Cen Shen (died 758 AD) was a famous poet of the Tang dynasty in China. He was born in a poor family in Nanyang and started his career as a minor official. However, he later left his job to become a wandering poet and achieved great fame for his works.
Cen Shen was known for his simple and straightforward writing style, which reflected the common people’s life and sentiments. He wrote poems on a wide range of topics, including love, nature, and politics. His most famous works include “Cen Shen’s Ode to the Red Cliff,” which is considered one of the greatest poems of the Tang dynasty, and “Cen Shen’s Lament for Ying,” which is a melancholic poem about a former lover.
Cen Shen’s life was marked by both triumph and tragedy. Despite his success as a poet, he suffered from poverty and illness throughout his life. He died in 758 AD at the age of 60 and was buried in Nanyang.
Today, Cen Shen is remembered as one of the greatest poets of the Tang dynasty and his works continue to inspire generations of Chinese poets and readers. He is also regarded as one of the most influential poets in the history of Chinese literature, with his poems being widely studied and admired for their depth, beauty, and timelessness.