Xue Tao is one of the most famous poets of the Tang Dynasty. When she was young, Xue was registered as an entertainer in Chengdu and then became well known for her wit and poetic talent. She was called "Jiao Shu" (editor) by people of her era.

At her thirties, she got rid of the identity of the entertainer. Living by the Huanhuaxi Brook in Chengdu, she created a kind of small colorful paper used for writing poems which has become famous since then, that is, "Xue Tao Jian".