12th century, China, Chinese, East Asia, historical figure, primary source, quotes, Song dynasty, stories
The jester Ding Xianxian 丁仙現 (Immortal Revelation Ding) was a Grand Commissioner of the Court Entertainments Bureau 教坊 at the court of Song Huizong 宋徽宗 (r. 1101-25). Early in the Chongning reign period (1102-06), his musical skills were called upon as arbiter of...
12th century, Europe, Ireland, primary source, quotes, stories
Jesters could use rhymes and ditties to crack a joke or make a point, and the capacity to produce verse can signal some overlap with poets. But this intersection goes further – in some times and places the role of court poet could share some common ground with...
12th century, China, Chinese, East Asia, historical figure, primary source, quotes, Song dynasty, stories
They do dare, it’s one of their quiddities. Even when it’s a serving or former Prime Minister or similar. Again, a jester criticizes a powerful minister, in this case drawing attention to the suffering his oligarchic-scale building plans caused ordinary...
12th century, China, Chinese, East Asia, historical figure, primary source, quotes, Song dynasty, stories
There are two strikingly similar accounts of jesters intervening when someone in authority had the bright idea to cut somebody else’s pay by half. Here we share the first of these, used by a Chinese jester at the court of Song Huizong 宋徽宗 (r. 1100-26). Soon we...
12th century, China, Chinese, East Asia, historical figure, primary source, quotes, Song dynasty
Another example of jesters using the skit as a vehicle for influencing the emperor’s behaviour or policy. Immortal Revelation Ding (Ding Xianxian丁仙現) was a jester who flourished for several decades. In addition to being solicited for his opinions on music and...
12th century, China, Chinese, East Asia, historical figure, primary source, quotes, Song dynasty, stories
A frequent feature of Chinese jesterdom was the pre-prepared skit, which could be said to have been precursors, or at least contributors, to the development of drama in China. Jesters would work out a storyline in order to get a point across to the emperor, echoing...
12th century, Europe, France, French, historical figure, medieval, primary source, quotes, stories
From the Roman de Rou, the 12th century verse chronicle of the Normans commissioned by the English king Henry II, in which the author Robert Wace mentions a jester of Duke William of Normandy (c. 1029-1087, later ‘William the Conqueror’). He recounts how...
