Biography.guide
Home › People › Poet › Wu Renbi
Portrait of Wu Renbi

Wu Renbi

d. 901

Late Tang dynasty Taoist and man of letters

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About Wu Renbi

Wu Renbi was a poet.

Wu Renbi (died 901, courtesy name Tingbao) was a late Tang dynasty Taoist and man of letters. An eccentric man, Wu was eventually killed by the warlord Qian Liu for refusing to write the eulogy for Qian's mother Lady Shuiqiu. Eleven of his poems survived in the collection Quan Tangshi.

Biography Wu Renbi was originally from SÅ« Prefecture. He studied astrology and occult Taoism during his youth. At some point he allegedly studied after a Taoist master in Mount Lu for a few years. In 890, he passed the imperial examination with honors, but given the volatile political situation, with warlords overrunning the nation, he decided to enter the relatively stable territory of warlord Qian Liu in modern Zhejiang. With no money, he begged on the street, and soon Qian Liu heard of his fame and politely sought his service. Qian first asked Wu to interpret astrological signs; Wu said he did not know. Qian then asked Wu to serve in his retinue, and Wu refused again. In late 901, Qian Liu's mother Lady Shuiqiu died. After the funeral service, Qian asked Wu to write the eulogy to be inscribed on her tomb stele. Wu's denial this time incensed a grieving Qian Liu, who immediately ordered Wu Renbi to be thrown into the river and drowned.

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Died
901
Occupation

Frequently asked questions

Who was Wu Renbi?

late Tang dynasty Taoist and man of letters

When did Wu Renbi die?

Wu Renbi died in 901.

What was Wu Renbi's occupation?

Wu Renbi was a poet.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Wu Renbi

· Wikidata: Q24895537

· DBpedia: Wu Renbi

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Wu Renbi. https://biography.guide/wu-renbi/

MLA: "Wu Renbi." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/wu-renbi/.

Chicago: "Wu Renbi." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/wu-renbi/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 04:59 UTC