Ma Zhiyuan (1250-1321) styled Dongli, was born in Dadu (today's Beijing). One of the Four Master Dramatists of the Yuan dynasty, Ma wrote altogether 15 plays, of which seven have survived. His Sanqu poems give expressions to his regrets of an unrecognized talent and the longings of an undetermined recluse. He was a success wherever he directed his efforts in terms of poetry writing whether in a sublime or beautiful style.
马致远（1250-1321）号东篱，大都（今北京）人。为“元曲四大家”之一，著杂剧十五种，今存七种。其散曲主要抒发文士怀才不遇的悲愤与消极遁世思想。艺术上纵横挥洒，无不如意，豪放清丽，兼而有之。
The Evening Bell from the Misty Temple to the tune of Life-giving Sun
寿阳曲·烟寺晚钟
The smoke, fine and cold,
寒烟细，
Sets off the quiet in the temple old,
古寺清，
With evening coming, worshipers are gone;
近黄昏礼佛人静。
In the west wind come the echoes of the late bell, off and on,
顺西风晚钟三四声，
In such a view, how and what does an old monk meditate upon?
怎生教老僧禅定？