Dada: little is known about this author. Their real name, dates of birth and death, nationality and English name are not clearly recorded, and public information is limited, so an understanding of the author can currently rest only on the single work held in the collection. According to the available information, only one work appears under the name Dada, a title called Wuwei Ji (Collection of Non-Action), commonly classified as ancient-style poetry, which suggests that the author's writing is chiefly embodied in traditional verse forms. The phrase wuwei in the title carries Daoist overtones, evoking ideas of following nature and avoiding artificial polish, though this inference cannot replace a close reading of the work itself. Because materials on the author's life, circle of acquaintances and the circumstances of composition are lacking, it is difficult to confirm the era, region and course of creative activity, or to judge how Wuwei Ji was compiled and transmitted. Readers wishing to know Dada further should return to the text of Wuwei Ji and appreciate its poetic character through its choice of subjects, use of rhyme and language style.
