Wei Zhuang (, 836–910),
courtesy name Duanyi (端己), was a
Chinese poet and
Tang period historical figure, is best known for his poetry in
shi and
ci styles. He was born into a family of minor scholars in Duling county, a town southwest of the capital
Changan.
He seems to have begun his official career at the age of forty-four, when he passed the metropolitan examination. His writings of the period are concerned with festive surroundings and friends. In the same year of 880 the
Huang Chao's rebellion destroyed the capital and forced the court to remove itself to
Sichuan. Wei himself was held captive by the rebels. Wei’s long poem
Ballad of the Lady Jin perhaps recounts these events. Subsequently Wei wandered for ten years. In 894, Wei passed the
Jinshi examination, enabling him to secure an official post. However in 896, the
Li Maozhen's rebellion led to further dislocations. In 901,
Wang Jian proclaimed himself ruler of the
Shu court. Wei would eventually become prime minister of the Shu Kingdom. Wei had perhaps perceived the inevitable end of the Tang ruling house and attached himself to the new kingdom in
Chengdu. He spent his final years in a compilation of Tang poems as well as his own collected verse.