Luo Yin

Luo Yin
Traditional Chinese	羅隱
Simplified Chinese	罗隐
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Luó Yǐn Wade–Giles Lo Yin
Zhaojian (courtesy name)
Traditional Chinese	昭諫
Simplified Chinese	昭谏
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhāojiàn
Jiangdongsheng (art name)
Traditional Chinese	江東生
Simplified Chinese	江东生
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Jiāngdōngshēng
Luo Heng (original name)
Traditional Chinese	羅橫
Simplified Chinese	罗横
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Luó Héng

Luo Yin (833–January 26, 910), born Luo Heng, courtesy name Zhaojian, was a Chinese statesman and poet of the Tang Dynasty. Luo was born in Fuyang, Zhejiang. At the age of 20, he took his first Imperial examination. He failed the exam ten times. As a result, he gave himself the pseudonym "Yin" (lit. "dormant").

Life

He was said to be of ugly countenance, and that he thought highly of himself and looked down on others. In 870, he was given a post in Hunan. However, he was unable to take advantage of the post, and returned to Zhejiang in 887. Penniless and frustrated, he later became an assistant to Qian Liu, but never shed his arrogant ways. He died at the age of 77.

Works

Luo Yin is best known for his plain spoken poetry and satiric wit. His most famous poem was called "Self Consolation" (自遣):

• 得(dé)即(jí)高(gāo)歌(gē)失(shī)即(jí)休(xiū)，多(duō)愁(chóu)多(duō)恨(hèn)亦(yì)悠(yōu)悠(yōu)。今(jīn)朝(zhāo)有(yǒu)酒(jiǔ)今(jīn)朝(zhāo)醉(zuì)，明(míng)日(rì)愁(chóu)來(lái)明(míng)日(rì)愁(chóu)。

  A gain makes me sing; a loss makes me sullen. Worries and regrets are always around. If there is wine today, then today is the day to get drunk. Worry about tomorrow's worries when they come tomorrow.