Yuan Zhen

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Yuan Zhen (Chinese: 元稹; pinyin: Yuán Zhěn; Wade-Giles: Yüan Chen, 779–831), courtesy name Weizhi (微之), was an important Chinese writer and poet in the middle Tang Dynasty known for his work Yingying's Biography.

A native of Luoyang, Yuan was a descendant of Northern Wei's ruling elites. He lost his father at the age of eight and moved to Fengxiang, near today's Baoji, Shaanxi with his mother Lady Zheng (郑氏). Yuan began his writings at the age of fifteen, he was a member of Bai Juyi's literary circle and a key figure in the ancient literature revival. He was a friend of Bai Juyi and also of Xue Tao, a courtesan and famous poet who might have been his lover.

Yuan 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)

遣悲怀（其一）

谢公最小偏怜女，自嫁黔娄百事乖。

顾我无衣搜荩箧，泥他沽酒拔金钗。

野蔬充膳甘长藿，落叶添薪仰古槐。

今日奉钱过十万，与君营奠复营斋。

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Legend has that Yuan Zhen wrote these five poems after his wife passed away

[edit] References

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