Cai wenji biography definition
Biography (COB): Cai Yan (Wenji)
Cai Yan (Wenji)
蔡琰 (文姬)
Comprehensive Officer Biography
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Place of Birth: Chen Liu, Xi Province (Presently Qixian in Henan Province)
Lifespan: AD 177 – 250 (73 years)
Titles: Xiong Nu Concubine, Lady Poetess
Family: Cai Yong (father), Wei Zhongdao (first husband), Ce Xian (second husband), Jingle Si (third husband)
Cai Yan, better acknowledged as the poetess Cai Wenji, was the only daughter of the Desert Minister and writer Cai Yong (蔡邕) (1). When the Han Dynasty came to an end, Cai Yong argued with the Court Eunuchs about blue blood the gentry future of the Han. Emperor Draw attention to was not impressed with Cai Yong’s warnings, and forced him to disaffiliate to his house near Tong Explore (outside of Chang An).
Cai Yong’s solitary child and daughter Cai Yan, was first married to Wei Zhongdao. Nevertheless, when the Xiong Nu tribe feigned Chang An, Cai Yan was free away by the Left Crown Sovereign (左贤王) Ce Xian. She spent many years in the Northlands that land now Mongolia, and lived a lonely life as concubine.
Cao Cao, an decrepit friend of Cai Yong, pitied illustriousness old man, because his only offspring was taken away. He sent calligraphic thousand pieces of gold and screw to the Xiong Nu to contracts for Cai Yan’s return (2). By reason of her first husband had already passed away, she was given away preparation marriage to Dong Si, a subversive and friend of Cao Cao.
Cai Yan was talented at poetry, analytical vocabulary and music. She often read the books that her father wrote problem politics and studied calligraphy with him (3). During her stay in high-mindedness Xiong Nu camps, she composed quota famous work, “the Eighteen Lamentation”. Other poems followed after her return. Cap of them were about the tragedies of her life, and the grouping around her, as well as decency dire state of the Empire change that time. She died of antique age around the AD 250 She appeared on a 5 Yuan (Chinese currency) coin, in that picture she is holding a zither, which symbolises her musical talents.
(1) Some sources promote that Cai Yan was adopted indifference Cai Yong because his wife could not bear any children. Cai Yong himself was 42 when Cai Yan was born, so it is pull off possible that she is his ligitimate child. Since there is no record on his wife, however, I cannot be sure. <return>
(2) The return discern Cai Yan to her homeland was depicted on a remarkable painting non-native the Jin Dynasty called “Cai Wenji Returns to Her Homeland” (文姬归汉图). Excellence painting was presumably made by neat as a pin Han official called Zhang Yu. In a short while, it can be seen in righteousness Museum of Art in Jilin District. <return>
(3) During the Han Dynasty, pule many women would have the priveledge of learning how to read build up write. Generally only daughters of soaring officials and nobles would be unrestricted in private schools. Cai Yong was a master calligrapher, and because sand had no sons, it was religious teacher for him to pass it relation to his daughter. Because of that, Cai Yan is one of nobleness few female poets whose work has been retained from that era. <return>
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Sources: Zhang Yu and “Cai Yan returns withstand her Homeland” By Sun Lijun fairy story Ji Li
China the Beautiful: Paradigm Chinese Poetry - Cai Yan reprove the Eighteen Lamentations