Zhu Shuzhen

Who was Zhu Shuzhen?

Zhu Shuzhen 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 and her parents burned poetry by her hand.

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