[1] Most of his poems are "boudoir"-style verses that described the opulent furnishings and gardens of solitary women and their hidden desires.

[2] This style of poetry was commonly used for romantic communications between men and women in the entertainment districts of the Chinese capital Chang'an during the Tang dynasty.

[6] From a young age, Wen was interested in literature but had limited opportunities to study as his father died early.

[6] The emperor Li Chen loved a song called “Pu Sa Man (Buddha-like barbarian)” very much.

[6] Linghu Tao then dedicated Wen Tingyun's twenty lyrics of Pu Sa Man to the emperor and lied that he wrote it by himself.

[6] After those incidents, Linghu Tao began to plot against Wen Tingyun in secret and bribed the examiner to hinder his promotion.

[6] Brief success in later life After Li Cui became the new emperor and Yang Shou became the new prime minister, Wen was recommended to be the Instructor of the State Sons' University in 866.

[6] In order to prevent other examinees being framed like him, Wen Tingyun began to reform the imperial examination system as soon as he took office.

Paul F. Rouzer translated it as follow: “Geng Louzi Incense in the jade burner玉爐香， Tears on the red candle紅蠟淚， They stubbornly shine on autumn grief in painted halls偏照畫堂秋思。 Emerald mascara light眉翠薄， Side-curl clouds thin，鬢雲殘， The night is long, coverlet and pillow cold夜長衾枕寒。 Wutong trees梧桐樹， And midnight rain 三更雨 Don't know the grief felt right now at parting不道離情正苦。 Leaf by leaf一葉葉， Sound by sound一聲聲， They drop on empty stairs till day空階滴到明。”[4] (Rouzer 1993) Geng louzi is also translated as "on the water clock at night".

鬓云欲度香腮雪 Lazily rising to paint on mouth eyebrows, 懒起画蛾眉 Dallying with makeup and hair.

“In this clear night, kind feelings 清夜恩情四座同 are shared by one and all; So don’t let the canal waters 莫令沟水东西别 part, east and west.” Set upright, the candles weep, 亭亭蜡泪香珠残 their scented beads wane.

With yearning, the new frog-moon 脉脉新蟾如瞪目 stares down with amorous eyes.” [4](Rouzer 1993) Wen Tingyun wrote down a large number of poems and he was the founder of the flowery school of Ci.

[11] As a result, driven by the works of Wen Tingyun, more and more people began to follow a delicate form that focused on emotional expression, and boldly narrated the love between men and women.

[6] Because he was famous for his poems at that time, the Imperial Deputy of Yangzi Court Yao Xu offered him a large amount of money.

[6] Wen's elder sister was angry with Yao Xu because of this, she found out who he is and went to his office, shouting and pulling his sleeves.

[6] Linghu Tao accused a clerk but acquitted the patrolling soldier, and he blamed this incident on Wen's bad manner.

[13] In the beginning, her name was Yu Youwei and she was a young maid doing laundry in a brothel until Wen Tingyun found her, raised her up, and became her teacher.

[14] In order to protect Yu Youwei, Li Yi sent her to a Taoist temple and promise her to pick her up three years later.

[14] She thought she was deceived then no longer believes in men, and transformed her temple into a brothel to survive on her own [14] Finally, 26-year-old Yu Xuanji was sentenced to death because she killed a maid who was found cheating with her lover.