Xingde Nalan

Born in Beijing in 1655, Nalan Xingde was a Manchu poet of the early Qing dynasty, also known as Nara Singde. He is best known for ci poetry, a lyric form in which he earned a lasting reputation for elegance, emotional depth, and a deeply personal voice.

Sources agree that he was born as Nalan Chengde and later changed his given name because of a naming taboo connected with the Qing crown prince. He came from a prominent family, but his writing is often remembered less for courtly display than for its intimacy: many readers have been drawn to the sadness, longing, and clarity of feeling in his poems.

He died in 1685 at just 30 years old, yet his work remained influential long after his lifetime. Modern reference works still single him out as one of the standout lyric poets of the Qing period, and he continues to be read both for his literary skill and for the emotional immediacy of his verse.