Xue Tao, also known as Hongdu, means that he passed through the turbulent currents of the waves. She was a famous talented woman of the Tang Dynasty, known as one of the Four Great Poets of the Tang Dynasty along with Yu Xuanji, Li Ye, and Liu Caichun. She was also known as one of the Four Great Talented Women of Sichuan along with Zhuo Wenjun, Lady Huarui, and Huang E. Interested friends, let’s take a look with the history encyclopedia editor.
Xue Tao was a genius child. At the age of 14, his father unfortunately passed away. Under the pressure of livelihood, Xue Tao became a geisha known for her poetry and quickly became famous in Chengdu with her first-class talents and beautiful appearance. Not only that, Xue Tao is also an inventor, and his most famous invention is Xue Tao’s paper.
Although there were many poets in the Tang Dynasty, a woman like Xue Tao who possessed both the identity of a poet and an inventor was truly rare, not to mention her exceptional talent and beauty, as well as her proficiency in music. She was not only an outstanding female poet in the Tang Dynasty, but also throughout history.
At that time, Wei Gao, the military governor of Jiannan, appreciated Xue Tao’s talent and liked her appearance, so he asked her to do some writing work around him. He tried to ask the court for a title for Xue Tao, but was unsuccessful.
Wei Gao was an important figure who changed the fate of Xue Tao. He had a mixed feelings of father and lover towards Xue Tao. At that time, Sichuan was both a military fortress and a place with a strong humanistic atmosphere. After receiving Xue Tao, Wei Gao often invited officials from all walks of life to gather and entertain. Xue Tao was responsible for writing poems with literati and scholars, becoming a hot social flower in the cultural circle. Xue Tao’s wit, agility, humor, and wit in his interactions with these cultural figures amazed every guest present.
Once, during a visit by the famous Tang Dynasty poet Liu Yuxi, Xue Tao accompanied him. Xue Tao blurted out a poem called “Seven Wonders”, which shocked Liu Yuxi. He then replied with the same poem, making Xue Tao’s reputation even more famous. At that time, officials who came to inspect Shu could enjoy meeting Xue Tao, but Xue Tao was very easy-going and often had conflicts with some people. His behavior made Wei Gao jealous and sent him to travel far away.
Xue Tao realized that he had gone too far in playing. No matter how much the children of those nobles praise and cherish her, they will eventually leave in the dust. The one who truly masters his own life and is constantly facing himself is this Wei Gao. So she wrote ten famous farewell poems, which finally made Wei Gao change his mind and find her again.
When Xue Tao was 35 years old, Wei Gao passed away. Xue Tao continued to enter and exit the military governor’s office as a geisha. At that time, there were many celebrities and talented people who had dealings with Xue Tao, including Bai Juyi, Niu Zengru, Du Mu, Liu Yuxi, Zhang Hu, etc. They all exchanged poetry and literature with Xue Tao and established friendship with each other.
Although Xue Tao had extremely special relationships with many men, he only loved one person in his life, which was the famous Tang Dynasty poet Yuan Zhen. Yuan Zhen had always wanted to meet this talented and beautiful woman. In the fourth year of Emperor Xianzong’s Yuanhe reign, Yuan Zhen finally had the opportunity to meet Xue Tao in Chengdu. At that time, Xue Tao was 40 years old and Yuan Zhen was 30 years old.
Yuan Zhen was very handsome and had a great reputation in the poetry world. Through cultural exchanges and in-depth understanding, the two of them attracted and admired each other, breaking through the bottom line and living together in the same room that night.
Xue Tao couldn’t have never thought of marrying Yuan Zhen, but he also knew that Yuan Zhen was a married man with a huge disparity in status. One was a high-ranking official in the court, and the other was an official prostitute. Such a relationship would not have a good ending. One year later, Yuan Zhen left Sichuan, and Xue Tao understood that the relationship between her and Yuan Zhen was like a fleeting love that could not withstand the test. So she decided to quietly end this relationship. I will no longer contact him.
But a poem sent to him by Yuan Zhen gave her hope, implying that Xue Tao was waiting for him. Xue Tao waited eagerly for Yuan Zhen to fulfill his promise, but there was no result. Yuan Zhen was a person who indulged in love, and he could not compare to Xue Tao, who was ten years older than him, in sticking to love. In addition, Yuan Zhen, due to his disappointment in the officialdom, became depressed and eventually became greedy for money and sex, and his late days were not guaranteed, leaving Xue Tao behind long ago.
Xue Tao finally realized that there could be no outcome between herself and Yuan Zhen. In a poem she sent to Yuan Zhen, she expressed her grief and anger after her love ideals were shattered.
The wind and flowers are about to grow old, and the good season is still far away.
Without a united heart, an empty heart forms a united grass.
Afterwards, she remained unmarried throughout her life. She doesn’t lack suitors around her, but she just clings to a hopeless love. In his later years, he lived a reclusive life, wearing a Taoist robe and staying indoors. In the fifth year of Taihe reign of Emperor Wenzong of Tang Dynasty, Xue Tao completed his life at the age of 62.
Conclusion: When Xue Tao met Yuan Zhen, she devoted all her passion and admiration to this man, and love was like a new life for him. But Yuan Zhen had let her down. When Yuan Zhen left without looking back, Xue Tao’s heart was not filled with hatred, but with tolerance, because she had already tasted the harshness of the world. However, she was still deeply hurt.
Perhaps talented women need more of a soul that can resonate with their thoughts. They can root themselves on the same foundation, know each other well, and share joys and sorrows together. Otherwise, loneliness may be a better choice. Since ancient times, many beauties have lost their lives and there is no kindred spirit to share.
