líbai

Li Bai, also known as Li Po, was a Chinese poet, dramatist, and statesman of the Tang dynasty. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest poets in the history of Chinese literature, often paired with Du Fu as the "Two Giants of Tang Poetry." Born in 701 CE, Li Bai's life was marked by extensive travel and a restless spirit. He sought to enter government service but found the rigid court bureaucracy unsuited to his personality. Despite a brief period of imperial favor, his career was largely unconventional.

Li Bai's poetry is characterized by its romanticism, imagination, and a sense of freedom. His works often explore themes of friendship, nature, solitude, and the passage of time. He is particularly known for his evocative descriptions of landscapes, his appreciation for wine, and his Taoist leanings, which infused his verses with a sense of spontaneity and detachment from worldly concerns. His most famous poems include "Quiet Night Thought" (Jing Ye Si) and "Drinking Alone Under the Moon" (Yue Xia Du Zhuo).

His influence on later poets, both in China and across East Asia, is profound. Li Bai's legacy endures not only through his surviving poems, numbering around a thousand, but also through the romanticized image of the carefree, inspired poet. He died in 762 CE, with legends surrounding his death, including a tale of him drowning while trying to embrace the moon's reflection in a river.