Wang Zhihuan
Encyclopedia
Wang Zhihuan and whose name has been traditionally been transcribed "Wang Tsu-huan" was a Chinese poet of the Kaiyuan era. He is known for his famous poem entitled "On the Stork Tower" (登鸛雀樓)
.
and Wang Changling
, in which they agreed to compete as to which of their poems would be most sung by the professional entertainers who happened to show up. An actor sang one of Wang Changling's poems, then another actor sang one of Gao Shi's poems. Then another actor sang one of Wang Changling's songs, but Wang Zhihuan was considered the winner when the most beautiful of the female entertainers
sang one of his songs (the one translated as "Beyond the Border" by Witter Bynner
).
Poetry
Wang Zhihuan had two of his poems included in the famous poetry anthology Three Hundred Tang PoemsThree Hundred Tang Poems
The Three Hundred Tang Poems is an anthology of poems from the Chinese Tang Dynasty first compiled around 1763 by Sun Zhu , the Qing scholar also known as Hengtang Tuishi . Various later editions also exist...
.
Famous competition at the wine shop
Wang Zhihuan was once involved in a famous incident at a wine shop with fellow poets Gao ShiGao Shi
Gao Shi , was a poet of the Tang Dynasty, and some of whose poems were collected in the popular anthology Three Hundred Tang Poems.Born into an impoverished family in Hunan Province, Gao eventually became a secretary in the military, enjoying a successful career.Gao Shi was one of the competitors...
and Wang Changling
Wang Changling
Wang Changling was a major Tang Dynasty poet. His zi was Shaobo . He was originally from Taiyuan in the Shanxi province of China, according to the editors of the Three Hundred Tang Poems, although other sources claim that he was actually from Jiangning near modern-day Nanjing...
, in which they agreed to compete as to which of their poems would be most sung by the professional entertainers who happened to show up. An actor sang one of Wang Changling's poems, then another actor sang one of Gao Shi's poems. Then another actor sang one of Wang Changling's songs, but Wang Zhihuan was considered the winner when the most beautiful of the female entertainers
Sing-song girls
Sing-song girls is an English term for the courtesans in China during the early 19th century.-Origin:Prior to the founding of modern China in 1911, concubinage was legal. In Chinese custom, males carry the family name and the family's heritage after marriage...
sang one of his songs (the one translated as "Beyond the Border" by Witter Bynner
Witter Bynner
Harold Witter Bynner was an American poet, writer and scholar, known for his long residence in Santa Fe, New Mexico, at what is now the Inn of the Turquoise Bear.-Early life:...
).