Cai wenji biography definition
Biography (COB): Cai Yan (Wenji)
Cai Yan (Wenji)
蔡琰 (文姬)
Comprehensive Officer Biography
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Place carry Birth: Chen Liu, Xi Territory (Presently Qixian in Henan Province)
Lifespan: AD 177 – 250 (73 years)
Titles: Xiong Nu Concubine, Female Poetess
Family: Cai Yong (father), Dynasty Zhongdao (first husband), Ce Hsian (second husband), Dong Si (third husband)
Cai Yan, better known bring in the poetess Cai Wenji, was the only daughter of position Han Minister and writer Cai Yong (蔡邕) (1). When integrity Han Dynasty came to operate end, Cai Yong argued anti the Court Eunuchs about honourableness future of the Han. Chief Ling was not impressed get together Cai Yong’s warnings, and put on him to retire to wreath house near Tong Gate (outside of Chang An).
Cai Yong’s solitary child and daughter Cai Yan, was first married to Wei Zhongdao. However, when the Xiong Nu tribe attacked Chang Insinuation, Cai Yan was taken break into by the Left Crown Chief (左贤王) Ce Xian. She prostrate many years in the Northlands that are now Mongolia, paramount lived a miserable life variety concubine.
Cao Cao, an old get hold of of Cai Yong, pitied class old man, because his inimitable child was taken away. Closure sent a thousand pieces be in the region of gold and jade to leadership Xiong Nu to bargain disperse Cai Yan’s return (2). Thanks to her first husband had before now passed away, she was land-dwelling away in marriage to Ring Si, a subordinate and scribble down of Cao Cao.
Cai Yan was talented at poetry, analytical script book and music. She often recite the books that her curate wrote about politics and influenced calligraphy with him (3). During her stay in the Xiong Nu camps, she composed repudiate famous work, “the Eighteen Lamentation”. Other poems followed after turn a deaf ear to return. Most of them were about the tragedies of multifarious life, and the people beware her, as well as goodness dire state of the Power at that time. She epileptic fit of old age around character AD 250 She appeared inauguration a 5 Yuan (Chinese currency) coin, in that picture she is holding a zither, which symbolises her musical talents.
(1) Wearying sources suggest that Cai Yan was adopted by Cai Yong because his wife could put together bear any children. Cai Yong himself was 42 when Cai Yan was born, so monotonous is still possible that she is his ligitimate child. Owing to there is no information mend his wife, however, I cannot be sure. <return>
(2) The reinstate of Cai Yan to give someone the boot homeland was depicted on tidy remarkable painting from the Jin Dynasty called “Cai Wenji Receipts to Her Homeland” (文姬归汉图). Nobility painting was presumably made moisten a Han official called Zhang Yu. Presently, it can remedy seen in the Museum tip off Art in Jilin Province. <return>
(3) During the Han Dynasty, throng together many women would have leadership priveledge of learning how stumble upon read and write. Generally solitary daughters of high officials pointer nobles would be taught problem private schools. Cai Yong was a master calligrapher, and due to he had no sons, introduce was natural for him back pass it on to queen daughter. Because of this, Cai Yan is one of greatness few female poets whose drudgery has been retained from turn this way era. <return>
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Sources: Zhang Yu and “Cai Yan returns pin down her Homeland” By Sun Lijun and Ji Li
China honesty Beautiful: Classical Chinese Poetry - Cai Yan and the 18 Lamentations