Juyi

Bai Juyi (772–846), also known by the literary name Po Chu-i, was a prominent Chinese poet of the Tang dynasty. Born in Taiyuan, Shanxi, he spent a long career in government service, holding various administrative posts and eventually serving in the central court. His political career was marked by a concern for humane governance and welfare for ordinary people, and he faced periods of removal from office and exile amid factional strife. These experiences deepened the social conscience that pervades his poetry.

Bai Juyi is celebrated for a clear, accessible verse style that emphasizes plain language and direct expression. He favored humane themes and often wrote about the struggles of common people, social injustice, and the complexities of official life. His approach contrasted with more ornate contemporaries and helped popularize poetry that could be appreciated by a broad audience.

Notable works include the long narrative Chang Hen Ge (Song of Everlasting Regret), which recounts the doomed romance of Emperor Xuanzong and Consort Yang Guifei, and Pipa Xing (Ballad of the Lute), a vivid monologue of a deserted musician. These and other pieces showcase his ability to fuse personal emotion with social observation, blending lyric intensity with everyday concerns.

Bai Juyi’s influence extended beyond China; his poems were widely read in East Asia and translated into many languages. His emphasis on empathy, social responsibility, and accessible diction had a lasting impact on Chinese poetry, contributing to the development of a more vernacular and socially engaged strand within Tang verse. He died in Luoyang in 846, leaving a substantial legacy in Chinese literary history.