Tzu Yeh

Tzu Yeh (350 - 430) was a poet in her young days, but we little know about her. Style of her poetry was imitated by other poets including Li Po, one of the most famous Chinese poet of eighth century. She is known for her songs. However, many believe that Tzu Yeh songs are composed by many authors in the same style. She was trained in music, dance, calligraphy, history, and the arts of prosody and storytelling. A collection of poems Tzu Yeh ko ( Songs of Tzu Yeh) contains only forty-two poems that are attributed to her. She is believed to have written the original poem and melody but bulk of them are folk songs from Wu. She was probably a wine-shop-girl.

Wisdom & Quotes

• When I desired to know that man,

I hoped the twin hearts would be alike.
The silky thoughts threaded on a broken loom
Who would have known the tangled snarls to come?

• I let down my silken hair

Over my shoulders
And open my thighs
Over my lover.

Augustine