Kao Shih

(pseudonym of Kao Tafu). Born 700?; died in January 765, in Ch’ang-an. Chinese poet.

Kao Shih spent his youth wandering about the country; he later became a hermit. In his old age he passed the examination to receive a scholarly degree and entered government service. Kao Shih wrote about the sufferings of the people. Many of his works deal with military themes. He was closely linked with such leading figures of T’ang poetry as Tu Fu and Li Po. His best verses (“Yen Metody,” “Song About Yingchou,” and “Parting With a Friend at Night”) are very popular in China.