Zhang Yanghao (1270-1329) styled Ximeng, also known by his literary name Yunzhuang, was born in Jinan of Shandong Province. As an imperial official, he was known for his outspoken criticism of the current policies. His Sanqu poems, mostly written after he resigned from his office and lived as a recluse, giving expressions to his reflections on the conspiratorial bureaucracy. He differed from Guan Hanqing and Ma Zhiyuan in that he inherited much from poets of previous dynasties.
张养浩（1270-1329） 字希孟，号云庄，山东济南人。为官以切直敢谏著称。散曲多为归隐林泉时所作，在大量讴歌隐居之乐和自然风景的同时，透露了宦途险恶的慨叹。艺术上较多汲取前代诗人、词家的成就，与关汉卿、马致远等人有别。
Untitled to the tune of Embroidered Red Shoes
朱履曲·无题
Life experiences help me see through the worldly affair,
弄世界机关识破，
Aspiring to an imperial favor I am frustrated into despair.
叩天门意气消磨，
A loser and poor man, I compare not myself to a high mountain green.
人潦倒青山慢嵯峨。
Behind there is distance of a thousand years foreseen,
前面有千古远，
Ahead there are ten thousand years to come for man,
后头有万年多，
What a mere trifle is this life's short span!
量半炊时成得甚么。