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Ssu-k’ung Shu (740–790) was from Yungnien in Hopei province and served as director of the Bureau of Waterways and Irrigation, and later of the Bureau of Forestry and Crafts. He was ranked among the Ten Talents of the Tali Period (766–779) and was known for the playfulness of his poems, which he wrote on topics such as noodle soup. For such men, spending time together discussing and writing poetry was a major part of their lives. Hence, Ssu-k’ung tries to detain a friend with wine that he compares to a great wind. This wind was named after a woman and her merchant husband. When the husband failed to return from a journey, his wife died of a broken heart. But on her deathbed she vowed, “After I die, my spirit will become a great wind that will prevent all men going on distant journeys from leaving their wives.” Thereafter, her name and that of her husband were combined to describe such a departure-preventing wind.

Saying Goodbye to Lu Ch’in-ch’ing

SSU-K’UNG SHU

I know we plan to meet again

but how can we part tonight

don’t think an old friend’s wine

is weaker than a Shihyu Wind