Bao Zhao
Liu Song poet known for his fu rhapsody on a ruined city.
Bao Zhao (c.
- field
- Poetry, writing, officialdom
- nationality
- Chinese (Liu Song dynasty)
- known_for
- Shi poetry, fu rhapsodies, parallel prose, 'Fu on the Ruined City'
Lore & Background
Little is known of his early life; he was born into a scholar-class family whose fortunes had declined and was probably a farmer as a young man before beginning his official career on the staffs of local princes.
Reader's Guide
Bao is also known for his shi poetry, particularly his use of the yuefu lyrical song genre, and is the first Chinese poet known to have composed shi poetry in the seven-syllable line format with a mixed ABCB rhyme scheme instead of the traditional AAAA.
Did You Know?
- Bao Zhao's younger sister Bao Linghui was also a poet, and seven of her poems have survived.
- Bao Zhao was probably a farmer as a young man before beginning his official career.
- Bao Zhao is the first Chinese poet known to have composed shi poetry in the seven-syllable line format with a mixed ABCB rhyme scheme.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bao Zhao's most famous work?
His best-known surviving composition is a long fu rhapsody called 'Fu on the Ruined City,' which meditates on the decay of the ancient city of Guangling.
What literary forms did Bao Zhao work in?
He wrote across three major genres of his era: shi poetry, fu rhapsodies, and parallel prose. That range made him one of the more well-rounded writers of the Liu Song period.
Why do fans of ancient poetry still look up Bao Zhao?
His rhapsody on the ruined city of Guangling offers a vivid, emotionally resonant portrait of loss and impermanence. It remains a go-to reference when readers discuss how early Chinese writers processed the fall of great places.
More in Poets Of The Ancient World 1-17
Related in Poets Of The Ancient World
Links follow this subject's own source article.
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record