Zhou Mi

Zhou Mi (1232–1298), courtesy name Gongjin and literary name Caochuang, was a man of letters, ci poet, and connoisseur of painting and calligraphy who lived through the late Song and early Yuan. His ancestral home was Jinan. He is often mentioned together with Wu Wenying as the "Two Caochuang," and after the fall of the Song he lived in retirement rather than take office. His writings span ci criticism, historical sources, and miscellaneous records. He wrote Wulin jiushi, Qidong yeyu, Guixin zashi, and Yunyan guoyan lu, and compiled the ci anthology Jumiao haoci. These works document urban life in the Southern Song, court and public anecdotes, and literati circles, preserving a wealth of historical material and possessing both literary and documentary value. His ci style is clear and refined, and his anthology emphasizes prosody and emotional tone, influencing later ci appreciation and study of Southern Song history.