Home > Tao Qian

He came from a notable family which had descended into poverty; when young, he was torn between ambition and a desire to retreat into solitude. He served in a series of minor posts, but his sister's death prompted his resignation, convincing him that life was too short to compromise on his principles. He lived in retirement for his last 22 years.

Approximately 120 of his poems survive, which depict an idyllic pastoral life of farming and drinking. His works had a major influence on subsequent poets.