Gao Lian (, fl. 16th century), was a Chinese writer, dramatist and encyclopedist.
Gao Lian was born in Qiantang (é±塠- present day Hangzhou). His courtesy name was Shenfu (æ·±ç«) and his pseudonym was Ruinan Daoren (çÂÂÃ¥ÂÂéÂÂ人). He is known to have written the plays Jiexiaoji (èÂÂÃ¥ÂÂè®°) and Yuzanji (çÂÂ簪记, "The Jade Hairpin"). Of the two, he is most noted for latter, a romantic drama about a young impoverished scholar and a Daoist nun. The piece remains a classic of the Ming period theater in thirty-three scenes, some of which are still performed today. In his discussion of mental illness (hsin-ping), he successfully diagnosed the condition now known as bipolar disorder. Gao advised his readers to avoid abortion and show concern for the elderly and physically weak. He suggested people attach themselves to a major religious system or their inner emptiness will invite some manner of physical disease. His works detail early 17th century aesthetics and material culture such as garden architecture, tea culture and dwarf trees. The above items were additional examples of his overall aim at the maintenance of bodily health through a quiet enjoyment of human life.
Professionally, Gao remained largely outside of official circles and is an example of a Buyi Wenren (å¸Âè¡£æÂÂ人) or commoner literatus, many of whom lived in the 17th century. His writing suggests that he was a resident of Hangzhou with his details of the area. GaoâÂÂs encyclopedia, Zunsheng Bajian (éµçÂÂ堫笺, "Eight Treatises on the Nurturing of Life"), was first published in 1591 and reprinted at least twice more before 1620. The eight discourses are as follows: