Wang Jian

Wang Jian was a Chinese poet of the Tang dynasty, whose courtesy name was Zhongchu. He was a native of Yingchuan (present-day Xuchang, Henan), and the exact years of his birth and death are unknown. Of humble origin, he passed the imperial examination in the tenth year of the Dali era and long remained in low-ranking posts, serving as assistant magistrate of Zhaoying County and as an official of the Court of the Imperial Treasury and the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, before being appointed Sima of Shanzhou, whence he was known as "Wang Sima." He was skilled in yuefu poetry and was ranked alongside Zhang Ji, the two being called "Zhang-Wang yuefu." He is also known for his hundred palace poems. His collections include The Poetry Collection of Wang Jian and The Collection of Wang Sima. His poems often depict mountain-village scenery, farewells and correspondence with friends, and military life. Works in the library bearing similar names on modern German drama and on bridge pile foundations should be distinguished when cataloguing.