Ma Zhiyuan was an acclaimed dramatist during the Yuan Dynasty. He is considered to be one of the four greatest playwrights of the Yuan Dynasty, along with Guan Hanqing, Bai Pu, and Zheng Guangzu. Ma Zhiyuan was admired as the greatest Qu poet in the Yuan Dynasty, and was often hailed as the scholar of Qu poetry.
Background
Ma Zhiyuan(马致远, AD 1250 - 1321), courtesy name Dongli, pseudonym Qianli, was a native of Масitang Village of Dongguang county. We can deduce from his sanqu that he was keen to build a career in politics and serve the country. However, he never had the chance to do so. After 20 years of wandering, he retired to live a reclusive life.
Career
Ma Zhiyuan participated in the creation of zaju from a young age. He was a core member of the Literature Society of Zhenyuan, and was an acquaintance of other literary figures like Wang Bocheng and Li Shizhong. He was ranked among the finest dramatists of his day, and is considered one of the four greatest playwrights of the Yuan Dynasty.
Ma Zhiyuan was involved in the production of zeju for a long period of time. He was famed as the scholar of qu poetry. Only six of his 15 works are still extant including his most famous work titled Autumn in the Нал Palace. His other works are Yueyang Tower, Tears on a Blue Gown, Chen Tuan, The Immortal, and Renfengzi. Ma Zhiyuan also co-authored The Yellow Millet Dream {ft Ш with a few other writers. Dongli Yuefu was one of his sanqu. His song Autumn Reflection also enjoyed great popularity for its originality The song was natural and smooth, and was hailed as the best song about autumn reflections. The song "expressed emotion through its descriptions of scenery".
Ma Zhiyuan lived in a period where the Mongolian rulers had begun to emphasise Chinese learning and were engaging the services of the Chinese. However they did not implement this practice fully, which resulted in more disappointment amongst the Chinese. Ma Zhiyuan claimed that he had once submitted poems to the imperial government, but had not received any reply. He later served as a junior official, but not for long. Ma Zhiyuan soon grew disillusioned and chose to live in seclusion, seeking consolation in Taoism. Autumn in the Han Palace is one of Ma Zhiyuan's most popular works. It is a drama of high literary value.