During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Yin Hao, the governor of Yangzhou, was at odds with general Huan Wen. Wang Xizhi advised him that with a major enemy at hand, he should prioritize matters of state. However, Yin Hao not only ignored this advice but also led his troops on a northern expedition, suffering repeated defeats.

He was subsequently demoted to a commoner and exiled to Xin'an. There, he spent his days reading and composing poetry, seemingly without a care. Yet, he constantly wrote the four characters 'Duo Duo Guai Shi' (astonishingly strange event) on paper to express the profound injustice he felt in his heart.