Yan Ying (Chinese: 晏嬰; pinyin: Yàn Yīng; Wade–Giles: Yen Ying), courtesy name Zhong (Chinese: 仲), or more widely known as Yan Zi (Chinese: 晏子; pinyin: Yàn Zǐ; Wade–Giles: Yen Tzu) c.578-500 BC, was born in present-day Gaomi county, Shandong province. He served as prime minister to the state of Qi during the Spring and Autumn Period. An accomplished philosopher, statesman and politician, he was an elder contemporary of Confucius, described as "by far the most creative thinker of the Chunqiu age". Because of his posthumous title of "Ping" (Chinese: 平; pinyin: Píng), he is often known in sources as Ping Zhong (平仲). The Warring States period philosophical and historical narrative Yanzi chunqiu is named for and traditionally attributed to Yan zi.