Yu Wuling

Lore & Background

What little is known of his life comes from the Tang Cai Zi Zhuan. His birth name was Yu Ye, but he is usually known by his courtesy name, Wuling. He is said to have shown particular fondness for Dongting Lake and the Xiang River, and spent his later years living in seclusion south of Mount Song. The date of his death is unknown.

Reader's Guide

Yu Wuling's significance lies in his poetry, particularly his best-known work, the jueju 'Offering Wine'. This poem, with its famous final line, is sometimes taken to represent his view of life. The poem contrasts an extravagant banquet scene with the implication that one should drink deeply before the blossoms fall and the time for parting arrives. Ueki et al. speculate that the 'golden flagon' in the poem may have been a valuable imported item from Srivijaya, based on a passage in the Song Huiyao. Masuji Ibuse's Japanese translation of 'Offering Wine' is also famous.

Did You Know?

• Yu Wuling's birth name was Yu Ye; Wuling was his courtesy name.
• His best-known poem is the jueju 'Offering Wine'.
• The date of his death is unknown.