Lu You

Background

Lu You was born on a boat floating in the Wei River on November 13, 1125. At age 19, he took the civil service examination but did not pass. Ten years later, he passed and was first in the Lin An region, but his success was blocked by political interference from Qin Hui's grandson.

After Qin Hui's death, he began his official career. He married his cousin Tang Wan at age 20, but his mother forced them to divorce because they had no children. Eight years later, at age 31, he encountered Tang Wan and her husband in Shen's Garden; she sent him a cup of wine, and he wrote the poem 'Phoenix Hairpin' on the wall.

Tang Wan wrote a response poem, and less than a year later she died. Lu You later married a woman from the Wang clan. He died on January 26, 1210, at age 86.

Did You Know?

• He wrote his last poem, 'To My Son', near death, expressing regret that China was not unified.
• He gave himself the art name 'Fangweng' (放翁), meaning 'Liberated Old Man'.
• He enjoyed eating pearl barley and wood ear mushrooms, which kept his vision and hearing keen until death.