Wei Zhuang

Wei Zhuang (, 836–910), 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.

Notes

References

• Ci hai bian ji wei yuan hui (辞海编辑委员会）. Ci hai （辞海）. Shanghai: Shanghai ci shu chu ban she......
...

Read More