Meng Jiao

出自全球本体聚合平台

公开 可引用 更新于 2026-09-13

Life

His father was Meng Tingfen, who died in 773.[5] In his youth, Meng Jiao lived in seclusion on Mount Song and was known as a recluse; he was described as aloof and independent, and he traveled in Henan and Binning.[6] Early in life he lived in Huzhou, joined a poetry society organized by the monk Jiao Ran, and absorbed Jiao Ran’s influence.[7]

He repeatedly failed the Presented Scholar examination before succeeding. The year of his success is variously given as 796 or 798; other accounts say that he was forty-five or forty-six, or fifty, when he finally passed.[8] In 800, the sixteenth year of the Zhenyuan era, he became Assistant County Magistrate of Liyang. He spent his days composing poetry and neglected administrative work; the county magistrate replaced him with a deputy, cut his stipend by half, and Meng Jiao resigned.[9]

In 806, Zheng Yuqing appointed him a staff officer in the water-and-land transport administration and a probationary xielulang; the appointments continued through 809.[10] After Zheng Yuqing took command at Xingyuan, he memorialized Meng Jiao for appointment as a counsellor in the Xingyuan army and probationary Dali pingshi, and Meng Jiao also held the post of a military commissioner’s staff judge.[11] In 814 he set out for the appointment but died suddenly of illness at Wenxiang. He lived in poverty throughout his life and had no money for burial.[12] His friendships included Han Yu and Jia Dao, and he also associated with Zhang Ji, Li Ao, and Lu Tong.[13]

Poetry

Meng Jiao devoted himself to poetry, excelling in five-character old-style verse and yuefu. He was ranked with Han Yu, regarded as a founder of the Han–Meng poetic school, and paired with Jia Dao as “Jiao and Dao.”[14] His poetry falls into two periods divided by his examination journey to Chang’an in 792, the eighth year of the Zhenyuan era: the earlier poetry moved from reclusion toward official life and sought purposeful expression, with an energetic and bright tone modeled on the High Tang, whereas the later poetry, shaped by frustrated official service, turned from expressing political purpose toward lyric feeling and developed an uncanny, eccentric style.[15]

His subjects range broadly across social life: he sang of the suffering of ordinary people, denounced military governors’ separatism, and expressed his own poverty, advancing the poetic principle “下筆證興亡，陳詞備風骨.”[16] In diction and syntax he avoided the commonplace and facile, pursuing a fresh, lean, hard-edged beauty; the poetry’s cold atmosphere and frequent lament over hardship contributed to the description “郊寒島瘦,” “Jiao cold and Dao thin,” shared with Jia Dao.[17] Han Yu described his verse as “刃迎縷解，鉤章棘句，掐擢胃腎。神施鬼設，間見層出” and also wrote of its “橫空盤硬語，妥貼力排奡.”[18]

Works

His poetry circulated in collections titled Meng Dongye’s Poetry, Meng Dongye’s Collection, and Meng Jiao’s Poetry Collection; in the Northern Song, Song Minqiu compiled the ten-fascicle Meng Dongye’s Collection.[19] In the Ming, Ling Mengchu published an engraved edition of Meng Dongye’s Poetry, which carried comments by the Song scholars Guocai and Liu Chenweng; a later collated edition by Hua Chenzhi was regarded as more complete.[20] Annotated editions include Hua Chenzhi and Yu Xuecai’s Collated Annotations to Meng Jiao’s Poetry and Han Quanxin’s Collated Annotations to Meng Jiao’s Collection.[21] The number of fascicles of his poems in the Complete Tang Poetry is variously given as five or ten, while the Supplement to the Complete Tang Poetry adds one poem.[22]

TimelineCBDB

  1. 800 縣尉 貞元
  2. 806 協律郎 元和
  3. 806 水陸轉運使從事 元和
  4. 814 大理評事 元和
  5. 814 節度使判官 元和

Office recordsCBDB

OfficeFromToEraPosting
縣尉800804貞元溧陽
協律郎806809元和
水陸轉運使從事806809元和
大理評事814元和
節度使判官814元和
Year unknown2
OfficeEraPosting
從事Era unknownUnknown
縣尉Era unknownUnknown

