Li Bai

I am also known as Li Po.

Welcome to my page, for I am about to bring you on an incredible journey through my life, my works, my immortality.

Let us begin!

Life

A painting of Li Bai.

• I was born in the year 701.
• My family dwelt in what is now Gansu.
• Evidence suggests that my family was banished during the Sui Dynasty, (due to a crime) and thus moved from Gansu. (Wu 57)
• In 705 my family secretly moved to Sichuan, where I spent my childhood.

While where I was born is not entirely known, the brashness and bravado of my poetic voice are characteristics of poets from this region. (Wu 66)

• There are theories that I could have been of Turkish decent. My probably came from a merchant family. (Eide 370)
• I read everything! Of course I read the Confucian Classics, but I also read things normal scholars abstained from, such as astrological and metaphysical texts.
• I enjoyed taming birds and sword play.

“When I was fifteen, I was fond of sword play, and with that art I challenged quite a few great men.” -- Li Bai [Wu 58]

Topic: Immortality

References:

1. Eide, Elling (1973). "On Li Po", in Perspectives on the T'ang. New Haven, London: Yale University Press, 367-403.

2. Wu, John C. H. (1972). The Four Seasons of Tang Poetry. Rutland, Vermont: Charles E. Tuttle. 50-68