元(yuan)結(jie)(jie)曾(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)避難(nan)入猗玗(yu)洞,因號猗玗(yu)子。洛陽(yang)(今河南洛陽(yang))人(ren)(ren)。天(tian)寶十(shi)二載中(zhong)進(jin)士。安史(shi)之亂(luan)(luan)時(shi)(shi)(shi)避難(nan)江南。曾(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)參與(yu)抗(kang)擊(ji)史(shi)思明(ming)(ming)叛軍,立有(you)(you)戰功。后任道(dao)州(zhou)刺(ci)史(shi)等(deng)地方(fang)軍政(zheng)職務(wu)。他(ta)為(wei)官清(qing)廉開明(ming)(ming),愛護(hu)百姓(xing),元(yuan)結(jie)(jie)對(dui)社(she)會進(jin)行(xing)了(le)無情的(de)批判(pan),為(wei)詩(shi)(shi)注(zhu)重(zhong)反(fan)映政(zheng)治(zhi)現(xian)實(shi)和人(ren)(ren)民疾苦,所作(zuo)《舂(chong)陵(ling)行(xing)》、《賊退示官吏》等(deng),曾(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)受杜甫推崇。散(san)(san)文亦(yi)多涉及時(shi)(shi)(shi)政(zheng),風(feng)(feng)(feng)格(ge)古(gu)樸。時(shi)(shi)(shi)人(ren)(ren)也(ye)(ye)曾(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)批評其(qi)作(zuo)品“不(bu)(bu)師孔(kong)氏“,加以(yi)非難(nan)。原有(you)(you)集(ji)(ji),已散(san)(san)佚,明(ming)(ming)人(ren)(ren)輯有(you)(you)《元(yuan)次山文集(ji)(ji)》。又曾(ceng)(ceng)(ceng)編(bian)選《篋中(zhong)集(ji)(ji)》行(xing)世(shi)(shi)。元(yuan)結(jie)(jie)主(zhu)張(zhang)詩(shi)(shi)歌為(wei)政(zheng)治(zhi)教化(hua)服務(wu),要(yao)“極(ji)帝王理亂(luan)(luan)之道(dao),系古(gu)人(ren)(ren)規諷之流”;能(neng)濟世(shi)(shi)勸俗(su),補闕拾遺(yi),“上感于(yu)(yu)上,下化(hua)于(yu)(yu)下”;反(fan)對(dui)當時(shi)(shi)(shi)詩(shi)(shi)壇(tan)“拘限(xian)聲(sheng)病(bing),喜(xi)尚形似(si)”(《篋中(zhong)集(ji)(ji)序》)的(de)不(bu)(bu)良風(feng)(feng)(feng)氣(qi),開新樂府(fu)運(yun)動(dong)(dong)之先聲(sheng)。他(ta)的(de)詩(shi)(shi)文具有(you)(you)強烈的(de)批判(pan)現(xian)實(shi)性,觸及天(tian)寶中(zhong)期日(ri)益尖銳的(de)社(she)會矛盾。如(ru)(ru)《舂(chong)陵(ling)行(xing)》、《賊退示官吏》,揭示了(le)人(ren)(ren)民的(de)饑寒交迫和皇家的(de)征斂無度,變本加厲。《閔荒詩(shi)(shi)》、《系樂府(fu)十(shi)二首》等(deng)也(ye)(ye)是或規諷時(shi)(shi)(shi)政(zheng),或揭露(lu)時(shi)(shi)(shi)弊。結(jie)(jie)幾乎不(bu)(bu)寫近體(ti)(ti)。除(chu)少數四(si)言、騷體(ti)(ti)與(yu)七(qi)古(gu)、七(qi)絕外,主(zhu)要(yao)是五(wu)言古(gu)風(feng)(feng)(feng),質(zhi)樸淳厚,筆力遒勁,頗(po)具特色。但因過分否定聲(sheng)律(lv)詞(ci)采,詩(shi)(shi)作(zuo)有(you)(you)時(shi)(shi)(shi)不(bu)(bu)免過于(yu)(yu)質(zhi)直,也(ye)(ye)導致他(ta)創作(zuo)上的(de)局(ju)限(xian)性。