author
Mei Yuan
1716–1798
Known for his lively, independent voice, this 18th-century Chinese writer brought poetry, essays, and strange tales to a wide audience. He is especially remembered for work that mixed literary grace with curiosity about everyday life and the supernatural.
3 Audiobooks
About the author
Born in 1716, Yuan Mei was a Chinese poet, essayist, and writer of the Qing dynasty. He is remembered as an original literary voice who valued feeling, freshness, and personal expression over rigid convention.
His writing ranged widely, from poetry criticism to anecdotal and supernatural tales. He is especially associated with What the Master Would Not Discuss (Zi bu yu), a collection of strange stories, and with influential ideas about poetry that helped shape his reputation as an independent-minded man of letters.
Yuan Mei died in 1798. His work has lasted because it is both elegant and approachable, combining sharp observation with wit, curiosity, and a clear delight in language.