Northern Song lyricist, also named Yuanli, courtesy name Ciying, who took the jinshi in 1073 and in old age became Harmonizer at the Dasheng Music Bureau; his Lu Tou Ya and Bing Di Furong are well regarded.
Mural guide
In a study at night, a desk holds a brush pot, a porcelain vase with a plum branch, a lit red lantern, a folded fan and an unrolled blank scroll, with no one seated there, while through a round window the moon rises over a lake with a sailboat.
Chao Duanli (1046–1113), also named Yuanli, courtesy name Ciying, came from Qingfeng in Kaide prefecture (modern Puyang, Henan). He took the jinshi in 1073 and held posts including registrar of Chengwu and legal aide at Yingzhou, before being dismissed for a time. In 1113, recommended by Cai Jing, he returned to the capital, presented his lyric Bing Di Furong, and was made Gentleman of Service and Harmonizer at the Dasheng Music Bureau, dying that same year. His best-known lyric is Lu Tou Ya, beginning 'wan yun shou', and it is included in the Three Hundred Song Lyrics.
Chao Duanli serves twice as magistrate, late as music coordinator
Northern Song, Xining to Zhenghe
Chao Duanli, courtesy name Ciying, passed the jinshi examination in the sixth year of Xining and twice served as a county magistrate; he fell foul of his superiors and was set aside. Late in life he held the rank of Chengshilang as music coordinator of the Dasheng Bureau and soon died. The two texts differ slightly on the timing of his appointment.
Song
Literature · Lyrics