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Chao Ku (815–856) was born in Huai-an in Kiangsu province. After passing the civil service exam in 842, he served in a number of posts and finally as commandant of Weinan, to which he eventually retired. Weinan is located on the south shore of the Wei River just east of Ch’ang-an and served as the capital’s entrepôt for goods coming up the Yellow River. Towers were built along rivers in China to monitor boat traffic. But they were also used for enjoying the view, especially on moonlit nights. Tu Mu (803–852) was so taken with the line in another Chao Ku poem (“I lean from a tower listening to a flute”), he gave Chao the nickname “Tower Leaning Chao.”

Reflections at a River Tower

CHAO KU

Alone on a river tower my thoughts full of sorrow

the moonlight like the water the water like the sky

where is the person with whom I shared the moon

the view isn’t quite the same as last year