懷友詩 The 23 poems for 23 friends

【About the author】

張羽，元代書畫家、詩人。字來儀、附鳳，號靜居，潯陽人。元末任安定書院山長，再遷居吳郡。明洪武初擢太常丞兼翰林院，同掌文淵閣事。十八年因事逃嶺南，中途畏懼，投龍江而死。

Inside Story

The twenty-three poems were written for twenty-three friends. Some were high-rank officers and some were just civilians; some were older and some were younger. Most of the friends remain unknown in history. Chang Yu was requested by a friend to write the poems to commemorate the twenty-three friends. After he finished writing the poems he sent a copy to the friends.