Zuo Fen (, also written as "左棻"); 255 – 23 April 300), courtesy name Lanzhi (兰芝), was a Chinese woman poet of the

Western Jin Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US * Western, New York, a town in the US * Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia * Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that ...

dynasty.

Life

Zuo Fen was born in Linzi prefecture to a family of

Confucian Confucianism, also known as Ruism or Ru classicism, is a system of thought and behavior originating in ancient China, and is variously described as a tradition, philosophy, religion, theory of government, or way of life. Founded by Confucius ...

scholars. Her mother died young, but her father, Zuo Xi, became an imperial official in charge of the imperial archives. She got a good literary education and often played word games with her brother, Zuo Si, who would become a famous writer as well. In 272 she went to the palace and became a

concubine Concubinage is an interpersonal relationship, interpersonal and Intimate relationship, sexual relationship between two people in which the couple does not want to, or cannot, enter into a full marriage. Concubinage and marriage are often regarde ...

Emperor Wu of Jin Emperor Wu of Jin (; 236 – 16 May 290), personal name Sima Yan (), courtesy name Anshi (安世), was a grandson of Sima Yi, nephew of Sima Shi and son of Sima Zhao. He became the first emperor of the Jin dynasty (266–420), Jin dynasty a ...

. There she wrote the ''Rhapsody of Thoughts on Separation'', in which she expressed frustration at being separated from her family and the rest of the world. Her expression of dissatisfaction with life at the palace, which was rare, did not make her lose favour and she was raised to the highest rank of ''noble concubine''. The emperor regularly commanded writings from her, but she was often ill and did not play a political role at court.Chang, Saussy and Kwong, p. 31. When Empress Yang Yan died, she wrote a song of mourning in her honour. Zuo Fen died in April 300.

References

Sources

* * 250s births 300 deaths Jin dynasty (266–420) poets Jin dynasty (266–420) imperial consorts Chinese women poets 3rd-century Chinese women writers 3rd-century writers Writers from Zibo Poets from Shandong 3rd-century Chinese poets {{China-writer-stub