Writers › Writer / Poet

Xie Tiao

Southern Qi poet of the Xie clan, governor of Xuancheng and one of the Eight Friends of Jingling, whose clear landscape verse Li Bai admired

Also known as Zi Xuanhui · Xiao Xie

Xie Tiao, courtesy name Xuanhui, came from Yangxia in Chen commandery (modern Taikang, Henan), and he and his kinsman Xie Lingyun are known as the Younger and Elder Xie. As a young man he joined the salon of Xiao Ziliang, Prince of Jingling, where with Shen Yue, Wang Rong, Xiao Yan and others he was counted among the Eight Friends of Jingling and took part in the tonally regulated Yongming style. After serving the Prince of Sui as literary adviser, he became governor of Xuancheng in 495 and later vice director of the Ministry of Personnel. In 499, when Xiao Yaoguang, Prince of Shi'an, plotted to depose the emperor, Xie Tiao refused to join him, was falsely accused, and died in prison aged thirty-six. His best-known poems include Climbing Three Hills at Dusk and Looking Back at the Capital. Writing at Xuancheng, Li Bai praised the clarity of the younger Xie and said a line likening the river to white silk kept Xie Xuanhui always in his mind.

Life and times

  1. 464 CEBornNorthern and Southern
  2. 499 CEDied

Works

  1. Literature · Poetry17
    1. Climbing Three Mountains at Dusk and Looking Back Toward the CapitalNorthern and SouthernXie Tiao's landscape poem looking back at Jiankang on the way to Xuancheng, admired by Li Bai
    2. En Route to Xuancheng Departing Xinlin Anchorage for BanqiaoNorthern and SouthernXie Tiao's river-journey poem en route to govern Xuancheng, at ease between office and retreat
    3. For Registrar Wang: Two PoemsNorthern and SouthernXie Tiao's two poems for Registrar Wang: a woman lost in longing, and girls singing at a feast
    4. Matching Registrar Wang: A Lady's GrievanceNorthern and SouthernXie Tiao matches Registrar Wang: palace women sent away or forgotten, and a fading face
    5. Listening to the Singing Girls: Two PoemsNorthern and SouthernXie Tiao's two poems on a feast of song and dance, and glances passed between guests and girls
    6. +12 more
      1. On a Former Palace Lady of Handan Married to a Menial SoldierNorthern and SouthernA former palace lady of Handan, married to a menial soldier, still dreams of palace feasts
      2. Autumn Night of Crickets and Fulling BlocksNorthern and SouthernXie Tiao's lonely wife on an autumn night, hearing crickets and fulling blocks as the dew falls
      3. On a LampNorthern and SouthernXie Tiao's object poem on a lamp, from its fine stand to its lonely light on a night of longing
      4. On a CandleNorthern and SouthernXie Tiao's object poem on a candle lighting a feast, a precious zither and coiled hair
      5. On a MatNorthern and SouthernXie Tiao's object poem on a mat, once a waterside plant, now spread beside a jade seat
      6. On a Mirror StandNorthern and SouthernXie Tiao's object poem on a mirror stand, where a woman dresses and fears love will fade
      7. Falling Plum BlossomsNorthern and SouthernXie Tiao's plum blossoms, picked by a lord for a beauty's hair, fall at dusk like his favour
      8. The Singing Girls of Bronze Sparrow TerraceNorthern and SouthernXie Tiao's singing girls on Bronze Sparrow Terrace, playing for a tomb that cannot hear
      9. To an Old Friend, with Pollia from the Fragrant IsleNorthern and SouthernXie Tiao to an absent friend: with hills and rivers between them, he longs for wine and poems
      10. Parting from Jiang of the Water BureauNorthern and SouthernXie Tiao parts from a friend in green hills: if they think of each other, why mourn the miles?
      11. A Night of PartingNorthern and SouthernXie Tiao's night of farewell: candles burnt out, a sad zither, and thoughts too far to measure
      12. On a Bamboo Warming CageNorthern and SouthernXie Tiao's bamboo warming cage, favoured in the snow, knowing it must go when spring comes
  2. Literature · Sayings3
    1. Sunset Clouds Spread Like Patterned SilkNorthern and SouthernIdiom from Xie Tiao's poem looking back at the capital: dusk clouds woven into silk
    2. The Clear River Smooth as White SilkNorthern and SouthernIdiom from Xie Tiao's poem on looking back at the capital: a river smooth as white silk
    3. Telling River Trees Apart Among the CloudsNorthern and SouthernLine from Xie Tiao's river journey to Xuancheng: far-off trees glimpsed through cloud

Connections

  1. Others1
    1. Xiao YanFellow of the Eight Friends of Jingling · 464 CE–549 CE