Zuo Si is an ancient Chinese poet whose name is chiefly known through the tradition of classical poetry. Public information is limited: neither the dates of his birth and death nor his native place and life story can be established with certainty. Two works are held under his name, both titled "Yong Shi" (Poems on History), which indicates that his writing centered on historical themes and used past events to express personal feelings, a common approach in classical Chinese poetry. Poems on history usually take historical figures and events as their subject, weaving the author's judgments and reflections into the narrative, so that they combine storytelling with lyricism and comment. Zuo Si's works are classed as classical poetry and are also listed by some sources under Eastern philosophy, suggesting that beyond lamenting history his lines often touch on the rise and fall of human affairs and on ways of conducting oneself. Because verifiable material is scarce, only a brief account of the themes and classification of his surviving works can be given; his style and influence await further evidence.
