Writers › Writer / Poet

Niu Qiao

Late Tang and Five Dynasties lyricist of the Huajian school who served Former Shu, traditionally credited with the tale collection Linggai Lu.

Also known as Zi Songqing · Zi Yanfeng

Niu Qiao, courtesy names Songqing and Yanfeng, from Longxi, was a grandson of the Tang chancellor Niu Sengru; he passed the jinshi examination in 878 and served as a remonstrance official. At the end of the Tang he joined Wang Jian in Shu and became Supervising Secretary of the Former Shu state. More than thirty of his lyrics are included in the Huajian Ji, and the tale collection Linggai Lu, containing the story of Guo Han behind 'a heavenly robe without seams', is traditionally attributed to him.

Life and times

  1. UnknownBornTangFive Dynasties and Ten Kingdomsjinshi 878 CE, later served Former Shu
  2. UnknownDied

Works

  1. Literature · Lyrics27
    1. Willow Branches · Deepest in Colour in the King of Wu's PalaceFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsNiu Qiao's Willow Branch song: the willow envies the pines where Su Xiaoxiao pledged her love
    2. Willow Branches · The Thawing Wind Greens the TipsFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsNiu Qiao's lyric of a roadside willow pictured as a woman who lives to see travellers off
    3. Willow Branches · Thousands of Boughs North and South of the BridgeFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsNiu Qiao's willow lyric built on two old stories: a handsome courtier and a slender dancer
    4. Willow Branches · Wild Snow Flies against the HorsesFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsNiu Qiao's willow lyric on an old palace story: so lovely a tree would stir palace envy
    5. Willow Branches · Swaying Green Wrapped in MistFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsNiu Qiao's lyric of willows taking the best of the spring wind, coloured like a new dance skirt
    6. +22 more
      1. Dreaming of the South · The Swallow Carrying MudFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsNiu Qiao's lyric on a swallow safely nesting in a painted hall, a picture of a happy match
      2. Dreaming of the South · A Red Embroidered QuiltFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsNiu Qiao's lyric of mandarin ducks on a quilt, envied birds set against a faithless man
      3. River Town · Pond Herons Rise East of the CityFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsNiu Qiao's short lyric of a river town, where the King of Yue's palaces lie among lotus
      4. River Town · Mist Clears on the Far ShoreFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsNiu Qiao's short lyric of a farewell feast at a ferry, willow catkins blowing like snow
      5. Deep Gratitude · Two Streaks of Rouged TearsFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsNiu Qiao's short ci of a woman weeping in spring, praying her man will think of home
      6. Deep Gratitude · Since We Parted at the Southern ShoreFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsNiu Qiao's short ci of a woman whose longing deepens after parting, praying to the moon
      7. The Daoist Priestess · A High Chignon of Green CloudFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsNiu Qiao's short ci of a Daoist priestess whose smile and soft song set a lover's soul adrift
      8. The Daoist Priestess · Misty Waters of the Brocade RiverFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsNiu Qiao's richly coloured short ci of a woman by the Brocade River, likened to Zhuo Wenjun
      9. The Daoist Priestess · Starry Crown and Rosy CapeFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsNiu Qiao's short ci of a Daoist priestess in a heavenly palace, sending her heart to Master Liu
      10. The Daoist Priestess · Flying in Pairs, Dancing in PairsFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsNiu Qiao's short ci of a woman who seals a love letter in spring and weeps as the blossoms fall
      11. Deva-Like Barbarian · The Dancing Skirt, Warm and Scented, with Gilt PhoenixesFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsNiu Qiao's short ci of a woman woken by swallows, asking where far Liaoyang lies
      12. Deva-Like Barbarian · Where Willow Catkins Fly, the Orioles Sing FastFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsNiu Qiao's short ci of a lady glimpsed on a spring street, and dreams that cannot reach her
      13. Deva-Like Barbarian · Wind Stirs the Spring Pennant on Her Jade HairpinFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsNiu Qiao's short ci of a woman in a cold spring tower who envies a bride her painted brows
      14. Deva-Like Barbarian · Layer on Layer, the Painted Screen Holds the Green of Mount WuFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsNiu Qiao's short ci on the cloud goddess of Mount Wu and a dream that fades by lamplight
      15. Deva-Like Barbarian · Swallows Dance by the Wind-Blown Blind, Orioles Sing in the WillowsFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsNiu Qiao's short ci of a woman at her mirror and a young rider who keeps dropping his whip
      16. Deva-Like Barbarian · Golden Sparrows Fly on Her Cloud-Dark HairFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsNiu Qiao's short ci of a woman awake before a cold dawn, asking when her man will return
      17. Deva-Like Barbarian · Jade Tower, Cool Mat, Brocade of Mandarin DucksFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsNiu Qiao's frank love ci of a summer night's meeting and a vow to stake a whole life on it
      18. Everlasting as Heaven · From the Jade Tower, the Spring Haze ClearsFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsNiu Qiao's short ci of a dancer at a spring feast and the young lord who longs for her
      19. Water Clock Song · The Stars Grow SparseFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsNiu Qiao's short ci of a woman who hears a frontier tune and stitches her love in brocade
      20. Water Clock Song · The Spring Night WanesFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsNiu Qiao's short ci of a broken dream on a spring night and a woman left without news
      21. Water Clock Song · Feelings at the Southern ShoreFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsNiu Qiao's short ci of a parting at the southern shore, letters by geese and dreams of home
      22. Everlasting as Heaven · Her Pale Brows Hide What Is in Her HeartFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsNiu Qiao's short ci of a woman asleep in spring who has learned not to trust his love letters
  2. Literature · Sayings1
    1. Seamless Heavenly RobeFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsIdiom from a Linguai Lu tale: a seamless heavenly robe, flawless and complete