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Wen Tingyun

Type Figure Region China Time c. 812–870 Also known as Feiqing、Wen Bacha

Wen Tingyun (c. 812–870), courtesy name Feiqing, was a famous Tang ci poet whose ornate, refined lyrics founded the Huajian school, earning him the t…

Timeline

  1. c. 812–840Qi County · ShanxiBorn into a declining scholar-gentry family, gifted from youth, he composed a rhapsody after eight strokes of the brush and was known in the capital for his poetry from an early age, associating with Duan Chengshi and others.
  2. 840–860Chang'an · ShaanxiHe repeatedly sat the capital examinations without success, offended powerful figures through his uninhibited personality, was demoted to a minor post as county constable of Sui, and his official career stagnated.
  3. 850–865Chang'an · ShaanxiDuring this period he produced a large body of ci such as 'Pusaman' and 'Genglouzi', with an ornate style that anticipated the Huajian school; he was known with Li Shangyin as Wen and Li.
  4. 865–870Hanyang · HubeiIn later years he served as a minor constable at Fangshan, lived in poverty and illness, wandered the rivers and lakes, and died outside the prefecture; his ci were collected in the Huajian Ji and the Wen Feiqing Shiji.

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