生平

元稹生于唐大历十四年（779年），八岁丧父，随生母郑氏远赴凤翔，依倚舅族。幼孤家贫，郑氏亲授书传。九岁开始写文章。贞元九年（793年）擢较进士科简易的明经科第，授校书郎，次年开始作诗。

贞元十五年（799年），仕于河中府。十九年（803年），娶出自京兆韦氏龙门公房韦夏卿的女儿韦丛，「稹时始以选校书秘书省中」。

元和元年（806年），举制科，对策第一，历右拾遗（一作左拾遗）、监察御史等职。元和五年（810年），与宦官争宿驿舍正厅，被鞭打击伤脸部，贬为江陵府士曹参军。《旧唐书·元稹本传》中却记载：「稹既放志娱乐，稍不修边幅，以渎货闻于时。」后来改任通州司马，虢州长史。

元稹早期与宦官斗争，后期竟依附宦官，在江陵结交监军崔潭峻，此一时期诗作多写身边琐事，缺乏内容。

元稹最擅长艳诗和悼亡诗，情真意挚，颇能感人，「实非寻常游戏之偶作，乃心仪浣花草堂之巨制，而为元和体之上乘，且可视作此类诗最佳之代表者也」。李肇《唐国史补》卷下：「元和以后，为文笔则学奇诡于韩愈，学苦涩于樊宗师；歌行则学流荡于张籍；诗章则学矫激于孟郊，学浅切于白居易，学淫靡于元稹，俱名为元和体。」

元和六年（811年），裴垍去世，元稹为了谋求仕进，转而依附藩镇严绶和监军宦官崔潭峻，出入于魏弘简宅第，为时论所鄙。元和九年（814年）严绶奉命讨伐淮西吴元济，宦官崔潭峻随作监军，元稹随军前往。

元和十四年（819年），拜膳部员外郎。次年，穆宗即位之初大赦。元稹就因回朝述职的崔潭峻之荐，被提升为库部郎中、兼「知制诰」，参与诏书的草拟。擢祠部郎中。

长庆元年（821年），元稹任中书舍人、翰林学士承旨，为朝臣所轻视。一日中书省同僚一起食瓜，武儒衡一面挥扇驱蝇，一面斥叱：「适从何处来，而遽集于此！」同僚听了脸色大变。是年（821年）十月，裴度上表抨击元稹与知枢密魏弘简阻挠讨伐幽州军事，稹出为工部侍郎。长庆二年（822年），和裴度同拜同平章事，一度成为宰相，二月建议为彻底息兵，应立即解除裴度的兵权。后与李逢吉倾轧，出为同州刺史，改浙东观察使。

大和三年（829年），为尚书左丞，又出为武昌军节度使，太和五年七月二十二日（831年9月2日），元稹突然发病，次日（831年9月3日）去世，虚岁五十三，唐文宗听说后为之哀悼，赠予尚书右仆射。元稹后事由三哥司农少卿元积和侄子御史台主簿元某等人监护，太和六年七月十二日（832年8月11日）葬于咸阳县奉贤乡洪渎原。

元稹著述甚多，著有《元氏长庆集》六十卷、《小集》十卷、《类集》等，长诗《连昌宫辞》较著名。宫中称其为元才子，平素与白居易友善谊深，常相唱和。二人早期文学主张也相近，同为新乐府运动倡导者，有些诗作对当时社会矛盾有所揭露，后期多写身旁琐事。又作有传奇《莺莺传》，这为元代的《西厢记》提供了原始素材。

