Tao Yuanming

Tao Yuanming
"Tao Yuanming" in Traditional (top) and Simplified (bottom) Chinese characters
Traditional Chinese	陶淵明
Simplified Chinese	陶渊明
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Táo Yuānmíng Gwoyeu Romatzyh Taur Iuanming Wade–Giles T'ao2 Yüan1-ming2 IPA [tʰǎu̯ y̯ɛ́n.mǐŋ] Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Tòuh Yūn-mìhng Jyutping Tou4 Jyun1-ming4 Southern Min Tâi-lô Tô Ian-bîng
Alternative Chinese name
Chinese	陶潛
Literal meaning	(original name)
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Táo Qián Gwoyeu Romatzyh Taur Chyan Wade–Giles T'ao2 Ch'ien2 IPA [tʰǎu̯ tɕʰi̯ɛ̌n] Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Tòuh Chìhm Jyutping Tou4 Cim4 Southern Min Tâi-lô Tô Tsiâm

Tao Yuanming (365–427), also known as Tao Qian or T'ao Ch'ien, was a Chinese poet who lived in the middle of the Six Dynasties period (c. 220 - 589 CE). By any name, Tao is often regarded as the greatest poet during the centuries of Six dynasties poetry between the Han and Tang dynasties. He is also the foremost of the "recluse" poets, or the poets who seem to have written their greatest work while in reclusion (but not necessarily seclusion, as if in solitary confinement), and away from the hustle and bustle of official business and high society, and in whose poems the theme of countryside solitude particularly resonates. In Tao's case he is particularly regarded as a Fields and Gardens poetry poet: that is a nature poet, but a poet of the more domestic sort of nature, such as, famously, the chrysanthemums which grew along the east hedge of his place, as opposed to the poets who found their inspiration from nature somewhere out in the rugged and remote regions of vast and untamed wilderness.

In the middle of his life, Tao changed his name (keeping his family name) from Tao Yuanming (traditional Chinese: 陶淵明; simplified Chinese: 陶渊明; pinyin: Táo Yuānmíng; Wade–Giles: T'ao Yüan-ming) to Tao Qian (simplified Chinese: 陶潜; traditional Chinese: 陶潛; pinyin: Táo Qián; Wade–Giles: T'ao Ch'ien). "Master of the Five Willows", which he used when quite young, seems to be a soubriquet of his own invention. There is a surviving autobiographical essay from his youth in which Tao Yuanming uses "Five Willows" to allude to himself. After this, Tao refers to himself in his earlier writings as "Yuanming"; however; it is thought that with the demise of the Eastern Jin dynasty in 420, that he began to refer to himself as "Qian", meaning "hiding", as a signification of his final withdrawal into the quiet life in the country and his decision to avoid any further participation in the political scene.Tao Qian could also be translated "Recluse Tao". However, this in no way implies an eremitic lifestyle or extreme asceticism; rather a comfortable dwelling, with family, friends, neighbors, musical instruments, wine, a nice library, and the beautiful scenery of a mountain farm were Tao Qian's compensation for giving up on the lifestyle of Tao Yuanming, government servant.