Gao Ming
Yuan Dynasty poet and playwright, author of *Tale of the Pipa*.
Gao Ming (c.
- field
- Poetry, Playwriting
- nationality
- Chinese (Yuan Dynasty)
- known_for
- Tale of the Pipa (Pipa ji)
Lore & Background
Gao Ming was born and grew up in Wenzhou. He served under the writer Su Tianjue and helped edit some of Su's work. After Fang's defeat, Gao was given a post as assessor of Shaoxing. Fang later attempted to employ Gao as a teacher, an offer which Gao politely declined.
Reader's Guide
Gao Ming's significance rests primarily on his play *Tale of the Pipa*, the sole surviving work from his theatrical career. Gao's life reflects the tensions between official duty and artistic pursuit during the late Yuan period.
Did You Know?
- He helped edit works of the writer Su Tianjue while serving as a minor district official.
- Gao declined an offer from the Hongwu Emperor to write the official history of the Yuan, citing mental illness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Gao Ming's most famous work?
His masterpiece is *Tale of the Pipa* (Pipa ji), a classical Chinese play that remains his only extant work and has since been adapted for the Broadway stage under the title *Lute Song*.
What other names or aliases is Gao Ming known by?
He is also referred to as Kao Ming, Gao Zecheng, and the Cabbage Root Taoist, the last being a literary pen name that reflects his reclusive, Taoist-influenced self-image.
Which dynasty did Gao Ming belong to?
He lived and worked during the Yuan Dynasty, placing him in the late 13th to mid-14th century literary tradition of Chinese drama and poetry.
Why is Gao Ming important to the study of Chinese classical literature?
As the creator of *Tale of the Pipa*, he represents one of the few surviving voices of Yuan-dynasty playwriting, and his work has become a touchstone for both Chinese literary scholarship and Western stage adaptation.
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