FamilyCBDB

RelationNameLife
父孟庭玢–773

AliasesCBDB

  • 孟十二 行第
  • 東野 字
  • 貞曜先生 未詳

StatusCBDB

  • 詩人
  • 文人

AssociationsCBDB

PersonRelationYears
韓愈友–
賈島友–
韓愈墓誌銘由韓愈所作815–
韓愈贈詩、文–
張籍贈詩、文–
李翱贈詩、文–
韋應物贈詩、文–
鄭餘慶贈詩、文–
李益贈詩、文–
陸羽贈詩、文–
王涯贈詩、文–
韋丹贈詩、文–
韋夏卿贈詩、文–
包佶贈詩、文–
李程贈詩、文–
張建封贈詩、文–
張碧贈詩、文–
孟簡贈詩、文–
皇甫冉贈詩、文–
賈島贈詩、文–
錢徽贈詩、文–
釋皎然贈詩、文–
梁肅贈詩、文–
盧殷贈詩、文–
田弘正贈詩、文–
裴樞贈詩、文–
李觀贈詩、文–
于頔贈詩、文–
鄒儒立贈詩、文–
林蘊贈詩、文–
齊古贈詩、文–
釋文應贈詩、文–
章仇良贈詩、文–
釋玄亮贈詩、文–
郭行餘贈詩、文–
許問贈詩、文–
王楚贈詩、文–
豆盧策贈詩、文–
元德秀贈詩、文–
張衡贈詩、文–
張徹贈詩、文–
裴端贈詩、文–
孟雲卿贈詩、文–
孟子雲贈詩、文–
孟寂贈詩、文–
孟述贈詩、文–
孟楚客贈詩、文–
孟楚材贈詩、文–
孟郢贈詩、文–
季操贈詩、文–
盧虔贈詩、文–
盧貞國贈詩、文–
盧汀贈詩、文–
任載贈詩、文–
崔放贈詩、文–
崔純亮贈詩、文–
崔寅亮贈詩、文–
崔爽贈詩、文–
崔鄖贈詩、文–
房次卿贈詩、文–
竇易直贈詩、文–
清遠贈詩、文–
溫初贈詩、文–
湯衡贈詩、文–
釋道月贈詩、文–
李玄贈詩、文–
李元淳贈詩、文–
李輈贈詩、文–
李園贈詩、文–
李丹贈詩、文–
李光顏贈詩、文–
韋承總贈詩、文–
姚怤贈詩、文–
樊澤贈詩、文–
韓昶贈詩、文–
薛公達贈詩、文–
黃構贈詩、文–
杜兼贈詩、文–
林藻贈詩、文–
楊衡贈詩、文–
柳淳贈詩、文–
柳鎭贈詩、文–
趙俶贈詩、文–
釋青陽贈詩、文–
春梅贈詩、文–
釋國清贈詩、文–
呂渭贈詩、文–
阮芳顔贈詩、文–
釋長文贈詩、文–
劉正元贈詩、文–
劉復贈詩、文–
陸僧辯贈詩、文–
陸暢贈詩、文–
周況贈詩、文–
釋無懷贈詩、文–
釋智遠贈詩、文–
鄭魴贈詩、文–
鄭容贈詩、文–
鄭毗贈詩、文–
釋悟空贈詩、文–

Showing the first 100 of 116 records; the interactive page loads the full list.

ExaminationsCBDB

RecordRank
科舉: 進士(籠統)

