Zhiyuan Ma

Writing in the Yuan dynasty, Ma Zhiyuan was a Chinese dramatist, playwright, and poet traditionally dated to about 1250–1321. He is widely remembered as one of the leading figures of the period and is often grouped with the great masters of Yuan drama.

He is especially known for helping develop and popularize sanqu, a lyric form in classical Chinese poetry. Among his best-known works is the short poem usually rendered in English as "Autumn Thoughts," which remains one of the most famous examples of the form.

Sources also describe him as a native of Dadu, present-day Beijing, and note that his collected sanqu poems were gathered under the title Dongli Yuefu. Even centuries later, his writing is valued for its clarity, emotional depth, and vivid sense of scene.