家庭

六世祖

• 元岩，隋朝兵部尚书、平昌郡公

五世祖

• 元宏，隋朝北平郡太守

高祖

• 元义端，唐朝魏州刺史

曾祖

• 元延景，岐州参军

祖父

• 元悱，南顿县县丞、赠兵部员外郎

父母

• 元宽，比部郎中、舒王府长史、赠尚书右仆射

• 荥阳郑氏，出自北祖第六房，郑州刺史、赠太常卿郑远思曾孙女，朝散大夫、易州司马郑益孙女，睦州刺史郑济次女，京兆府泾阳县县令卢平子外孙女，追封陈留郡太夫人

兄弟姐妹

• 元𥝹，蔡州汝阳县县尉

• 元秬，朝议郎、侍御史、内供奉、盐铁转运、河阴留后

• 元积，朝请大夫、使持节、光州诸军事、守光州刺史、上柱国

• 元氏，嫁监察御史吴郡陆翰。

• 元真一，出家为比丘尼

妻妾

• 韦丛，原配，字茂之，出自京兆韦氏龙门公房，太原少尹、赠秘书监韦伯阳曾孙女，岭南军司马、赠同州刺史韦迢孙女，太子少保、赠左仆射韦夏卿幼女，宰相裴耀卿外曾孙女，给事中裴皋外孙女，生五子，存一女，元和四年七月九日（809年8月23日）去世，同年十月十三日（809年11月23日）葬于咸阳元宽夫妇墓旁

• 裴淑，继室，字柔之，出自河东裴氏，滁州永阳县县宰裴好古之女，天平军尚书庾承宣外甥女，元和十年（823年）嫁元稹，封河东郡君，咸通年间因病脚不能下地，咸通三年四月九日（862年5月11日）在安仁里私人住宅中去世，因占卜不吉利没有与元稹合葬，咸通五年六月八日（864年7月15日）葬于咸阳北原丞相元稹坟旁几步，另开墓穴

• 安仙嫔，妾，元和六年（811）李景俭介绍所纳江陵当地女子，四年后在江陵金隈乡庄敬坊沙桥外二里妪乐之地去世

• 李氏，侍人

子女

• 元保子，长女，生母韦丛，嫁校书郎韦绚

• 元荆，儿子，生母安仙嫔，早夭

• 元樊，女儿，生母安仙嫔，早夭

• 元降真，女儿，生母安仙嫔，早夭

• 元小迎，女儿，生母裴淑

• 元道卫，女儿，生母裴淑

• 元道扶，女儿，生母裴淑

• 元谟，小名道护，儿子，生母李氏

主要代表作

诗歌

《放言》《思归乐》《连昌宫词》《织妇词》《梁州梦》《闻乐天授江州司马》《遣悲怀三首》《离思五首》

传奇

《莺莺传》

与女性的传闻轶事

张生自寓

元曲著名曲目《西厢记》的故事题材最早也是来自诗人元稹所写的传奇《会真记》（又名《莺莺传》），讲述张生在「有僧舍曰普救寺」中，和一美丽女子「天之所命尤物」名「崔莺莺」邂逅，但「始乱之，终弃之」，认为自己「善补过」，「智者不为，为之者不惑」。后人考证崔莺莺的原型可能是其姨表妹，张生原型可能就是元稹，或元稹的表兄弟。

随著学术界思想的开放，越来越多的学者力图突破传统观点的束缚，寻求事实的真相，于是产生了另一种观点，即张生只是元稹塑造的艺术形象，并非本人。霍松林《略谈〈莺莺传〉》，刘明华《也说元稹的不白之冤》，黄忠晶《对陈寅恪先生〈读莺莺传〉的质疑》，谢柏梁《元稹〈莺莺传〉非文过饰非》等文皆否定自寓说。吴伟斌在此问题上也颇为用心，连续撰写了《「张生即元稹自寓说」质疑》《再论张生非元稹自寓》《论〈莺莺传〉》《三论张生非元稹自寓》等文章，皆认为：张生绝非元稹自寓，在张生形象中确有元稹影子，但影子不等于本人。「仅仅根据作家塑造出来的小说人物之行踪，勾勒作家生平、甚至编入年谱，写入传记，并以此抨击作家的人品，显然是难于服人的」。并于《质疑》中将自寓说的论据归纳为十条，论条反驳，论述周详，颇能服人。20世纪末高等教育出版社的《中国文学史》是目前较为通行的文学史，对这个问题也表示了鲜明的立场，即：自传说是不妥的。

