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 Eighteen Beats
胡十八·无题
When of youthful years I got hold,
正妙年，
I was unaware that I became old.
不觉的老来到。
To me, all that happened in the past
思往常，
Seems to have happened only night last.
似昨朝，
Like flowing water good time flies,
好光阴流水不相饶。
I'd better get drunk in sighs,
都不知醉了，
And fall asleep.
睡着。
Let the golden sun take care of the empires' fall and rise.
任金乌搬废兴，
I just pretend to know nothing either shallow or deep.
我只推不知道。