suspicion, pursuit and the sea to Fuzhou: the new reign of Duanzong, Wen again prime minister, headquarters at Nanjianzhou, armies raised once more.
- 1277 · Kongkeng — Into Jiangxi: Yudu and Ganzhou retaken, the surge — then the Yuan counter-attack and the rout at Kongkeng, his wives and children captured, himself escaped alone. On south with the remnants to the coast.
- 1278 · Wupoling — Ambushed at Wupoling near Haifeng; he swallowed borneol to die and could not. Zhang Hongfan ordered him to summon Zhang Shijie to surrender; he answered with the Lingding Yang poem instead.
- 1283 · Dadu — Three years in the dirt-floored cell: the 'Righteous Spirit Song' on the great loyal men of history; the Khan's offer of the chancellorship refused; the ninth day of the twelfth month, unhurried, at Chaishi. Forty-seven.
'Since ancient times, what man has escaped death? Let my loyal heart shine white in the pages of history.' The dynasty fell; the sentence did not — Wen Tianxiang is the proof that a civilization can lose everything and keep its word.