与薛涛

元稹24岁时娶20岁的世家名门闺秀韦丛。元稹31岁时，27岁的韦丛因病去世，元稹悲伤不已，并为亡妻写了一系列悼亡诗，其中「曾经沧海难为水，除却巫山不是云」更被视为用情专一，情有独钟的千古佳句。然而，同年，元稹即在成都邂逅比自己大19岁的薛涛，才子佳人风花雪月，元稹走后遇上新欢，薛涛情知被骗，终生未嫁。两年后，元稹还在江陵府纳妾安仙嫔，三年后娶继室裴淑。

元稹在成都时与乐妓薛涛有过一段情感经历，二人邂逅于梓州（今四川三台县）。元稹回到长安后曾寄诗给薛涛。有专家指出元稹「不但见女色即动心，且甚至听女色而怀鬼胎」。

蒋一葵《尧山堂外纪·唐·白居易》载白居易任杭州刺史时，让元稹把歌妓商玲珑携往越州。

对于以上说法，卞孝萱、陈坦、冀勤、吴伟斌等学者持反对意见。卞孝萱在《元稹·薛涛·裴淑》中认为严绶时任右仆射，不在成都，不可能遣薛涛侍稹，元薛之间只有「唱和关系」而「未曾会晤」。陈坦的《〈薛涛与元稹的关系问题及其他〉一文辨误》也不同意二人有过爱情关系。冀勤《元稹道德品格之我见》主要针对苏者聪文进行商榷。文章开列了元稹恋爱，婚姻的时间表，用事实说明元稹并非「轻薄放荡、好色成性」。作者还指出，评价古代作家时必须有足够材料依据，并顾及作家当时的「是非标准」。吴伟斌接连发表了《元稹与薛涛——兼与苏者聪同志商榷》《也谈元稹与薛涛的「风流韵事」》等文章，认为历来关于元稹轻薄好色的说法并无可信根据，并于后文对此事全面探讨。他还认为现存元薛唱和诗「实为他人伪作」，而薛涛的《赠远二首》「实与元稹无涉」。

评价

明末清初的王夫之在《读通鉴论》中对元稹、白居易等的生活方式、政治态度、道家学问甚持批评。说到元稹、白居易等沉迷于酒肆、青楼，诗歌、书画，虽然称名士，实则非国家之栋梁、君王之心膂。「此数子者，类皆酒肉以溺其志，嬉游以荡其情，服饰玩好书画以丧其守。凡此，非得美官厚利，则不足以厌其所欲。而精魄既摇，廉耻遂泯，方且号于人以为清流之津迳，而轻薄淫泆之士乐依之，以标榜为名士。如此，而能自树立以为君之心膂、国之桢干、民之荫藉者，万不得一。」

陈寅恪对元稹的道德评价较低，「微之所以弃双文（即崔莺莺）而娶成之（韦丛），及乐天（白居易）、公垂（李绅）诸人之所以不以其事为非，正当时社会舆论道德之所容许」「综其一生形迹，巧宦故不待言，而巧婚尤为可恶也。岂多情哉？实多诈而已矣」「乘此社会不同之道德标准及习俗并存杂用之时，自私自利」。

