Yongming poetry refers to a poetry style of the Chinese Southern Qi dynasty in the 5th century AD. Yongming () was an

era name A regnal year is a year of the reign of a sovereign, from the Latin ''regnum'' meaning kingdom, rule. Regnal years considered the date as an ordinal, not a cardinal number. For example, a monarch could have a first year of rule, a second year o ...

of the

Emperor Wu of Southern Qi Emperor Wu of Southern Qi (南齊武帝) (440– 27 August 493), personal name Xiao Ze (蕭賾), courtesy name Xuanyuan (宣遠), childhood name Long'er (龍兒), was the second emperor of the Chinese Southern Qi dynasty. He is generally considere ...

. The Yongming period was from 483 to 493. However brief this era, it is now associated with a major movement within

Classical Chinese poetry Classical Chinese poetry is traditional Chinese poetry written in Classical Chinese and typified by certain traditional forms, or modes; traditional genres; and connections with particular historical periods, such as the poetry of the Tang dyn ...

Background

Despite the disturbances and instability which preceded and followed the Yongming era, there was also something special about it. In his ''

Zizhi Tongjian ''Zizhi Tongjian'' () is a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography, published in 1084 AD during the Northern Song dynasty in the form of a chronicle recording Chinese history from 403 BC to 959 AD, covering 16 dynast ...

'',

Song Dynasty The Song dynasty (; ; 960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the Later Zhou. The Song conquered the rest ...

historian

Sima Guang Sima Guang (17 November 1019 – 11 October 1086), courtesy name Junshi, was a Chinese historian, politician, and writer. He was a high-ranking Song dynasty scholar-official who authored the monumental history book ''Zizhi Tongjian''. Sima was ...

characterized the Emperor Wu and his Yongming era, saying that: This was also an era that came to be associated with significant poetic achievements.

Poets

Shen Yue Shen Yue (; 441–1 May 513), courtesy name Xiuwen (休文), was a Chinese historian, music theorist, poet, and politician born in Huzhou, Zhejiang. He served emperors under the Liu Song Dynasty, the Southern Qi Dynasty (see Yongming poetry), a ...

(441–513) was the most important of poet of the Yongming era, developing rules of tonal euphony that would eventually evolve into the

regulated verse Regulated verse – also known as Jintishi () – is a development within Classical Chinese poetry of the ''shi (poetry), shi'' main formal type. Regulated verse is one of the most important of all Classical Chinese poetry types. Although often rega ...

format of "recent style" poetry. *

Xie Tiao Xie Tiao (; style name: Xuan Hui (玄辉)) (464–499) was the leading Southern Qi poet of the Yongming reign. He was known as "Xiao Xie" (that is, "Little Xie") in comparison with Xie Lingyun. Life Born in Yangxia County, Henan Henan (; ...

(464–499) was another well-known poet of the Yongming, known for his vivid descriptions of landscapes. * Wang Rong (468 - 494) was a less well-known, but still prominent, Yongming poet. He became quite involved in political affairs. Eventually this involvement resulted in his early death.Davis, vii - viii *

Fan Yun Fàn Yun (451–15 June 503According to Xiao Yan's biography in ''Book of Liang'', Fan Yun died on the ''dingsi'' day of the 5th month of the 2nd year of the ''Tianjian'' era of his reign. This corresponds to 15 Jun 503 in the Julian calendar. 天 ...

(451 - 503) was another of the Yongming poets. A poet at young age, he had a quick wit and learned to write poems at the age of eight. He was a personal friend of Emperor Wu, and was politically powerful. * Su Xiaoxiao (蘇小小, died c. 501, also known as Su Xiaojun, or "Little Su") was in her brief life a famous courtesan and a poet from the city of Qiantang (now

Hangzhou Hangzhou ( or , ; , , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ), also romanized as Hangchow, is the capital and most populous city of Zhejiang, China. It is located in the northwestern part of the province, sitting at the head of Hangzhou Bay, whi ...

, in modern

Zhejiang Zhejiang ( or , ; , also romanized as Chekiang) is an eastern, coastal province of the People's Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Hangzhou, and other notable cities include Ningbo and Wenzhou. Zhejiang is bordered by Jiang ...

province, China). Beautiful and talented at an early age, Su Xiaoxiao became terminally ill in her late teens. She took the view that Heaven was giving her the special opportunity to die young and leave a legacy of the beauty of her memory.

Influence

The life and poetry of Su Xiaoxiao was a source of inspiration for later poets and artists including

Tang dynasty The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, t= ), or Tang Empire, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907 AD, with an Zhou dynasty (690–705), interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dyn ...

poets

Bai Juyi Bai Juyi (also Bo Juyi or Po Chü-i; ; 772–846), courtesy name Letian (樂天), was a renowned Chinese poet and Tang dynasty government official. Many of his poems concern his career or observations made about everyday life, including as g ...

Li He Li He ( – ) was a Chinese poet of the mid-Tang dynasty. His courtesy name was Changji, and he is also known as Guicai and Shigui. He was prevented from taking the imperial examination due to a naming taboo. He died very young, and was note ...

Wen Tingyun Wen Tingyun (; 812–870) born Wen Qi (), courtesy name Feiqing () was a Chinese poet. He was an important Chinese lyricist of the late Tang Dynasty. He was born in Qi, Shanxi province, China. Over his literary career, Wen became regarde ...

, and the

Ming dynasty The Ming dynasty (), officially the Great Ming, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1368 to 1644 following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The Ming dynasty was the last ort ...

writer and poet Zhang Dai.

Notes

References

*Davis, A. R. (Albert Richard), Editor and Introduction, ''The Penguin Book of Chinese Verse''. (Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1970). *Goh, Meow Hui. ''Sound and Sight: Poetry and Courtier Culture in the Yongming Era (483-493)''. (Palo Alto: Stanford University Press, 2010). * * * {{Chinese poetry * Yongming Liang is Gay * Southern Qi Chinese poetry by era

Background

Poets

Influence

See also

Notes

References