Chinese poet of the Tang and Min dynasty
Han Wo (c. 842–844 – c. 923) was a Chinese poet of the late Tang dynasty and the Min state. His courtesy name was Zhiyao, or possibly Zhiguang or Zhiyuan, and his art name was Yushan-Qiaoren. He was a native of Jingzhao, in or near the capital Chang'an. An anthology of his poems, the "Xianglian Ji" survives.
Biography.
Sources.
Chapter 183 of the "New Book of Tang" gives a short biography of Han Wo.
Birth and early life.
He was born in either 842 or 844. He was a native of Wannian, Jingzhao (modern-day Xi'an, Shaanxi Province). His father, Han Zhan () took the imperial examination in the same year as Li Shangyin, who was also connected to Wo's family through marriage. The young Wo supposedly was recognized for his poetic genius by Li, who praised him.
Political career.
In 889 (Longji 1) he passed the imperial examination, receiving his "Jinshi" degree. He became a scholar at the Hanlin Academy and a low-ranking official at the Central Secretariat, eventually becoming Vice-Minister of Defense (兵部侍郎). He earned the trust of Emperor Zhaozong, working with him against the eunuchs, and was recommended for the position of chancellor, but he was disliked by Zhu Quanzhong (later to become Emperor Daizu of Liao) and was therefore exiled to Pu Prefecture (modern Fan County, Henan).
Later life and death.
Following his exile, Han did not return to government, and spent his last years in the Min Kingdom. He died around 923, having never returned to the capital.
Names.
Courtesy name.
His courtesy name was either Zhiyao or Zhiguang, or possibly Zhiyuan.
The "New Book of Tang", as well as a work by Han's contemporary Wu Rong, refer to him as Zhiguang, but the "Liexian Zhuan" associates the character used in his given name "Wo" with the second character of Zhiyao, lending support to the idea that Zhiguang would have fit his given name better. Both the "Tang Cai Zi Zhuan" and the "Tangshi Jishi" () give his courtesy name as Zhiyao. The theory that his courtesy name was Zhiyuan relies on the "Tiao xi yu yin cong hua".
Art name.
His art name was Yushan-Qiaoren.
Poetry.
In literary history, Han is generally considered a poet of the so-called late Tang period, which spanned the early-ninth century to 907.
An anthology of his poems, the "Xianglian Ji" (), survives. His poetry is noted for its sensual beauty, with the "Xianglian Ji" having given its name to "xianglian-ti" (), a style of poetry associated with him. His poems of other types are collected in the "Yushan-Qiaoren Ji" ().
Reception.
His poetry influenced the work of the fourteenth-century poet Yang Weizhen.
Notes.
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References.
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