Guan Yunshi, the Sinicized Uighur Sävinč Qaya, was a major literary figure of the Yuan dynasty. During his own day, he enjoyed the highest of reputations as a writer of both classical verse and prose and the new popular form of lyric poetry, the free lyric (sanqu), which bridged ‘popular’ and ‘elite’ culture and literature. Guan is an interesting and unusual figure. Although not of major political or intellectual consequence, he was still close enough to the centre of trends and events to represent, in several important ways, the values and sensibilities of his age. Guan was also a major calligrapher, whose works were highly prized – some of which still survive, reproductions of which are illustrated in this PowerPoint Presentation. The transformation of this young Uighur military figure into, first, a Neo-Confucian Imperial academician in Dadu, the Yuan capital, and then, following disillusionment, a bon vivant and highly cultured semi-recluse in Qiantang (Hangzhou) makes a remarkable story, here amply illustrated with translations of poetry and prose excerpts keyed to significant stages of his life.

Professor Richard John Lynn is an esteemed Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto. Throughout his illustrious career, he has held academic positions at prestigious universities in New Zealand, Australia, the USA and Canada. From 1999 to 2005, he served as a full-time Professor of Chinese Thought and Literature at the University of Toronto before his retirement. Professor Lynn’s contributions to the field of Chinese studies are extensive. He has authored over 100 published book sections, journal articles and reviews, focusing on diverse subjects such as pre-modern Chinese poetry and poetics, literati culture, intellectual history and the visual arts.