Yu Wuling facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yu Wuling |
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| Chinese | 于武陵 | ||||||||
| Literal meaning | (courtesy name) | ||||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 于鄴 | ||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 于邺 | ||||||||
| Literal meaning | (given name) | ||||||||
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Yu Wuling (born around 810 AD) was a famous Chinese poet who lived during the later part of the Tang dynasty. His real name was Yu Ye, but he was better known by his courtesy name, Wuling.
He passed a very important test called the imperial examination, which was how people got government jobs in ancient China. He earned a special degree called jinshi. However, he decided not to keep his government job. Instead, he chose to travel all over the country.
His most famous poem is a short one called "Offering Wine." You can find many of his poems in a large collection called the Quan Tangshi.
Contents
About Yu Wuling
Early Life and Education
Yu Wuling was born in the year 810 AD. He was born in a place called Duqu, which is now part of Xi'an in Shaanxi Province, China. Most of what we know about his life comes from an old book called the Tang Cai Zi Zhuan.
As mentioned, his birth name was Yu Ye. Wuling was a special name, like a nickname, that people used to show respect.
A Life of Travel
Between the years 847 and 859, Yu Wuling passed the tough imperial examination. This exam was a big deal in ancient China. Passing it meant you could get an important job working for the emperor. He earned the jinshi degree, which was a high honor.
But Yu Wuling wasn't happy with a regular job at court. He decided to leave his position and travel around China. He loved to explore different places.
He especially enjoyed visiting Dongting Lake and the Xiang River. These are beautiful natural spots in China. Later in his life, he lived a quiet life away from busy cities. He settled down south of Mount Song. We don't know exactly when Yu Wuling passed away.
His Famous Poetry
Yu Wuling's poems were collected in a book called the Yu Wuling Ji. There are two main collections where you can find his poems. One is the Quan Tangshi, which was put together in the 1700s. The other is the Tangren Wushi Jia Xiaoji. Both books arrange his poems in different ways.
His most well-known poem is a type of short poem called a jueju. It's titled "Offering Wine."
| Traditional | Simplified | Pinyin | English translation (by Burton Watson) |
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This poem talks about enjoying the moment. The "golden flagon" might have been a special, valuable cup from a faraway place. The poem suggests a fancy party where drinks are flowing.
However, the poem then shifts to a more thoughtful mood. It reminds us that flowers don't last forever, and life is full of goodbyes. This means we should enjoy things while we can. The last line of this poem is very famous. It is often seen as Yu Wuling's way of looking at life.
Images for kids
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The Xiang River, a place Yu Wuling enjoyed visiting.
