Jiaoran (Chinese: 皎然; pinyin: Jiǎorán; Wade–Giles: Chiao-jan; 730–799), also known by his courtesy name Qingzhou (Chinese: 清昼), was a Tang dynasty Chinese poet and Buddhist monk.[1] Jiaoran has written more than 470 poems and was one of the three major Tang dynasty poet-monks (诗僧), along with Guanxiu (832–912) and Qiji (863–937). He was the 12th generation grandson of Xie An (320–385), a Jin dynasty (266–420) statesman who, despite his lack of military ability, led Jin through a major crisis—attacks by Former Qin (351–394).[2] His friend, Lu Yu, is venerated as the Sage of Tea for his contribution to Chinese tea culture and the writer of The Classic of Tea.[1]

Biography

Jiaoran was born in 730 in Wuxing District of Huzhou city, Zhejiang province. During the An Lushan Rebellion (755–763), he dwelt in seclusion and studied Taoism. When he was about forty, the Yuan-Chao Rebellion broken broke out. He received ordination as a monk in Tianzhou Temple (天竺寺) in Hangzhou, in 767, the 2nd year of the Dali period (766–779) of the Tang dynasty (618–907). He studied Risshū school at first and then converted to Chan Buddhism. He was the abbot of Miaoxi Temple (妙喜寺).[2]

Works

• Shishi (诗式)

References

External links

• Li Zhuangying (李壮鹰) (2003). 诗式校注 [Annotated Shishi] (in Chinese). Beijing: People's Literature Publishing House. ISBN 9787020042524.
• Xin Wenfang (辛文房) (2010). 唐才子传笺证 [Annotated Biographies of the Tang Talents] (in Chinese). Zhonghua Book Company. ISBN 9787101075816.