Education
He completed the Jinshi level of the Imperial Examination at age twenty-four.
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Chen Zi"ang
Edit Profile陈子昂, 陳子昂, 伯玉
Career
He was important in helping to bring into being the type of poetry which is considered to be characteristically "Tang". He would soon be followed by such poets of the golden age of Tang poetry as Wang Wei, Li Bai, and Du Fu. A native of Shehong County in modern Sichuan province, Chen Zi"ang was the son of a rich man, and did not travel to the capital to take his exams until he was in his twenties.
Responding to the onlookers consequent intense curiosity, he claimed to be an expert at playing that particular musical instrument, and invited everyone to see him do a performance the next day.
Then, when the curious crowds showed up, he had prepared a lavish feast. As an important advisor to the Empress Wu Zetian, Chen was a firm advocate of poetry reflecting real life, and thus with his active interest in politics, much of his work has undertones of social commentary.
Some have suggested that it was his work that was the reason he suffered persecution at the hands of Wu Sansi. He died in 702 having been in and out of prison.
