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...
16th century, book, Europe, primary source
Today’s the day you can be sureYou can’t avoid and shouldn’t ignore,The day that we can all affordto lark about and at last accordOurselves the time to take time outAnd raise a glass and merrily shoutIn praise of Folly, the saucy goddess whoBrings...
8th century, China, Chinese, East Asia, historical figure, primary source, quotes, stories, Tang dynasty
The Chinese jester Huang Fanchuo (黃幡綽 In Full Streamer Huang) is mentioned in a musicological work, the Tang dynasty Jie Drum Record (羯鼓錄), for having stunned the emperor, Tang Xuanzong 唐玄宗 (r. 713-56), with his ability to guess the emperor’s mood from his...
17th century, fooleum, Netherlands, primary source
A lively portrayal of a dancing dwarf, accompanied by a piper, this is from an album of 102 drawings, with the dwarf resplendent in a striped silk costume. The details provided below by the British Museum, to which it belongs, deal with the nature and ownership of...
19th century, Europe, folk fool, fooleum, Germany, medieval, primary source
Till Eulenspiegel was a medieval European hit as far as folk fools go. Stories about this fictitious impish character circulated in many languages. His name – Owlglass – hints at the role of fools in holding a mirror up to our pompous selves, mocking all...
19th century, Europe, fictive fool, Hungarian, Hungary, primary source, quotes, stories
This is from a superb and absorbing trilogy which chronicles the self-induced decline of the Hungarian aristocracy in the years leading to the First World War. The author was describing his own class and its disappearing world, with insight, realism, compassion,...
15th century, Europe, historical figure, Italian, Italy, primary source, quotes, stories
A charming moment described by Galeazzo da San Severino (c. 1460-1525) in a letter to Isabella d’Este (1474-1539), in which he recounts a journey in the company of her sister, Beatrice d’Este (1475-97), and Beatrice’s dwarf-jester Dioda, which they...
