Li Bai: The poet-transcendent

Li Bai (701–762) is one of the most iconic figures in the Chinese literary tradition. This chapter examines how his poetic oeuvre helped establish his reputation as the “poet-transcendent.” His two failed quests to launch a career in the Tang capital, Chang’an, serve as the central reference points in his poetry. However, unlike some of his contemporaries, his “transcendence” lies not only in the sophistication of his autobiographical impulses but also in his treatment of themes, sense of aesthetics, and innovative diction. His work synthesizes various intellectual frameworks, of which the most prominent is Daoism. Li Bai borrowed extensively from the philosophy of pre-Qin thinkers such as Laozi and Zhuangzi and from the religious schools such as the High Purity (Shangqing) that thrived from the fourth century and into the Tang. He also innovated upon the tradition of the peach blossom spring, first created by Tao Yuanming (365–427). He wove these and other references into compositions of startling individuality.