Yuan Zhen

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yuan Zhen (元稹) (779 to 831), styled 微之, was an important Chinese writer and poet in the middle Tang Dynasty.

He lived in Luoyang and briefly held ministerial rank. He was a member of Po Chu-i's literary circle and was a key figure in the ancient literature revival. He was one of Bai Juyi's friend and was the author of Yingying's Biography (鶯鶯傳) which was adapted for operas and songs. In 813 he wrote a grave inscription for Du Fu, which contains some of the earliest known praise for his predecessor's works.

[edit] Representative Poem

Missing you (part four of five) (離思五首（其四）)

曾經滄海難為水，除卻巫山不是雲。取次花叢懶回顧，半緣修道半緣君。

Having crossed the vast oceans, I can no longer take a river seriously. If it's not on Mount Wushan, it's not a cloud. I don't care to think back on our leisurely walks among the flowers and shrubs. Half of me is bound to religious devotion, and half is bound to you^[1]. (Wikipedia translation)