WorksCBDB

TitleRoleYearEra
孟東野詩集
孟東野集
孟郊詩集

Citations

  1. [1] Name, dates, and identity Meng Jiao was born in 751, died in 814, and was a poet of the Tang dynasty.
    • CBDBMeng Jiao (93952)The main record gives his name, birth year 751, death year 814, Tang affiliation, and status as a poet.
    • Souyun孟郊 (14010)The profile identifies Meng Jiao as a middle-Tang figure born in 751 and deceased in 814; the biographical synopsis presents him as a poet.
    • WikidataMeng Jiao (Q1175924)The item is labeled Meng Jiao and describes him as a Chinese poet.
  2. [2] Style name and birth order His style name was Dongye and he was ranked twelfth in his family.
    • CBDBMeng Jiao (93952)The alternate-name entries identify Meng Shier as a birth-order designation and Dongye as his style name.
    • Souyun孟郊 (14010)The profile lists Dongye and the twelfth birth order, while the biography states that he was styled Dongye and ranked twelfth.
    • WikidataMeng Jiao (Q1175924)The aliases include Dongye and Meng Shier, corresponding to his style name and birth-order designation.
  3. [3] Private posthumous title After his death, friends including Zhang Ji privately bestowed the title Zhenyao Xiansheng on him.
    • Souyun孟郊 (14010)The biographies state that Zhang Ji, or Zhang Ji and other friends, privately bestowed the title Zhenyao Xiansheng.
    • WikidataMeng Jiao (Q1175924)The name entries include Zhenyao Xiansheng as an associated title.
  4. [4] Native place and birthplace His native place is given as Wukang in Huzhou or Luoyang, with Pingchang as his ancestral commandery; one account says he was born in Kunshan.
    • CBDBMeng Jiao (93952)The address entries give Luoyang as the basic native place, Wukang as another native place, and Pingchang as the ancestral place.
    • Souyun孟郊 (14010)The profile and biographies identify Wukang in Huzhou, now Deqing, as his home and state that he was born in Kunshan.
  5. [5] Family His father was Meng Tingfen, who died in 773.
    • CBDBMeng Jiao (93952)The kinship entry identifies Meng Tingfen as his father and gives 773 as his death year.
  6. [6] Early life In youth he secluded himself on Mount Song, was known as a recluse, was characterized as aloof and independent, and traveled in Henan and Binning.
    • Souyun孟郊 (14010)The biographies describe his seclusion on Mount Song, his status as a recluse, his aloof character, and travels in Henan and Binning.
  7. [7] Huzhou poetry society He lived in Huzhou early in life, joined a poetry society organized by Jiao Ran, and was strongly influenced by Jiao Ran’s poetic thought.
    • Souyun孟郊 (14010)The biography states that he lived in Huzhou, joined the poetry society organized by the monk Jiao Ran, and was strongly influenced by Jiao Ran’s poetic thought.
  8. [8] Examination career and variant dates He repeatedly failed the Presented Scholar examination before passing; accounts give 796 or 798 for the success and place it at age forty-five or forty-six, or fifty.
    • CBDBMeng Jiao (93952)The examination entry identifies him generally as a Presented Scholar but supplies no more precise year.
    • Souyun孟郊 (14010)Different biographies give 796 or 798 for his success and variously say that he was forty-five or forty-six, or fifty, when he passed.
  9. [9] Liyang county office In 800 he became Assistant County Magistrate of Liyang; after neglecting administrative work through composing poetry, he was replaced by a deputy, lost half his stipend, and resigned.
    • CBDBMeng Jiao (93952)The office entries list the county-magistrate post at Liyang from 800 through 804.
    • Souyun孟郊 (14010)The biographies place him in the Liyang county office in the sixteenth year and explain the poetic neglect of duties, replacement by a deputy, half stipend, and resignation.
  10. [10] Appointments in 806–809 In 806 Zheng Yuqing appointed him to the water-and-land transport administration and as a probationary xielulang, with the appointments extending through 809.
    • CBDBMeng Jiao (93952)The office entries list the water-and-land transport staff post and xielulang post from 806 through 809.
    • Souyun孟郊 (14010)The biographies state that Zheng Yuqing appointed him to the water-and-land transport service and that he was tried as a xielulang in the first year of Yuanhe, 806.
  11. [11] Xingyuan appointments After Zheng Yuqing took command at Xingyuan, he memorialized Meng Jiao for the Xingyuan army staff and Dali pingshi posts; a military commissioner’s staff-judge post is also listed.
