Li Bai (701–762) was a classical Chinese poet of the Tang dynasty, also identified as a man of letters and a calligrapher. His courtesy name was Taibai, he was known in family order as Li Shier, and he used the sobriquets Qinglian Jushi and Jiuxianweng; he was also called Li Taibai, Li Sheyi, Li Hanlin, Li Zhexian, and Li Qinglian. His native place was Renzheng, his ancestral origin was Chengji, and his birthplace was Mianzhou; he also lived in Shu, Changming, Maozhou, and Anlu.
Life and career
In 720, at the age of twenty, he practiced swordsmanship and embraced knight-errantry, spent generously, and did not pursue property; in Yizhou, Su Ting praised his talent and judged that he might stand beside Sima Xiangru.
In 742, the Daoist Wu Jun recommended him to the court, and Emperor Xuanzong issued an edict summoning him. After he reached the capital, He Zhizhang admired him at first sight, called him an “immortal banished from heaven,” and spoke of him to Xuanzong; Li Bai served as Hanlin gongfeng from 742 to 744, drafted imperial pronouncements, and was repeatedly invited to court banquets; the emperor valued his talent. While serving in the Hanlin, he drank heavily; when summoned to compose, he was sometimes drunk, and after attendants splashed water on his face he could take up the brush and complete the text in a short time.
His advancement at court was blocked: Xuanzong tried three times to appoint him, but Yang Guifei prevented it, while Zhang Ji slandered him; Li Bai asked to return to the mountains, and the emperor gave him gold and released him. On another occasion, while serving the emperor drunk, he ordered Gao Lishi to remove his boots; Gao Lishi, humiliated, selected lines from his poems to anger Yang Guifei, who then blocked his appointment.
In 756, Prince Yong Li Lin appointed him to the prince’s staff and compelled him to accompany the army. After Li Lin’s defeat, Li Bai fled to Susong and was imprisoned at Xunyang; Cui Huan and Song Ruosi examined the case and secured his release, after which Song recommended his talent to Emperor Suzong without receiving a reply. In 757 he served as a military adviser; he was later exiled to Yelang in 758–759.
His travels included Binzhou, Luoyang, Taiyuan, Yangzhou, Chang’an, Xuancheng, Yueyang, Jiangling, and Emei. Among the earlier dated movements were Yizhou in 720, Yuzhou in 724, Yangzhou in 725, and Taiyuan in 735; Chang’an in 742, Xuancheng in 754, and Yueyang in 759. He later lived in Dantu, where he died and was buried in 762.
Family and associations
His father was Li Ke and his clan uncle Li Yangbing; Li Hao is listed as a ninth-generation ancestor, with the relationship also given as 太高曾祖, and Xu Yushi was his wife’s grandfather. His wives were Xu and, as a second wife, Zong; he had a sister, Li Yueyuan, a daughter, Li Pingyang, and sons, Li Boqin and 李頗黎.
His friends included Du Fu, Yu Ti, Yuan Danqiu, Zhang Wei, Yang Liwu, and Wu Zhinan. Yuan Danqiu was an old friend; Li Bai once traveled with Wu Zhinan in Chu, and when Wu Zhinan died on Dongting Lake, Li Bai mourned him in mourning dress as though he had lost a close family member.
Literary work and collections
Alongside his identity as a poet, man of letters, and calligrapher, Li Bai was skilled in writing; his life included seeking office, staff service, reclusion, and a fondness for wine.
His attributed collections include *李太白集*, *草堂集*, *李翰林集*, and *李翰林別集*. Li Yangbing wrote the preface to *草堂集*; Song Minqiu wrote the postface to *李太白文集*; and Yue Shi and Zeng Gong wrote prefaces to *李翰林別集* and *李白集*, respectively.
References
- CBDB Li Bai (32540)
- Wikidata Li Bai (Q7071)