Luo Yin

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This is a Chinese name; the family name is Luo.
Luo Yin
Simplified Chinese 罗隐
Traditional Chinese 羅隱
(courtesy name)
Simplified Chinese 昭谏
Traditional Chinese 昭諫
(art name)
Simplified Chinese 江东生
Traditional Chinese 江東生
(original given name)
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese

Luo Yin (833–January 26, 910), born Luo Heng, courtesy name Zhaojian, was a Chinese statesman and poet of the Tang Dynasty. Luo was born in Fuyang, Zhejiang. At the age of 20, he took his first imperial exam. He failed the exam ten times. As a result, he gave himself the pseudonym "Yin" (lit. "dormant").


He was said to be of ugly countenance, and that he thought highly of himself and looked down on others. In 870, he was given a post in Hunan. However, he was unable to take advantage of the post, and returned to Zhejiang in 887. Penniless and frustrated, he later became an assistant to Qian Liu, but never shed his arrogant ways. He died at the age of 77.


Luo Yin is best known for his plain spoken poetry and satiric wit. His most famous poem was called "Self Consolation" (自遣):

  • ()()(gāo)()(shī)()(xiū)(duō)(chóu)(duō)(hèn)()(yōu)(yōu)(jīn)(zhāo)(yǒu)(jiǔ)(jīn)(zhāo)(zuì)(míng)()(chóu)(lái)(míng)()(chóu)
    A gain makes me sing; a loss makes me sullen. Worries and regrets are always around. If there is wine today, then today is the day to get drunk. Worry about tomorrow's worries when they come tomorrow.