Wei Zhuang
Encyclopedia
Wei Zhuang style name Duanyi (端己), was a Chinese poet and late Tang
period historical figure, is best known for his poetry in shi
and ci
styles. He was born into a family of minor scholars in Duling (杜陵), a town southwest of the capital Changan.
He seems to have begun his official career at the age of forty-four, when he passed the metropolitan examination. His writings of the period are concerned with festive surroundings and friends. In the same year of 880 Huang Chao
's rebellion destroyed the capital and forced the court to remove itself to Sichuan
. Wei himself was held captive by the rebels. Wei’s long poem Ballad of the Lady Qin (秦妇吟) perhaps recounts these events. Subsequently Wei wandered for ten years. In 894, Wei passed the jinshi examination, enabling him to secure an official post. However in 896, Li Maozhen
's rebellion led to further dislocations. In 901, Wang Jian proclaimed himself ruler of Shu
. Wei would eventually become prime minister of the Shu Kingdom. Wei had perhaps perceived the inevitable end of the Tang ruling house and attached himself to the new kingdom in Chengdu
. He spent his final years in a compilation of Tang poems as well as his own collected verse.
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...
period historical figure, is best known for his poetry in shi
Shi (poetry)
Shi is the Chinese word for "poetry" or "poem", anciently associated with Chinese poetry. In modern times, shi can and has been used as an umbrella term to mean poetry in any form or language, whether or not Chinese; but, it may imply or be used to refer certain classical forms of poetry, for...
and ci
Ci (poetry)
Ci is a kind of lyric Classical Chinese poetry using a poetic meter based upon certain patterns of fixed-rhythm formal types. For speakers of English, the word "ci" is pronounced somewhat like "tsuh"...
styles. He was born into a family of minor scholars in Duling (杜陵), a town southwest of the capital Changan.
He seems to have begun his official career at the age of forty-four, when he passed the metropolitan examination. His writings of the period are concerned with festive surroundings and friends. In the same year of 880 Huang Chao
Huang Chao
Huang Chao was the leader of the Huang Chao Rebellion , known in mainland China as the Huang Chao Revolution in China that seriously weakened the once mighty Tang Dynasty of China...
's rebellion destroyed the capital and forced the court to remove itself to Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
. Wei himself was held captive by the rebels. Wei’s long poem Ballad of the Lady Qin (秦妇吟) perhaps recounts these events. Subsequently Wei wandered for ten years. In 894, Wei passed the jinshi examination, enabling him to secure an official post. However in 896, Li Maozhen
Li Maozhen
Li Maozhen , né Song Wentong , courtesy name Zhengchen , formally Prince Zhongjing of Qin , was the only ruler of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Qi...
's rebellion led to further dislocations. In 901, Wang Jian proclaimed himself ruler of Shu
Former Shu
Great Shu called in retrospect Former Shu was one of the Ten Kingdoms formed during the chaotic period between the rules of the Tang dynasty and the Song dynasty...
. Wei would eventually become prime minister of the Shu Kingdom. Wei had perhaps perceived the inevitable end of the Tang ruling house and attached himself to the new kingdom in Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
. He spent his final years in a compilation of Tang poems as well as his own collected verse.