当代很多人把元稹视为古代用情不专的渣男之一

。

注释

参考书目

• 陈寅恪：《元白诗笺证稿》（上海：上海古籍出版社，1978）。

• 卞孝萱：《元稹「变节」真相》

• 张撝之、沈起炜、刘德重主编：《中国历代人名大辞典》（上海：古籍出版社，1999）。

• 吴伟斌：《元稹考论》（郑州：河南人民出版社，2008.3）、《元稹评传》（郑州：河南人民出版社，2008.3）

参看

• 唐代诗人列表

Background

Yuan Zhen was born in 779, around the time of Emperor Dezong's ascension to the throne. He was a 10th-generation descendant of Tuoba Shiyiqian, the grandfather of Northern Wei's founder Emperor Daowu, who was posthumously honored Emperor Zhaocheng after Northern Wei's founding. Yuan Zhen's male ancestor line was renamed Yuan, from Tuoba, when Emperor Xiaowen changed Xianbei names to Han names in 496. Subsequently, ancestors of Yuan Zhen's served as officials of the Sui dynasty and Tang dynasty. His grandfather Yuan Fei (元悱) served as a county secretary general, while his father Yuan Kuan (元宽) served as a low-level official at the ministry of justice, as well as secretary to an imperial prince.

Yuan Kuan died when Yuan Zhen was seven, and Yuan Zhen was raised by his mother Lady Zheng, who was considered an intelligent woman. As the household was poor, she did not send Yuan Zhen to school, but taught him to read and write herself. It was said that Yuan became capable of writing at age eight, and at age 14 passed the imperial examination for understanding two Confucian classics. At age 23, he was made a copyeditor at the Palace Library.

During Emperor Xianzongs reign

In 806, when Yuan Zhen was 27, during the reign of Emperor Dezong's grandson Emperor Xianzong, Yuan underwent a special imperial examination before Emperor Xianzong dealing with strategic thinking, and when the list of 18 examinees who passed the examination was announced, Yuan was ranked first — in a group that included such individuals as Bai Juyi, Dugu Yu (独孤郁), Xiao Mian, and Shen Chuanshi (沈传师). As a result, Yuan was made You Shiyi (右拾遗), a junior advisor at the legislative bureau of government (中书省).

Yuan had an outspoken personality, and after being put into an advisorial post, he started submitting suggestions to Emperor Xianzong. In particular, because the officials Wang Shuwen and Wang Pi, who dominated the court of Emperor Xianzong's father Emperor Shunzong — who had previously served as Emperor Shunzong's staff members while Emperor Shunzong was crown prince — were at that time denounced as frivolous and power-hungry, Yuan submitted an essay detailing what he saw as qualifications that the crown prince's and other imperial princes' staff members should have, and Emperor Xianzong was impressed upon reading it. Yuan further submitted proposals involving the defense of the northwestern borders with Tufan and Huigu. Emperor Xianzong, in response, summoned him and requested opinions on strategies to take there. As a result, though, the ruling officials at the time were jealous of Yuan, and they had him sent out of the capital Chang'an to serve as the sheriff of Henan County (河南), one of the two counties making up the eastern capital Luoyang. Yuan subsequently left governmental service for some time while observing a mourning period after his mother's death. Once the mourning period was over, he was recalled to governmental service, to serve as Jiancha Yushi (监察御史), a mid-level imperial censor.

In 809, Yuan was on a mission to Dongchuan Circuit (东川, headquartered in modern Mianyang, Sichuan), when he submitted accusations that the deceased former military governor (Jiedushi) of Dongchuan, Yan Li (严砺), had collected taxes illegally and improperly seized the property of 88 households. As a result, the seven prefectural prefects who served under Yan were all punished. However, among the ruling officials, there were those who had deep friendships with Yan, and as a result of this incident, Yuan was sent out of the capital to serve at Dongtai (东台), the Luoyang branch of the office of the imperial censors. While at Luoyang, he continued to pursue various officials for misconduct, including the caning of a county magistrate by the governor of Zhexi Circuit (浙西, headquartered in modern Zhenjiang, Jiangsu), Han Gao, leading to the magistrate's death, and the improper use of imperial messenger posts by the military governor of Wuning Circuit (武宁, headquartered in modern Xuzhou, Jiangsu), Wang Shao (王绍), to host the casket of the recently deceased eunuch monitor of the Wuning army. Meanwhile, when the mayor of Henan Municipality (i.e., the Luoyang region, not only the two counties), Fang Shi (房式), was accused of improper conduct, Yuan issued an order suspending Fang from office pending investigations. However, after investigations, Fang was only punished by being stripped of one month of salary, and Yuan was recalled to Chang'an. While stopping at the imperial messenger post at Fushui (敷水, in modern Weinan, Shaanxi), Yuan got into a dispute with an imperial eunuch messenger — variously reported as either Liu Shiyuan (by the Old Book of Tang) or Qiu Shiliang (by the New Book of Tang), in which the eunuch, as a result of the dispute, hit Yuan's face and injured him — Emperor Xianzong ruled that Yuan had overstepped his authorities as censor and demoted him to serve as the logistics officer at Jiangling Municipality (江陵, in modern Jingzhou, Hubei), despite defenses submitted on his behalf by Li Jiang, Cui Qun, and Bai.

