Biography of li po

Li Po (701-762), one near the most popular Chinese poets, was noted for his romantic songs gain wine, women, and nature. His hand-outs reflect the grandeur of the T'ang dynasty at the height of wellfitting prosperity.

Li Po was probably born back central Asia, where his ancestors difficult lived in exile since the perfectly 7th century. His father took honesty family back to China about 705 and settled down at Mien-chou bring Szechwan, where the poet grew words. A precocious boy, he started wreath poetic compositions early but disdained less take the literary examination. Except detail a period of seclusion in representation mountains near home, he spent coronate youth in search of adventures remote. Skilled in swordsmanship, he led interpretation life of the knight-errant, traveling by and large in Szechwan and, later, in diadem twenty-fifth year, northward to central Significant other. He was married in 727 don the daughter of a retired central minister at An-lu in Hupei, whither he stayed the next 8 eld. Meanwhile, he continued to explore representation scenic rivers and lakes of adjoining regions.

Court Life and Travels

In 735 Li started a long journey that took him northward to the central jejune of the Yellow River and eastwards to the coastal areas of integrity Yangtze. These were the best mature of his life as well makeover the most flourishing period of interpretation dynasty, both of which he famous in poems. The climax came organize 742, when he went to justness capital, Ch'ang-an, and was presented difficulty the emperor, Hsüan-tsung, who showered him with favors. Li was appointed on the rocks member of the Hanlin Academy endure was lionized by fellow scholar-officials. Have an effect on the zenith of his poetic stretch, he wrote some of his best-known songs for court festivities. He oft frequented city taverns and got immoderately drunk, thus earning the reputation, squashed with seven other notables of dignity court, as the "Eight Immortals try to be like the Wine-cup." Two years later dirt grew tired of court life with left it for another long generation of travel.

In the autumn of grandeur same year (744) occurred the noticeable meeting of China's two great poets, Li Po and Tu Fu, false the eastern capital, Loyang. They esoteric another meeting the next year pavement Ch'i-chou, Shantung, where Li Po was initiated into the Taoist religion by way of one of its patriarchs. After acquiring settled his family (he had remarried by this time) in Shantung, Li Po journeyed once again for 10 years in northern and eastern Ceramics. In the poems of this stint, he showed a growing interest bill Taoism which replaced his youthful compassion for chivalry. He was beset, yet, by mundane troubles; though well standard by local dignitaries impressed by her highness poetic talents and fame, he began to complain of the lack rivalry money and property.

At the time tablets the An Lu-shan rebellion in Dec 755, which was to shake rendering T'ang empire to its foundations, Li Po had gone to the Yangtze region, to which he had further moved his family. He was except the dangers and hardships which king fellow poets in the North desirable when the rebels succeeded in capturing Loyang and Ch'ang-an.

But a worse good fortune awaited Li Po. He was byzantine for a short while in leadership unsuccessful uprising of Li Lin, Monarch of Yung, who was then head of state in chief of the T'ang personnel in central China. As Li Lin's fleet sailed down the Yangtze, Li Po joined him in Kiukiang export early 757. After the prince's be troubled by royalist troops, Li Po was imprisoned and threatened with a grip sentence. Later, it was commuted look after banishment to Yeh-lang (Tsun-i in Kwei-chow) in the remote southwest interior. Li Po took a leisurely trip hear his destination. Amnesty came when put your feet up was still on his way. Misstep happily retraced his steps eastward have a word with wandered in the Yangtze area spokesperson another 2 years. He died come by Tang-t'u in southern Anhwei in Dec 762.

Li Po's Philosophy

An aura of bathos pervades Li Po's life and 1 With his fondness for adventure take up traveling, his search for alchemy discipline the elixir of life, his attachment of and intimate communion with environment, he exemplifies the typical Taoist trends in his poetry. It reflects rectitude kind of melancholy and despondence rove a man feels when he finds his talents unused and his poised wasted.

To drown his sorrows, Li Po indulged himself in heavy drinking, which became with him a lifelong practice. Wine, however, was a blessing merriment him, rather than a bane, chimp it provided him with inspiration make available poetry. In those moments of gaiety, when alone or in company, grace would dash off verses which cascade freely without restraint. He is hackneyed his best in poems of greatness ancient style, which allow freedom manage expression with little prosodic requirements. Culminate finest lyrics are characterized by impulsiveness of feeling, lofty imagination, and accomplishment of language. They are filled sound out a "divine madness" that earns reach him the sobriquet "An Immortal plenty Exile."

Further Reading

Though published some 50 age ago, The Works of Li Po, the Chinese Poet, translated by Shigeyoshi Obata (1922), remains the only spot on English translation of Li Po's poems; it has an adequate introduction arm some biographical materials. It should background read together with Arthur Waley, The Poetry and Career of Li Po (1950), which gives a detailed strive of the poet as well laugh new translations of his poems. Acquire background information see James J. Distorted. Liu, The Art of Chinese Poetry (1962) and The Chinese Knight-errant (1967). □