Li Bai’s Followers (115)

Li Bai

Born

Suiye or Jiangyou, Sichuan, Tang China

Genre

Poetry

Influences

Tao Yuanming, Qu Yuan ...more

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Li Bai (Chinese: 李白, 701–762), also known as Li Bo or Li Taibai, was one of the most celebrated poets of the Tang dynasty and remains one of the greatest poets in Chinese history. Renowned for his romanticism, vivid imagery, and effortless flow, his poetry has captivated readers for over a millennium. Alongside Du Fu, he is considered a towering figure of classical Chinese poetry. His works reflect a deep appreciation for nature, the joys and sorrows of life, and a fascination with Daoist philosophy, all infused with an unmistakable sense of personal freedom and spontaneity.
Born in 701 CE, likely in Suyab (modern-day Kyrgyzstan) or what is now Gansu province, China, Li Bai spent his early years in Sichuan, where his family relocated during Li Bai (Chinese: 李白, 701–762), also known as Li Bo or Li Taibai, was one of the most celebrated poets of the Tang dynasty and remains one of the greatest poets in Chinese history. Renowned for his romanticism, vivid imagery, and effortless flow, his poetry has captivated readers for over a millennium. Alongside Du Fu, he is considered a towering figure of classical Chinese poetry. His works reflect a deep appreciation for nature, the joys and sorrows of life, and a fascination with Daoist philosophy, all infused with an unmistakable sense of personal freedom and spontaneity.
Born in 701 CE, likely in Suyab (modern-day Kyrgyzstan) or what is now Gansu province, China, Li Bai spent his early years in Sichuan, where his family relocated during his childhood. Growing up in an era of expansion and cultural flourishing, he received a broad education that included classical literature, Daoist philosophy, and swordsmanship. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he never sat for the imperial examinations, choosing instead a life of travel and poetic expression. From a young age, he embraced a wandering lifestyle, traveling extensively across China and seeking the company of scholars, recluses, and Daoist mystics. His poetry from this period often reflects themes of solitude, the beauty of the natural world, and a longing for spiritual transcendence.
As his reputation as a poet grew, he attracted the admiration of influential figures and was eventually invited to the imperial court of Emperor Xuanzong around 742 CE. There, he enjoyed a brief period of favor, composing poetry for the emperor and mingling with the elite. However, his free-spirited nature and disdain for courtly formalities led to conflicts with powerful officials, and he was soon dismissed from the court, resuming his wandering existence.
Li Bai’s poetry is characterized by its lyrical beauty, spontaneity, and emotional depth. He drew inspiration from nature, Daoist philosophy, and personal experiences, often reflecting on themes of longing, exile, and the fleeting nature of life. Wine and revelry frequently appear in his verses as symbols of transcendence. His mastery of poetic form, including fu (rhapsodic prose-poetry) and yuefu (folk-style poetry), set him apart as a poetic genius. Some of his most famous works include Drinking Alone Under the Moon, a meditation on solitude and the companionship of nature; Hard is the Road to Shu, a dramatic depiction of the perilous journey to Sichuan; and Quiet Night Thoughts, a simple yet profoundly evocative poem about homesickness.
During the An Lushan Rebellion, which erupted in 755 and plunged the Tang Dynasty into turmoil, Li Bai became entangled in the political conflict by aligning himself with Prince Yong, a rival claimant to the throne. When the prince’s rebellion failed, Li Bai was arrested and sentenced to exile in what is now Guizhou. He was later pardoned and continued his travels, but his final years were marked by declining health. He died in 762 CE, reportedly from illness, though legend has it that he drowned while trying to embrace the reflection of the moon in a river—a fitting myth for a poet so enraptured by the beauty of the world.
Li Bai’s poetry has endured for over a thousand years, influencing countless poets and remaining a cornerstone of Chinese literature. His works continue to be widely read and studied, celebrated for their unrestrained imagination, emotional resonance, and philosophical insight. His legacy as a poet of boundless spirit and artistic brilliance ensures that his verses still inspire generations of readers and writers across the world. ...more

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Average rating: 3.8 · 4,356 ratings · 552 reviews · 164 distinct works • Similar authors

	Facing the Moon: Poems of Li Bai and Du Fu by Li Bai, Du Fu, Keith Holyoak (Translator) 4.26 avg rating — 122 ratings — published 2007 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Eres tan bella como una flor, pero las nubes nos separan 3.70 avg rating — 66 ratings — published 2000	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Endless River: Li Po and Tu Fu : A Friendship in Poetry by Li Bai, Sam Hamill (Translator) 4.27 avg rating — 26 ratings — published 1993 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Poemas clássicos chineses by Li Bai, Du Fu, Wang Wei 4.21 avg rating — 24 ratings — published 2012	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Antología poética by Li Bai, Guojian Chen (Editor & Translator) 4.52 avg rating — 21 ratings — published 2023 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Chinese Poetry, Anthology of Li Bai 4.33 avg rating — 18 ratings — published 2012	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Manantial de vino: Poemas escogidos by Li Bai (Original Author), Guillermo Dañino (Editor) 4.69 avg rating — 13 ratings — published 2016	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Nebe mi pokrývkou a země polštářem by Li Bai, Ferdinand Stočes (Translator) 4.25 avg rating — 12 ratings — published 1999	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Banished Immortal: Visions of Li T'ai-po by Li Bai, Sam Hamill (Translator) 4.56 avg rating — 9 ratings — published 1978	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A punto de partir by Li Bai, Anne Hélène Suárez Girad (translator) 4.56 avg rating — 9 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Quotes by Li Bai (?)

“We sit together, the mountain and me, until only the mountain remains.”
― Li Po

111 likes

“You ask why I make my home in the mountain forest,
and I smile, and am silent,
and even my soul remains quiet:
it lives in the other world
which no one owns.
The peach trees blossom,
The water flows.”
― Li Po

tags: free

63 likes

“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 Po

44 likes

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Li Bai’s Followers (115)

Li Bai

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