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Liu Zongyuan Wikipedia

Liu Zongyuan (zh-cp |c=柳宗元 |p=Liǔ Zōngyu?n) (773 – 819) was a Chinese writer who lived in Xian|Chang'an in the Tang dynasty. Along with Han Yu, he was a founder of the Classical Prose Movement (古文運動). He was traditionally classed as one of the Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasty|Song.

His civil service career was initially successful, but in 805 he fell from favour because of his association with a failed reformist movement. He was exiled first to Yongzhou, (Hunan province), and then to Liuzhou (Guangxi province). However, this setback allowed his literary career to flourish: he produced poems, fables, reflective travelogues and essays sythesizing elements of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism.

His best-known travel pieces are the Eight Records of Excursions in Yongzhou. Around 180 of his poems are extant. Some of his works celebrate his freedom from office, while others mourn his banishment.

Last Modified:   2005-04-13