Background
Zhuo Wenjun was born in Sichuan province, but there is no exact information about the date of her birth. She was a daughter of Zhuo Wangsun. Some sources said that she had several brothers.
卓文君
Zhuo Wenjun was born in Sichuan province, but there is no exact information about the date of her birth. She was a daughter of Zhuo Wangsun. Some sources said that she had several brothers.
After the death of her husband, Zhuo Wenjun returned to her father's house. Later she met Sima Xiangru at the banquet that was arranged by her father. Sima Xiangru played the qin (a seven-stringed instrument that is plucked, similar to a zither) at this banquet. Zhuo Wenjun was quickly seduced by the sound of the qin and, secretly watching from her room, fell in love with Sima Xiangru. Events moved quickly that night. Sima Xiangru bribed a servant to declare on his behalf his love for Zhuo Wenjun, who responded by running off with him to his empty house in Chengdu.
However, Zhuo Wenjun didn't like to live in poverty. She became unhappy and suggested that they return to Linqiong to borrow some money from her brothers and cousins. Sima Xiangru agreed, but instead of borrowing money, they sold their horse and carriage and bought a wine shop in Linqiong, with Zhuo Wenjun selling the wine and Sima Xiangru the shopkeeper. Zhuo Wenjun’s father was deeply ashamed and shut himself up in his house, refusing to go out. Eventually, however, he gave in to the family’s entreaties and gave his daughter 100 servants and one million cash, as well as clothes, blankets, and other goods when she married her lover. The couple then returned to Chengdu, bought land and houses, and lived to the full extent of their means.
When Sima Xiangru became wealthy he wanted to take a concubine, prompting Zhuo Wenjun to compose the ballad A Song of White Hair (Baitou yin) to reproach him and let him know she would leave him. After the death of Sima Xiangru, Zhuo Wenjun wrote an elegy for him.
Zhuo Wenjun was married twice. When her first husband died, she returned to the home of her wealthy father. Later she was married to Sima Xiangru. None of the marriages produced any children.