Zhang Ji (poet from Jiangnan)
Encyclopedia
Zhang Ji Chinese style name
Wen Chang 文昌, c. 766-c. 830), and transliterated Chang Chi2 by Giles, was a Tang Dynasty
poet and scholar.
A native of 烏江 Niaojiang in Jiangnan
, he was patronised by the great Han Yu
, whom he even ventured to take to task for his fondness for dice. The latter in 815 recommended him for employment, and he rose to be a Tutor in the Imperial Academy. But it is by his poems that he is known; among which may be mentioned the exquisite lines under the title of 節婦吟. He was also a vigorous opponent of Buddhism and Taoism, both of which he held in much contempt. In one account, he was 80 years of age when he died.
, as poem #151.
American scholar Jonathan Chaves (齊皎瀚) has published the first book in any Western language on Zhang Ji, Cloud Gate Song, which is also the first attempt by any translator to do rhymed translations that track the rhyme schemes of the original texts. 300 of Zhang's poems are included.
Chinese style name
A Chinese style name, sometimes also known as a courtesy name , is a given name to be used later in life. After 20 years of age, the zì is assigned in place of one's given name as a symbol of adulthood and respect...
Wen Chang 文昌, c. 766-c. 830), and transliterated Chang Chi2 by Giles, was a Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
poet and scholar.
A native of 烏江 Niaojiang in Jiangnan
Jiangnan
Jiangnan or Jiang Nan is a geographic area in China referring to lands immediately to the south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, including the southern part of the Yangtze Delta...
, he was patronised by the great Han Yu
Han Yu
Han Yu , born in Nanyang, Henan, China, was a precursor of Neo-Confucianism as well as an essayist and poet, during the Tang dynasty. The Indiana Companion calls him "comparable in stature to Dante, Shakespeare or Goethe" for his influence on the Chinese literary tradition . He stood for strong...
, whom he even ventured to take to task for his fondness for dice. The latter in 815 recommended him for employment, and he rose to be a Tutor in the Imperial Academy. But it is by his poems that he is known; among which may be mentioned the exquisite lines under the title of 節婦吟. He was also a vigorous opponent of Buddhism and Taoism, both of which he held in much contempt. In one account, he was 80 years of age when he died.
Poetry
Zhang Ji had one of his poems included in the famous 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...
, as poem #151.
American scholar Jonathan Chaves (齊皎瀚) has published the first book in any Western language on Zhang Ji, Cloud Gate Song, which is also the first attempt by any translator to do rhymed translations that track the rhyme schemes of the original texts. 300 of Zhang's poems are included.