While at Jiangling, Yuan wrote many poems, and his style and Bai's were both popular and referred by the populace as Yuanhe Style (元和体) — Yuanhe being Emperor Xianzong's era name. The eunuch monitor of Jingnan Circuit (荆南, headquartered at Jiangling), Cui Tanjun (崔潭峻), was impressed by Yuan's talents and did not treat him as a subordinate, but rather with great respect; he also often collected Yuan's poems and recited them. Meanwhile, sometime thereafter, Yuan was made the military advisor to the prefect of Tong Prefecture (通州, in modern Nantong, Jiangsu), while Bai was made the military governor of Jiang Prefecture (江州, in modern Nanchang, Jiangxi). Despite the distance between the two, they often wrote poems to each other, which often ran 30 to 50 lines, sometimes up to 100 lines. The people of the Yangtze River region became impressed by their poems and often read and studied them. Many of Yuan's poems showed his sadness at being exiled from the capital.

In 819, by which time Yuan was serving as the secretary general of Guo Prefecture (虢州, in modern Sanmenxia, Henan), he was recalled to Chang'an to serve as Shanbu Yuanwailang (膳部员外郎), a low-level official at the ministry of rites (礼部, Libu). Then-chancellor Linghu Chu, himself a talented writer, had long been impressed by Yuan's literary abilities, requested that he submit his writings to Linghu. Yuan did so, and the writings impressed LInghu greatly, comparing him to the Liu Song dynasty poets Bao Zhao (鲍照) and Xie Lingyun. Meanwhile, Emperor Xianzong's son and crown prince Li Heng, who had heard his concubines recite Yuan's poetry and referring to Yuan as "Savant Yuan" (元才子), was impressed.

During Emperor Muzongs and Emperor Jingzongs reigns

In 820, by which time Li Heng was emperor (as Emperor Muzong), Cui Tanjun was recalled to Chang'an, and he offered to Emperor Muzong, as a gift, a collection of over 100 poems by Yuan Zhen. Emperor Muzong was pleased, and asked Cui where Yuan was at that point, and Cui replied that Yuan was serving in an office lacking authority. That same day, Emperor Muzong promoted Yuan to be Cibu Langzhong (祠部郎中), a supervisorial official at the ministry of rites, and further put him in charge of drafting edicts for Emperor Muzong. However, because this was an irregular promotion, Yuan was looked down by his colleagues. On one occasion, when many imperial officials were gathering to eat melons, there were flies which gathered on the melons. Wu Ruheng (武儒衡) waved his fan to chase away the flies, and made the double entendre, "Where did you come from? Why did you come here?" This caused many of Wu's colleagues to be shocked and lose composure, but Wu did not. Nevertheless, Yuan's poetry continued to become increasingly popular at Chang'an, such that the people were rushing to learn it. Soon thereafter, Yuan was made chief imperial scholar (翰林承旨学士, Hanlin Xueshi) as well as Zhongshu Sheren (中书舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau. Because of the friendship that Yuan had with Cui, the other eunuchs were also trying to become friendly with Yuan, particularly the one of the directors of palace communications (Shumishi), Wei Hongjian (魏弘简).

