Zhang Dai

Zhang Dai, courtesy name Zongzi (宗子) and pseudonym Tao'an (陶庵), was a Chinese essayist and historian. He was a gentleman essayist who was a biographer of his own privileged aristocratic family, a historian of the Ming dynasty, and a biographer of notable virtuous figures. He wrote his own obituary which included the lines: "He loved pretty maidservants, he loved handsome serving boys ... he loved perfect food ... he loved paintings of flowers and birds."