Is “Emperor Yang of Sui ordered Yu Shinan to compose a poem to tease Yuan Bao'er” true?
The New Book of Tang, Biography of Yu Shinan, records that Yu Shinan served as a secretary in the Sui Dynasty, and 'although Emperor Yang appreciated his talent, he disliked his sternness and did not employ him much; he remained at the seventh rank for ten years without promotion.' There is no record of a romantic poem composed in the emperor's presence. In the Romance of Sui and Tang, Chapter 36, which elaborates on palace romantic anecdotes, it is written that Emperor Yang saw Yuan Bao'er gazing at Yu Shinan and ordered him to compose a poem to tease her. Yu Shinan immediately wrote, 'Learning to paint yellow brows, not yet finished; with drooping shoulders and trailing sleeves, too naive.' Emperor Yang jokingly said he would give Bao'er to him as a concubine, causing her to throw herself into a pond. This is purely fictional.
In the official history, Yu Shinan served in the Sui Dynasty with integrity but was not given important positions; the novel fictionalizes Emperor Yang of Sui ordering him to compose a poem to tease Yuan Bao'er.
This page was extracted from classical texts with AI assistance and revised; errors remain possible. Spotted a mistake? Tell us →