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Meng Jiao

Tang poet who passed the jinshi examination in his forties, wrote mostly five-character old-style verse and composed Song of the Wandering Son

Also known as Meng Dongye · Dongye · Meng Langxian · Poet Inmate

Meng Jiao, courtesy name Dongye, from Wukang in Huzhou, was a Tang poet born in 751, whom Yuan Haowen called a prisoner of poetry. He passed the jinshi examination only at forty-six, or forty-five by another count, and in 801 became sheriff of Liyang, where he neglected his duties for poetry and had his pay halved; Han Yu called him the poor sheriff of Liyang in a poem. More than five hundred poems survive, mostly in five-character old style; the best known is Song of the Wandering Son. A friend of Han Yu, he belonged to the Han-Meng school, and Su Shi paired him with Jia Dao as cold Jiao and lean Dao. He died in 814.

Life and times

  1. 751BornTang
  2. 814Died

Works

  1. Literature · Poetry3
    1. Song of the Parting SonTangMeng Jiao's Mid-Tang yuefu poem on a mother sewing for her departing son
    2. After Passing the Imperial ExaminationTangMeng Jiao's quatrain on passing the exams at forty-six, years of failure swept away in a day
    3. Song of the Faithful WifeTangMeng Jiao's yuefu of a widow's vow, her heart as still as the water of an old well
  2. Literature · Sayings3
    1. Viewing Flowers on HorsebackTangIdiom from Meng Jiao's After Passing the Imperial Examination: taking only a cursory look
    2. Proud in the Spring BreezeTangIdiom from Meng Jiao's poem on passing the exams: elated with success in career or life
    3. Charge Again, Sharpen AgainTangIdiom from Han Yu and Meng Jiao's cockfight verses: pressing on with renewed effort