In 821, Yuan was involved in an incident that was considered one of the precipitating incidents of the coming Niu-Li Factional Struggles. At that time, both Yuan and imperial scholar Li Deyu were involved in power struggles with Yuan's fellow Zhongshu Sheren Li Zongmin. Meanwhile, Li Zongmin's junior colleague at the legislative bureau, Yang Rushi and the deputy minister of rites (礼部侍郎, Libu Shilang) Qian Hui (钱徽) were in charge of overseeing the imperial examinations. The military governor Duan Wenchang (a former chancellor) and the imperial scholar Li Shen both made secret pleas to Qian for certain examinees. However, when the results were announced, the examinees that Duan and Li Shen recommended were not given passing results, while among those passing the examinations were Zheng Lang, the brother of the examination bureau (门下省, Menxia Sheng) official Zheng Tan; Pei Zhuan (裴撰) the son of the military governor Pei Du (also a former chancellor); Li Zongmin's son-in-law Su Chao (苏巢); and Yang Rushi's brother Yang Yinshi. This thus brought a popular uproar, and Duan submitted a report accusing Yang Rushi and Qian of being unfair. When Emperor Muzong requested opinions from the imperial scholars, Li Deyu, Yuan, and Li Shen all agreed with Duan's opinion. Emperor Muzong thus ordered Li Zongmin's colleague Wang Qi (王起) to conduct a re-examination, while demoting Qian, Li Zongmin, and Yang Rushi to be prefectural prefects and deposing 10 of the examinees selected by Qian and Yang Rushi. This was said to be the start of some 40 years of struggles between Li Deyu and his associates (known as the Li Faction) and Li Zongmin and his associates (known as the Niu Faction, named after Li Zongmin's ally Niu Sengru).

Meanwhile, Pei Du was leading a campaign against rebel generals Zhu Kerong and Wang Tingcou north of the Yellow River. It was said that, while Yuan had no resentment toward Pei personally, he wanted to be chancellor and was fearful that if Pei were victorious, Pei would be recalled and would again dominate the court, and therefore Yuan, as well as his ally Wei Hongjian, were interfering with requests that Pei was making of Emperor Muzong during the campaign. Pei, incensed, submitted a harshly worded accusation against Yuan and Wei. Emperor Muzong was displeased with Pei's accusations, but as Pei was a prominent statesman, placated Pei by demoting Wei to be the director of the imperial armory and Yuan to be the deputy minister of public works (工部侍郎, Gongbu Shilang), relieving Yuan of his position as imperial scholar. However, it was said that Emperor Muzong continued to trust Yuan greatly, despite removing him from his imperial scholar post. Indeed, soon thereafter, after the campaign ended (when the imperial government capitulated to Zhu and Wang by making them military governors), Yuan was made a chancellor with the title Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi. (It was said that the capitulation was advocated by Yuan, who wanted to relieve Pei of his military command.)

Meanwhile, during the campaign against Zhu and Wang, Wang had put Niu Yuanyi (牛元翼), a general loyal to the imperial government, under siege at Shen Prefecture (深州, in modern Hengshui, Hebei). Yu Fang (于方), an advisor to an imperial prince, who wanted to submit an extraordinary suggestion to gain a promotion, suggested to Yuan that Yu's friends Wang Zhao (王昭) and Yu Youming (于友明) be sent to Wang Tingcou's Chengde Circuit (成德, headquartered in modern Shijiazhuang, Hebei) to try to persuade Wang Tingcou's officers to lift the siege on Shen Prefecture. Yuan accepted the idea, and, as part of the plan, gave Wang Zhao and Yuan Youming some 20 commission certificates to give them to Wang Tingcou's officers. A man named Li Shang (李赏) heard of the plan, but misinterpreted this as a plot by Yuan and Yu Fang to assassinate Pei. He reported this to Pei, but Pei took no action. He then reported it to the Left Shence Army. After Emperor Muzong received report of this, he had Han Gao investigate the matter. After the investigation was complete, it was concluded that there was no evidence that Yuan intended to assassinate Pei, but as a result, both Pei (who by this point had returned to Chang'an and was again serving as chancellor) and Yuan were relieved of their chancellor posts, less than four months after Yuan was made chancellor. Yuan was sent out of the capital to serve as the prefect of Tong Prefecture (同州, in modern Weinan). When a number of advisorial officials subsequently submitted objections that Yuan's punishment was too light, Emperor Muzong stripped Yuan of one of his ceremonial posts as the director of Changchun Palace (长春宫, in Tong Prefecture). While the investigations were still ongoing, the mayor of Jingzhao Municipality (京兆, i.e., the Chang'an region), Liu Zungu, was putting Yuan's house under constant guard. When Yuan complained about this, Emperor Muzong punished Liu.

