王勃
初唐
Wang Bo, courtesy name Zi'an, was an early Tang poet and writer, born in Longmen, Jiangzhou. He is regarded as the leading figure among the 'Four Great Masters of Early Tang' and a major force in the literary reform of the period. Wang Bo showed brilliance early and became famous young. He excelled in five-character regulated verse and parallel prose, known for broad vision and ornate diction. His 'Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng' is considered the finest work of parallel prose in Chinese literature. He also wrote celebrated poems such as 'Seeing Du Shaofu off to Shuzhou' and 'In the Mountains.' Wang Bo died at twenty-seven by drowning on a sea voyage, cutting short a brilliant career.