Li Bai (701–762 CE,) also known as Li Po, Li Bo, and Li Tai Bo, was a Chinese Taoist poet. One of the most famous poets of the Tang dynasty and commonly known as Shixian (‘Immortal Poet’ or ‘The Poet Saint,’) Li Bai’s work is renowned for its imagery and informality.
Born in Suyab in ancient Chinese Central Asia, present-day Kyrgyzstan, Li Bai was interested in swordsmanship, political rhetoric, and religious Daoism. He led a decadent life at the emperor’s court, and later became one of an itinerant band calling themselves ‘The Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup.’
Li Bai wrote colorful verses about wine, women, and nature. His corpus includes sixty pieces of prose, eight fu, and more than 1,000 poems, including many in yuefu style. It is believed that he drowned while attempting to grasp the moon’s reflection.
Li Tai Bo Juanji (‘The Complete Works’) were published in three volumes in 1977. Collections of Li Bo’s translated work were published in 1922 and 1973.
The English Orientalist and sinologist Arthur Waley wrote The Poetry and Career of Li Po (1950.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Li Bai
The birds have vanished into the sky, and now the last cloud drains away. We sit together, the mountain and me, until only the mountain remains.
—Li Bai
Since water still flows, though we cut it with swords
And sorrow returns, though we drown it with a wine,
Since the world can in no way answer to our craving,
I will loosen my hair tomorrow and take to a fishing boat.
—Li Bai
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