Zhu Shuzhen

She either had an affair or committed suicide. After her death, her parents burned poetry that she had written. There is no firm evidence of Zhu's existence. Her poems were first collected by a twelfth-century official named Wei Duanli, who stated that he happened to hear them in inns in the area of Hangzhou. Although Wei cites a biography by one Wang Tanzuo of Hangzhou, which is not extant, the research of Huang Yanli has established that most of the detailed traditions regarding Zhu first surfaced in the writing of Ming anthologists.

• Name — Zhu Shuzhen • Native Name — 朱淑真 • Born — 1135 • Birthplace — Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China • Died — 1180 • Place of death — Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China • Occupation — Poet • Notable Works — Heartbreaking Verse Zhu Shuzhen (c. 1135 – 1180) was a Chinese poet who lived during the Song dynasty. She married an official with whom she had a bad marriage. She either had an affair or committed suicide. After her death, her parents burned poetry that she had written. There is no firm evidence of Zhu's existence. Her poems were first collected by a twelfth-century official named Wei Duanli, who stated that he happened to hear them in inns in the area of Hangzhou. Although Wei cites a biography by one Wang Tanzuo of Hangzhou, which is not extant, the research of Huang Yanli has established that most of the detailed traditions regarding Zhu first surfaced in the writing of Ming anthologists.

Copies of her poetry had already been circulating and 339 shi and 33 ci, written by her could be reconstituted. Her poems dealt with love's sorrows and her collection is called Heartbreaking Verse. Since she adopted a few lines from Li Qingzhao's work, it's clear that Zhu Shuzhen was familiar with at least some of her work.