Han Hong (Chinese: 韓翃; fl. 8th century), courtesy name Junping (君平), was a Chinese poet of the mid-Tang dynasty. He was one of the "Ten Talents of the Dali Reign" (大历十才子), and three of his poems were included in the influential anthology Three Hundred Tang Poems.
Biography
Han Hong's exact birth and death dates are unknown, but he flourished in the 8th century. He hailed from Nanyang (in present-day Xiuwu County, Henan Province). He attained a jinshi degree in the imperial examination in 754, during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong. He subsequently served in several government positions, including jia bu lang zhong zhi zhi gao (駕部郎中知制诰) and zhong shu she ren (中书舍人). His poetry was praised by Emperor Dezong of Tang.
Poetry
Han Hong was recognized as one of the "Ten Talents of the Dali Reign" (大历十才子), a group of poets active during the Dali era (766–779) of Emperor Daizong's reign. He is noted for his strong linguistic sense, using simple vocabulary to produce highly evocative poetry. He distinguished himself particularly in frontier poetry (biansai shi), serving as a bridge between the heroic frontier tradition of the High Tang and the more reflective approach of the Mid-Tang.
Three of his poems were included in the Three Hundred Tang Poems. Books 243, 244, and 245 of the Quan Tangshi (Complete Tang Poems) are devoted to his works. A Ming-era editor compiled an anthology of his poetry titled Han Junping Ji (韩君平集).
His most famous poem is "Han Shi" (寒食 / Cold Food Festival), which describes the capital Chang'an during the Cold Food Festival. The opening lines are:
春城無處不飛花，寒食東風御柳斜。 "In the spring city, nowhere does it not rain blossoms; / On Cold Food, the east wind slants the imperial willows."
Another well-known passage from a lüshi (regulated verse) he sent to an associate was highly praised by later Song dynasty critics as an exemplary farewell poem:
蟬聲驛路秋山裏，草色河橋落照中。 "Cicada sounds on the post road in autumn mountains; / Grass colors at the river bridge in the setting sun."
Portrayals in later literature
Han Hong was featured as the protagonist in Xu Yaozuo's romantic novel Liu-shi Zhuan (柳氏传 / The Story of Liu), a Tang dynasty chuanqi tale about his relationship with a courtesan named Liu.
