Yu Xin
Encyclopedia
Yu Xin (513
-581
) was a poet of the Liang
and Northern Zhou
dynasties. He was born and raised in Jiangling, which was once the capital of Chu
. His family was wealthy and aristocratic, and Yu became an important official of the Liang dynasty. As such, he served as the lover and patron of aspiring statesman Wang Shao.
In 554, Yu Xin was sent as an ambassador to the Western Wei
in Chang'an
, a mission that did not meet with success. On the way to his mission, he visited Wang Shao, now an official censor, who rejected further advances. After the fall of the Liang Dynasty
in 557, Yu was held in Chang'an for the rest of his life, and three of his children were executed.
Along with the poet and official Xu Ling
and the fathers of both men, Yu is known for the Xu-Yu Style (徐庾体）, which was known as "fancy and alluring". Perhaps his most famous poem is The Lament for the South, which James Hightower has described as the highest development of the Fu form of poetry.
513
Year 513 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Probus and Clementinus...
-581
581
Year 581 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 581 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Asia :* The Sui Dynasty replaces the Northern Zhou...
) was a poet of the Liang
Liang Dynasty
The Liang Dynasty , also known as the Southern Liang Dynasty , was the third of the Southern dynasties in China and was followed by the Chen Dynasty...
and Northern Zhou
Northern Zhou
The Northern Zhou Dynasty followed the Western Wei, and ruled northern China from 557 to 581. It was overthrown by the Sui Dynasty.Northern Zhou's basis of power was established by Yuwen Tai, who was paramount general of Western Wei, following the split of Northern Wei into Western Wei and...
dynasties. He was born and raised in Jiangling, which was once the capital of Chu
Chu (state)
The State of Chu was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state in present-day central and southern China during the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States Period . Its ruling house had the surname Nai , and clan name Yan , later evolved to surname Mi , and clan name Xiong...
. His family was wealthy and aristocratic, and Yu became an important official of the Liang dynasty. As such, he served as the lover and patron of aspiring statesman Wang Shao.
In 554, Yu Xin was sent as an ambassador to the Western Wei
Western Wei
The Western Wei Dynasty followed the disintegration of the Northern Wei, and ruled northern China from 535 to 556.After the Xianbei general Yuwen Tai killed the Northern Wei emperor Yuan Xiu, he installed Yuan Baoju as emperor of Western Wei while Yuwen Tai would remain as the virtual ruler...
in Chang'an
Chang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
, a mission that did not meet with success. On the way to his mission, he visited Wang Shao, now an official censor, who rejected further advances. After the fall of the Liang Dynasty
Liang Dynasty
The Liang Dynasty , also known as the Southern Liang Dynasty , was the third of the Southern dynasties in China and was followed by the Chen Dynasty...
in 557, Yu was held in Chang'an for the rest of his life, and three of his children were executed.
Along with the poet and official Xu Ling
Xu Ling
Xu Ling was the compiler and editor of the famous poetry anthology New Songs from the Jade Terrace during the poetically prolific Southern Dynasties era, 420–589...
and the fathers of both men, Yu is known for the Xu-Yu Style (徐庾体）, which was known as "fancy and alluring". Perhaps his most famous poem is The Lament for the South, which James Hightower has described as the highest development of the Fu form of poetry.