After Yuan served for two years at Tong Prefecture, he was made the governor (观察使, Guanchashi) of Zhedong Circuit (浙东, headquartered in modern Shaoxing, Zhejiang) as well as the prefect of its capital prefecture Yue Prefecture (越州). Yuan retained a staff that was also talented in literature, and they took tours of the picturesque locations of the circuit three or four times per month. They also often wrote poems. His deputy Dou Gong (窦巩), in particular, became a famed poet himself, and they often wrote poems to each other. Meanwhile, while at Zhedong, Yuan also became known for being corrupt and gathering wealth. He served there for eight years, including the entire brief reign of Emperor Muzong's son Emperor Jingzong.

During Emperor Wenzongs reign

In 829, by which time Emperor Jingzong's brother Emperor Wenzong was emperor, Yuan Zhen was recalled to Chang'an to serve as Shangshu Zuo Cheng (尚书左丞), one of the secretaries general of the executive bureau (尚书省, Shangshu Sheng). He tried to reorganize the bureau, and he expelled seven officials under him who had poor reputations. However, as Yuan himself was not known for exemplary ethics, he did not receive much support from other officials. When the chancellor Wang Bo died in 830, Yuan tried to use his connections to again become chancellor, but was unable to do so. Instead, he was sent out to Wuchang Circuit (武昌, headquartered in modern Wuhan, Hubei) to serve as its military governor and the prefect of its capital prefecture E Prefecture (鄂州). He became ill suddenly in fall 831 and died within a day of falling ill. He was given posthumous honors. As his son Yuan Daohu (元道护) was then only two years old, his funeral was hosted by his cousin Yuan Ji (元积). He left a collection of 100 volumes of poems, draft edicts, commemorative texts, and essays. He also compiled a 300-volume work collecting ancient and contemporary legal rulings.

Poetry

As an official, Yuan Zhen pursued his poetic activities under during Emperor Muzong's and Emperor Jingzong's reigns, both his own taking an active interest in the works of other poets.

Yuan Zhen was part of the New Yuefu Movement, which involved poets interested in reviving some of the aspects of the yuefu style folk ballad verse popular during the Han dynasty, with an interest in poetry as a form of political and societal critique. The group includes Bai Juyi (considered to be their leader), Zhang Ji, and Wang Jian.

Yuan Zhen had four of his poems selected for inclusion in the famous poetry anthology Three Hundred Tang Poems. These were translated by Witter Bynner with the following titles:

• "An Elegy I"

• "An Elegy II"

• "An Elegy III"

• "The Summer Palace"

The three "Elegies" are laments for his wife who died young.

Prose

The Biography of Ying-ying is one of the most widely read and adapted chuanqi, or short stories in the classical language. It has been translated by James Hightower ("Yüan Chen and 'The Story of YIng-ying'" HJAS 33 (1973): 90–123), Arthur Waley (available in the Anthology of Chinese Literature by Cyril Birch, vol. I.. An online translation by Patrick Moran includes the Chinese text. here.