11 Facts About Wang Bao

Wang Bao was well versed in the Classical Chinese poetry tradition.

Wang Bao was involved in the Chu Ci poetry revival which took place in the second part of Emperor Xuan's reign, and which led to the creation of poetry that would eventually form part of the early poetry anthology by the same name, compiled by Wang Yi.

Wang Bao is particularly known today as the author of the Chu Ci section "Nine Regrets".

Wang Bao's poetry was not as famous as "Li Sao" or "Heavenly Questions".

Wang Bao's works were included in one of the two major early anthologies of Chinese poetry which has helped to secure Wang Bao's legacy as a poet and author.

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Wang Bao was a native of Ziyang, in Sichuan: the Sichuan area was then known as Shu and was one of the remote parts of the territory of the Han Empire.

One of Wang Bao's songs incorporating lyrics which he wrote by commission from a local official in praise of the Han government and which were then set to music was eventually performed for emperor Xuan, who quite enjoyed the performance, particularly the lyrics, and summoned Wang by imperial command to attend him at court.

Wang Bao was received as a court poet, with an honorary position as a government officer, and where his continued literary success at the imperial court derived from his exercise of his talent for combining lyricism and flattery.

Wang Bao was a contemporary of Liu Xiang; however, specific biographic dates for him are not available through the known surviving historical records, but the period in which he wrote the Chuci pieces should be between 60 and 50 BCE.

Wang Bao wrote the "Nine Regrets", consisting of nine poems in the "Song " style, plus a luan, which were incorporated into the Chu ci anthology, as its 11th section.

Wang Bao is known for writing in the fu style, which was particularly popular during the Han Dynasty.