Chang Chi張籍(ca. 766-830) was a major poet during the Yuan-ho 元和 (806-820) period. Chang's poetic works included many yueh-fu titles with realistic themes, which displayed his profound thoughts and his crystalline and elegant style. In particular, he was versed in expressing intimate human concerns. For such an outstanding poet, however, biographical writings about Chang Chi within the two T'ang histories were far too negligent, and no historian attempted to verify historical evidences relating Chang's life and works. Thus, one can rind little reliable information regarding Chang Chi in most general histories of Chinese literature. In the meantime, most Chinese scholars have been attracted to the lives and works of Han Yu and Po Chu-I because of their prominent political careers than their poetic achievements. This paper will portray Chang Chi's life and experiences by using some of hisverses and prose, together with other historical documents concerning the poet. By describing Chang Chi's poetry and career in connection with his poetic circle, I wish to present to readers what the literary biographer Leon Edel has called a "vivid picture of the creating mind or personality." Moreover, such a biographical sketch may illustrate for us the quality of the poet's life and further enhance our understanding and evaluation of the poet's works within its literary and historical context. In conclusion, Chang Chi was a decent Confucian scholar who contendly endured poverty. He rose from lowly origins, and was sympathetic to the plight of peasants during a time of economic exploitation and social unrest. It was the poet's own experiences of survival in his life and career that enable him to penetrate the darkness and social ills of the mid-T'ang times.