Yan Shu (Yen Shu) 991-1055

Song-dynasty poet. Born in Linchuan (modern day Jiangxi), Yan was a child prodigy, earning the jinshi degree at the age of fourteen. A talented and tactful statesman, he advanced quickly in his official career and was appointed Grand Councillor before the age of fifty. Dismissed at the age of fifty-four for unknown reasons, he spent the remainder of his life serving in provincial positions. Yan's 137 ci poems are collected in the volume Zhu-yu ci [Pearls and jade] and reflect the tastes of the affluent conservative literati.

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