Great Poet Li Bai — His Ambitions and Struggles in a Glorious Life
Li Bai (701 — 762), known by his courtesy name Taibai and his art name Qing Lian Ju Shi, is revered as the God of Poetry in Chinese culture, embodying qualities of romance, brilliance, carefreeness, and legend.
As a glorious superstar of classical Chinese Poetry, he traveled to many beautiful places, met with the emperor, and experienced one of the most flourishing eras of the Tang Dynasty.
His poems ranked first, while his fencing skill ranked second in Tang, according to some folklore.
Great Poet Li Bai of the Tang Dynasty, Painted by Artist Gu Bingxin.
After the eight-year-long, destructive An-Shi Rebellion outburst, he fought on the battlefield, witnessed countless cruel fights and separations, got imprisoned, and was betrayed by his good friends.
Li Bai's extraordinary poems vividly capture and present various aspects of the epoch he lived in: a remarkable reign, breathtaking landscapes, brilliant individuals, chaotic wars, and more.
After having seen and experienced everything, he still had never lost his heroic and romantic spirit.
Nowadays, every Chinese can recite a few of his extraordinary poems about love, friendship, family, ambition, scenery, emotion, vision, and the glorious epoch of the Tang Dynasty.
Calligraphy of Li Bai "Shang Yang Tai Tie" — Palace Museum
Mysterious Family Origins of Li Bai
Among countless poems and articles that Li Bai left in the world, he rarely mentioned his family.
Some documents suggest that he was descended from a royal family of a kingdom that had perished.
Others say that he was a descendant of Prince Li Jiancheng or Prince Li Yuanji, who had competed for the throne with Emperor Tang Taizong but failed.
Anyway, his family was very wealthy.
He was educated well and spent most of his early years reading and studying in a beautiful fancy garden with amazing natural views in Sichuan province.
Meanwhile, he studied fencing and Taoism Religion from some brilliant masters.
Golden Dragons (Zou Long) that Were Used as Ritual Implements of Taoism Religion Ceremony in Tang — Shaanxi History Museum (Photo by Dongmaiying)
Carefree Travels Around the Nation
After he grew up, the handsome, wealthy Li Bai, with extraordinary fencing skills, started his journey traveling around many places in China, where he left many amazing poems.
After witnessing his extraordinary appearance, elegant demeanor, and brilliant poetry, many ministers and poets regarded him as the reincarnation of an immortal.
During his traveling period, he also practiced Taoism, married and had kids, and befriended many people, including other intelligent poets, officials, royal Taoists, princesses, etc.
Meanwhile, when he was paying a visit to a friend, he saved a young soldier from being executed. He believed that this young man was brave and intelligent and would achieve something extraordinary in the future.
It turned out that this was quite a brilliant decision.
This young soldier Guo Ziyi, a few decades later, became the most exceptional marshal who saved the Tang Dynasty several times.
Brocade Embroidery of Tang — Datang Xishi Museum (Photo by Dongmaiying)
Serving in the Royal Palace
When he and his poems were getting more and more great reputations, the current emperor Li Longji the Emperor Xuanzong of Tang was also impressed by his talent.
Soon, under the recommendation of a princess and a famous official, the emperor finally met him and awarded him a political position.
The emperor highly appreciated him and respected Li Bai as one of the greatest poets of the Tang empire.
During his time in the royal palace, he was awarded a large amount of treasures and treated as the most honored guest.
Building Complex of Daming Palace, the Royal Palace of the Tang Dynasty, Based on Architectural Historian Yang Hongxun's Restored Model.
Leaving the Royals and Embarking on a Journey
Three years later, Li Bai realized that serving the royal family was not aligned with his aspirations.
He didn't want only to write poems about fabulous imperial banquets, the beautiful imperial consort Yang Gui Fei, and to please incapable officials.
Hence, he decided to leave the capital city.
The emperor felt pity but still rewarded him generously with a large sum of money.
Li Bai then continued his travels and adventures when he became a professional Taoist priest and tried to visit immortals in many places.
In some famous mountains believed to have mysterious immortals living, many of his poems, inscriptions, or legends spread.