    • CBDBMeng Jiao (93952)The office entries list the 814 posts of military commissioner’s staff judge and Dali pingshi.
    • Souyun孟郊 (14010)The biographies state that after Zheng Yuqing took Xingyuan he memorialized Meng Jiao for a counsellor post and a probationary Dali pingshi appointment.
  12. [12] Death and poverty In 814 he died suddenly of illness at Wenxiang while traveling to take up office, after a life of poverty and without money for burial.
    • CBDBMeng Jiao (93952)The main record gives 814 as his death year and names Wenxiang as the place of death.
    • Souyun孟郊 (14010)The biographies say that he died suddenly on the journey at Wenxiang and that lifelong poverty left no money for burial.
  13. [13] Associations Meng Jiao was a friend of Han Yu and Jia Dao and associated with Zhang Ji, Li Ao, and Lu Tong.
    • CBDBMeng Jiao (93952)The association entries identify Han Yu and Jia Dao as friends and list Zhang Ji, Li Ao, and Lu Tong among his associates.
    • Souyun孟郊 (14010)The biographies mention his friendship with Han Yu, his association with Jia Dao, and his friendships with Zhang Ji, Li Ao, and Lu Tong.
  14. [14] Poetic standing He devoted himself to poetry, excelled in five-character old-style verse and yuefu, was ranked with Han Yu, helped found the Han–Meng school, and was paired with Jia Dao as Jiao and Dao.
    • CBDBMeng Jiao (93952)The status and association entries identify him as a poet and place Han Yu and Jia Dao among the relevant figures.
    • Souyun孟郊 (14010)The biographies describe his expertise in poetry, five-character verse, and yuefu, his equality with Han Yu, his role in the Han–Meng school, and the pairing with Jia Dao.
  15. [15] Periods and style His poetry is divided at the 792 Chang’an examination journey: an energetic early period moving from reclusion toward office and a later, more unusual style shaped by frustrated service.
    • Souyun孟郊 (14010)The poetic biography uses the 792 Chang’an examination as the dividing point and describes the different aims, tones, and styles of the two periods.
  16. [16] Social subjects and poetic principle His poetry addressed popular suffering, separatist military governors, and his own poverty, expressing the principle “下筆證興亡，陳詞備風骨.”
    • Souyun孟郊 (14010)The poetic biography describes poems on popular suffering, separatist military regimes, and personal hardship, and quotes the principle “下筆證興亡，陳詞備風骨.”
  17. [17] Poetic language and Jiao-Han Dao-Shou He pursued fresh, lean, hard-edged diction; the cold, sorrowful atmosphere of the poetry contributed to the phrase “郊寒島瘦,” shared with Jia Dao.
    • Souyun孟郊 (14010)The poetic biography says that he avoided commonplace diction, sought fresh lean hardness, and that the term “郊寒島瘦” refers to sorrowful content and a cold aesthetic.
  18. [18] Han Yu’s assessment Han Yu praised the unusual, hard-edged construction of Meng Jiao’s verse in two cited formulations.
    • Souyun孟郊 (14010)The poetic biography quotes Han Yu’s Tomb Inscription for Zhenyao and “Jianshi” in describing Meng Jiao’s unusual, hard-edged verse.
  19. [19] Collections His poetry circulated under three collection titles, and Song Minqiu compiled a ten-fascicle Meng Dongye’s Collection in the Northern Song.
    • CBDBMeng Jiao (93952)The works entries list Meng Dongye’s Poetry, Meng Dongye’s Collection, and Meng Jiao’s Poetry Collection.
    • Souyun孟郊 (14010)The biographies state that Song Minqiu compiled the ten-fascicle Meng Dongye’s Collection in the Northern Song and also mention the poetry collection.
  20. [20] Editions and critical comments Ling Mengchu engraved a Ming edition with comments by Guocai and Liu Chenweng, and Hua Chenzhi produced a later, more complete collated edition.
    • Souyun孟郊 (14010)The works biography records Ling Mengchu’s engraved edition, the comments by Guocai and Liu Chenweng, and Hua Chenzhi’s more complete collated edition.
  21. [21] Annotated editions The annotated editions include the work by Hua Chenzhi and Yu Xuecai and the work by Han Quanxin.
    • Souyun孟郊 (14010)The works biography lists Hua Chenzhi and Yu Xuecai’s Collated Annotations to Meng Jiao’s Poetry and Han Quanxin’s Collated Annotations to Meng Jiao’s Collection.
  22. [22] Variant fascicle counts The number of fascicles in the Complete Tang Poetry is given as either five or ten, while the supplement adds one poem.
    • Souyun孟郊 (14010)Different biographies give five or ten fascicles for the poems in the Complete Tang Poetry and mention one poem added by its supplement.