A Rich Man in Qinzhong

罗隐Jinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) · ChinaJun 2024

3.8

Word count: 3.4K words
Chapters: 48

Editor's review

Luo Yin was a celebrated poet of the late Tang dynasty, known for his historical verse, satire, and personal reflection, with a sharp style and deep feeling. "The Rich Man of Qin" takes a wealthy man of the Qin region as its point of entry, reflecting the stark wealth gap and fickleness of worldly affairs in Tang society, and embodying the author's characteristic critical edge and compassion. This edition was printed by Shanghai Jinzhang Book Company and reprinted in 2024, making this classical text accessible to contemporary readers. The book is short and well suited as an introductory read for understanding the social poetry of the late Tang, and can also serve as supplementary material for courses on classical poetry appreciation. Readers should consider the social context of the late Tang while reading, appreciate the poem's use of contrast and satire, and sense the understated power of classical poetry.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers interested in Tang poetry and social history
Middle school Chinese teachers who need selected readings in late Tang literature
Classical poetry enthusiasts who wish to learn how historical and satirical poems are written

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer modern vernacular fiction or contemporary literature
Young readers without basic reading ability in classical Chinese

Reading tips

Read the whole poem first to grasp its overall emotional tone and satirical target
Consult background material on late Tang society to understand the real-world significance of the wealth contrast
Excerpt memorable lines and try imitating short historical poems to deepen understanding

About the publisher

Jinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) China · Founded in 1901

Jinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) was a private publishing and distribution house in Shanghai during the late Qing and early Republican periods, issuing traditional works by lithographic printing. Judging from the 1,194 titles in the collection, its publishing focused on classical poetry, Eastern philosophy, historical reading, traditional Chinese medical texts, and canonical works, along with books on literary appreciation. Representative titles include the poetry and prose collections of Du Fu and Ouyang Xiu; historical works such as the Book of Han and Zizhi Tongjian; classical texts such as the Book of Documents and Mencius; and specialized and literary classics such as Treatise on Cold Damage and Li Sao. Its author resources cover major figures across the ages, including Du Fu, Ban Gu, Sima Guang, Zhang Zhongjing, Qu Yuan, Ouyang Xiu, and Tang Shenwei, reflecting the house's characteristic reliance on traditional scholarship and medical literature while serving general readers. Public information on its early history and operational details is limited, so no conjecture is offered here.

版权信息
【秋日富春江行】罗隐
卷659_28【寄侯博士】罗隐
卷659_29【送沈光侍御赴职闽中】罗隐
卷659_30【寄袁皓侍郎】罗隐
卷659_31【寄金吾李荪常侍】罗隐
卷659_32【商於驿与于蕴玉话别】罗隐
卷659_33【封禅寺居】罗隐
卷659_34【钱】罗隐
卷659_35【投寄韦右丞】罗隐
卷659_36【红叶】罗隐
卷659_37【期徐道者不至】罗隐
卷659_38【岁除夜】罗隐
卷659_39【雪】罗隐
卷659_40【旅梦】罗隐
卷659_41【秋寄张坤】罗隐
卷659_42【伤华发】罗隐
卷659_43【九江早秋】罗隐
卷659_44【初秋寄友人】罗隐
卷659_45【秋居有寄】罗隐
卷659_46【雪霁】罗隐
卷659_47【堠子】罗隐
卷659_48【初夏寄顾绍宗】罗隐
卷659_49【寄第五尊师】罗隐
卷659_50【寄西华黄炼师】罗隐
卷659_51【所思（一作西上）】罗隐
卷660_1【送支使萧中丞赴阙】罗隐
卷660_2【送人归湘中兼寄旧知】罗隐
卷660_3【自贻】罗隐
卷660_4【暇日感怀因寄同院吴蜕拾遗】罗隐
卷660_5【偶兴】罗隐
卷660_6【题凿石山僧院】罗隐
卷660_7【圉城偶作】罗隐
卷660_8【乌程】罗隐
卷660_9【送杨炼师却归贞浩岩】罗隐
卷660_10【暇日投钱尚父】罗隐
卷660_11【览晋史（张翰思吴中鲈鲙莼羹）】罗隐
卷660_12【感别元帅尚父（一作病中上钱尚父）】罗隐
卷660_13【尚父偶建小楼，特摛丽藻绝句不敢称扬三首】罗隐
卷660_14【题玄同先生草堂三首】罗隐
卷660_15【城西作】罗隐
卷660_16【冬暮城西晚眺】罗隐
卷660_17【秋霁后】罗隐
卷660_18【茅斋】罗隐
卷660_19【使者】罗隐
卷660_20【途中逢刘知远】罗隐
卷660_21【遁迹】罗隐
卷660_22【陇头水】罗隐

FAQ

What is "The Rich Man of Qin" mainly about?

The poem depicts a wealthy man of the Qin region, using specific scenes and contrast to show the wealth gap and human relations in Tang society, expressing the author's criticism and lament over reality and reflecting Luo Yin's characteristic style of historical poetry.

What background is needed before reading?

Basic reading ability in classical Chinese is enough. The poem uses few allusions and its language is relatively straightforward; readers with a middle-school education or above can read it with the help of annotations. A knowledge of late Tang history will deepen understanding.

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About the author

罗隐 Author

Luo Yin was a poet and man of letters active around the late Tang and Five Dynasties period. Publicly available information is limited, and his birth and death years, native place, and official career remain unverified. The library holds ten of his works, including the San Luo Poetry Collection, “Self-Release,” “Written at the Dwelling of Zhang Yiren by Yuan Creek,” Liang Tong Shu, Taiping Liang Tong Shu, “Climbing the Tower of Xiazhou City,” “The Rich Man of Qinzhong,” and “Autumn Thoughts at the Zhu Palace.” These titles show that he wrote both poetry and discursive works in the tradition of philosophical miscellany. His poems often treat personal reflection, sightseeing, and the ways of the world; their language is spare and forceful, their imagery cool and clear, and they frequently convey a sense of personal circumstance through ordinary scenes. Works such as Liang Tong Shu belong to the tradition of essays on principle and political thought, with an affinity to philosophical writing. Later catalogues commonly place his works under literary appreciation, classical poetry, and Eastern philosophy, indicating that readers have valued both his poetic craft and his intellectual discussion. Because verifiable biographical material is limited, this introduction does not elaborate on his life and instead presents the themes and style of his writing as reflected in the works held here.