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​Lu You

ezhejiang.com.cn| Updated: August 9, 2016 L M S

1470646332366016344.jpgLu You (1125-1210), courtesy name Wuguan, referred to himself as Fang Weng (a liberated old man). Born in Yuezhou Shanyin (Current Shaoxing of Zhejiang), he was a poet in the Southern Song Dynasty. Influenced by his family's patriotism, he took the imperial examination held by the Ministry of Rites during Emperor Gaozong's rule, but later he was unfortunately dismissed from the official position. During Emperor Xiaozhong's rule, he was bestowed the title of Jinshi. In the midlife, he went to Sichuan and joined the army. He once was appointed to the official position Bao Zhang Ge Dai Zhi (a counselor of the emperor). Lu You retired and went back to his hometown at an old age, while his firm belief of reclaiming Central Plains was never changed. More than 9,000 pieces of his poetry have survived, through which Lu articulated his great political ambitions forcefully, reflected on the sufferings of the common people boldly, and depicted about everyday life gracefully. Even though he composed more poems in Shi forms rather than Ci forms, a strong sense of passionate patriotism could still be found in the latter. His famous masterpieces include Jian Nan Shi Gao ("The Draft of Poems in the South of Jian'ge"), Wei Nan Wen Ji ("The Collected Works in the South of Wei River"), Nan Tang Shu ("A Book in Southern Tang Dynasty), and Lao Xue'an Biji ("A Notebook in the Old Xue Nunnery").