To the Cicada
- Poetry of Yu Shinan

This poem was composed in the early Tang Dynasty, representing the earliest documented cicada poem in Chinese literature and has been highly revered through the ages. As one of the Twenty-Four Meritorious Officials of Lingyan Pavilion, Yu Shinan was not only renowned for his calligraphy but also a statesman of refined literary cultivation. Likely written during his retirement or semi-retirement in later years, the poem employs the cicada as a vehicle for self-expression, conveying his moral integrity and incorruptible character despite holding high office. The work carries distinct allegorical significance while embodying the Confucian ideals of moral conviction and personal cultivation.