元(yuan)結(jie)(jie)的(de)散(san)(san)文,不(bu)(bu)同流俗(su),特別是其(qi)雜文體(ti)(ti)散(san)(san)文,值(zhi)得(de)重(zhong)視。如(ru)(ru)《寱論(lun)》、《丐論(lun)》、《處(chu)規》、《出(chu)規》、《惡圓》、《惡曲》、《時(shi)(shi)(shi)化(hua)》、《世(shi)(shi)化(hua)》、《自述》、《訂(ding)古(gu)》、《七(qi)不(bu)(bu)如(ru)(ru)》等(deng)篇,都出(chu)于(yu)(yu)憤(fen)世(shi)(shi)嫉俗(su)、憂道(dao)憫人(ren)(ren),具有(you)(you)揭露(lu)人(ren)(ren)間偽詐,鞭撻(ta)黑暗現(xian)實(shi)的(de)功能(neng)。其(qi)文章大抵(di)短(duan)小精悍,筆鋒(feng)犀利,繪形圖像,逼真生動(dong)(dong),發人(ren)(ren)深省。其(qi)他(ta)散(san)(san)文如(ru)(ru)書、論(lun)、序、表、狀之類,均刻(ke)意求古(gu),意氣(qi)超拔(ba),和當時(shi)(shi)(shi)文風(feng)(feng)(feng)不(bu)(bu)同。《大唐(tang)中(zhong)興頌(song)》文體(ti)(ti)上采用三(san)句一韻的(de)手(shou)法(fa),類似(si)秦石刻(ke)的(de)體(ti)(ti)制,風(feng)(feng)(feng)格(ge)雄偉(wei)剛峻。后人(ren)(ren)對(dui)元(yuan)結(jie)(jie)評價(jia)很高,唐(tang)代裴敬把(ba)他(ta)與(yu)陳子昂、蘇源明(ming)(ming)、蕭穎士、韓(han)愈并提。又有(you)(you)人(ren)(ren)把(ba)他(ta)看作(zuo)韓(han)柳古(gu)文運(yun)動(dong)(dong)的(de)先驅。
約(yue)生于唐玄宗開元(yuan)八年(nian)(nian)(719)年(nian)(nian),約(yue)卒(zu)于代(dai)宗大歷七(qi)年(nian)(nian),壽(shou)約(yue)五(wu)十余(yu)歲。少(shao)不羈。年(nian)(nian)十七(qi),乃折節向學,事元(yuan)德(de)秀。舉進(jin)(jin)士(shi),蘇源明稱(cheng)與肅宗。時史思明攻河(he)陽,結上時議三篇。帝悅,擢右(you)金(jin)吾兵曹參軍(jun),攝監(jian)察御(yu)史。以討(tao)賊功(gong),遷監(jian)察御(yu)史。又進(jin)(jin)水部員外郎(lang),佐荊(jing)南(nan)節度使呂諲拒賊。代(dai)宗時,以親老歸(gui)樊上,著書自娛。始號琦圩子(zi),繼稱(cheng)浪士(shi),亦稱(cheng)漫郎(lang)。既客樊上,更稱(cheng)贅叟。晚拜道(dao)州刺史,免徭役,收流亡。進(jin)(jin)授容管經略使,身諭蠻豪,綏定諸(zhu)州,民樂其教(jiao),立碑(bei)頌德(de)。罷還京師,卒(zu)。
結著(zhu)有元子十(shi)(shi)卷,文編十(shi)(shi)卷,《新(xin)唐書藝文志》琦圩子一卷,《文獻(xian)通考(kao)》并(bing)傳(chuan)于(yu)世。
原有著作多部(bu),均佚(yi)。現(xian)存的集子常見者(zhe)有明郭勛(xun)刻本《唐元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)次(ci)(ci)山(shan)文(wen)集》、明陳繼(ji)儒鑒定本《唐元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)次(ci)(ci)山(shan)文(wen)集》、淮南(nan)黃氏(shi)刊本《元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)次(ci)(ci)山(shan)集》。今人孫望校點(dian)有《元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)次(ci)(ci)山(shan)集》。元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)結所編詩選《篋中集》尚存。