The first part of his life was ideal: talented, famous, rich, and carefree.
Li Bai's Inscription "Magnificent" (Zhuang Guan) in Mount Heng in Shanxi Province
Wandering in War, Prison, and Exile
In the year 755, the An-Shi Rebellion outburst.
This large-scale, destructive rebel war initiated by two generals garrisoning in the northern borders lasted for eight years.
It took away millions of lives, which was the turning point of the Tang Dynasty.
In the beginning, Li Bai was forced to move frequently because of the war.
Soon, he realized that this war was much more severe than he had expected, so he joined an army that a prince of Tang led to fight and defend the empire.
Calligraphy Draft Written by Yan Zhenqing (709 — 784) to Memorize His Heroically Sacrificed Nephew, in Which Recorded Brave Soldiers of Tang and the Intense Fights in the An-Shi Rebellion — Taipei Museum
Two years later, however, the prince rebelled and lost.
Li Bai, one of the prince’s important officials, was also imprisoned and sentenced to death.
He wrote and asked for help from some good friends who were powerful officials or generals, but no one answered.
Only the brave young soldier Guo Ziyi he had saved before, now the chief commander of the Tang’s army tried everything to save his life.
In the end, Li Bai was banished instead of being executed.
Two years later, he was finally set free and started his wandering journey along the Yangtze River area.
Wu Gorge or Wuxia of Yangtze River, Photo from CNG.
Mysterious Departure
When Li Bai was released, he was already 58 years old, and his financial situation was not good.
Three years later, he left the world.
Some said that Li Bai passed away because of sickness when he tried to rejoin the army of Tang and continue to fight against the rebellions.
Others said he died because of over-drink, or he fell off his boat and drowned while drinking wine and trying to embrace the moon's reflection in the lake.
The most welcomed saying was that he was initially a banished immortal; one night, when he was boating, he and his boat vanished into the horizon where water meets sky and left the world forever.
Perhaps, a brilliant genius with large numbers of masterpieces and beautiful legends deserves a dreamy and mysterious ending.
Li Bai had two sons and one daughter. His daughter passed away young, and one of his sons went traveling and left the public view after he had grown up.
His other son lived as a common person whose two daughters married ordinary peasants.
Some politicians who admired him suggested his two granddaughters remarry some nobles who were big fans of Li Bai, but they refused to do so.
Afterward, his family disappeared from the public forever.
What he left in the world are large numbers of splendid poems describing the era he had lived in and the beautiful views he had seen.
Some Famous Verses from Li Bai's Poems
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长风破浪会有时，直挂云帆济沧海。
A time will come to ride the wind and cleave the waves, I'll set my cloud-white sail and cross the sea which raves. (Translated by Xu Yuanchong)
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天生我材必有用，千金散尽还复来。
Heaven has made our talents, we're not made in vain; a thousand gold coins spent, more will turn up again. (Translated by Xu Yuanchong)
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今人不见古时月，今月曾经照古人。
We see the ancient moon no more, but it has shone on men of yore. (Translated by Xu Yuanchong)
Moon Shining on the Great Wall, Photo from Official Site of Jinshanling Great Wall.
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浮云游子意，落日故人情。
Travel far away like floating clouds; feel of parting like lingering sunset.
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世间行乐亦如此，古来万事东流水。
Joy in the world is also the same; everything in the past flew away as water run east.
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宫女如花满春殿，只今惟有鹧鸪飞。
The palace was once filled with ladies of flowery, now lingered by partridges on ruins of dreary.
Taiye Chi Lake of Daming Palace, the Imperial Palace of the Tang Dynasty (618 — 907) — Photo from Yue Xi'an
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俱怀逸兴壮思飞，欲上青天揽明月。
With an ambitious desire to fly up high; to pluck the moon from the sky.
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银鞍照白马，飒沓如流星。
Riding a white horse wearing a shining silver saddle, galloping dashingly like a meteor.
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大鹏一日同风起，扶摇直上九万里。
The mythical bird Peng will take off with the wind someday, soaring tens of thousands of miles away.
Mythical Bird Peng in Chinese Mythology
Next Story: A Controversial General Who Put Loyalty Before Everything — Zhang Xun
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