Zhang Zao (張棗; born Zhang Tao, 張韜; 1962 – 2010) was a prominent Chinese poet, critic, and scholar. He was a key figure in the "Third Generation" of Chinese poets, a group that emerged in the 1980s in response to the more politically charged poetry of earlier generations.
Born in Changsha, Hunan Province, Zhang Zao studied English literature at Hunan Normal University and later earned a doctorate in German literature from the University of Tübingen in Germany. He returned to China and taught at Sichuan University.
Zhang Zao's poetry is characterized by its intellectual rigor, philosophical depth, and linguistic precision. He drew inspiration from a wide range of sources, including classical Chinese poetry, Western philosophy, and modernist literature. His work often explores themes of time, memory, language, and the human condition. He was known for his use of metaphor, ambiguity, and evocative imagery.
Some of his notable poems include "Mirror," "Carrying the Lamp," and "The Complaint of the Jade Steps." He published several collections of poetry and essays, including Memorandum, The Empty Boat, and Latin America.
Zhang Zao's contributions to Chinese poetry and literary criticism have been widely recognized. He is considered one of the most important and influential poets of his generation, and his work continues to be studied and appreciated by scholars and readers alike. He died in 2010 at the age of 48.