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Zhao Lin

Late Tang official and author of the miscellany Yinhua Lu, source of expressions such as 'the whole hall bursts into laughter'.

Also known as Zi Zezhang

Zhao Lin, courtesy name Zezhang, from Nanyang, passed the jinshi examination in 834, served as a remonstrance official and vice-director, and became Prefect of Quzhou in the Dazhong era. His six-chapter miscellany Yinhua Lu, arranged under the five musical notes, records anecdotes of Tang emperors, ministers and scholars and is a valued historical source. Expressions such as 'the whole hall bursts into laughter' come from this book.

Life and times

  1. UnknownBornTangjinshi 834 CE, active in the late Tang
  2. UnknownDied

Works

  1. Literature · Sayings2
    1. The Whole Room Roars with LaughterTangIdiom from the Tang notebook Yinhua Lu: the whole room bursting into laughter
    2. Unable to Hold Back a SmileTangIdiom from Yinhua Lu: unable to hold back a smile