Fang Qian

Fang Qian (809-888), named Xiongfei and Xuanying, was a native of Qingxi, Muzhou (now Chun'an). He is good at rhythmic poetry, which is clear and compact, and contains many aphorisms. Some of his poems reflect the social turmoil and sympathize with the people's suffering; some express his feelings about his unrecognized talents and his unsuccessful pursuit of fame. In the first year of Wende (888), Fang Qianke died in Kuaiji and was buried in Tongjiang. His disciples discussed his virtues with each other and gave him the posthumous title "Mr. Xuanying". They also collected more than 370 of his poems and compiled them into "Fang Qian's Poetry Collection" to be handed down to the world. "Complete Poems of the Tang Dynasty" compiles 348 poems by Fang Qian in 6 volumes. During the Jingyou period of the Song Dynasty, Fan Zhongyan guarded Muzhou and painted a portrait of Fang Gan to be displayed in Yanling Temple.