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Li Shangyin | NYRB Poets | Chloe Garcia Roberts

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Li Shangyin (NYRB Poets)

by Chloe Garcia Roberts

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Li Shangyin (c. 813–858) was a ninth-century Chinese poet known for his complex and emotionally charged verse. He is considered one of the greatest poets of the Tang Dynasty (618–907),and his work has been praised for its beauty, subtlety, and depth of feeling.

Li Shangyin was born in Suiyang, Henan Province, China. His father was a government official, and Li Shangyin received a classical education in the Confucian classics. He passed the imperial examination in 837 and entered the civil service, but his career was marked by setbacks and disappointments. He was often assigned to minor posts, and he never rose to a position of great power or influence.

Despite his official setbacks, Li Shangyin was a prolific and successful poet. He wrote over 600 poems, many of which are considered masterpieces of Chinese literature. His poems are often characterized by their use of complex imagery, subtle wordplay, and rich emotional content.

Li Shangyin's poetry is often divided into two periods: his early period, when he wrote poems about love and loss, and his later period, when he wrote more political and philosophical poems. His early poems are often characterized by their use of beautiful language and imagery, and they explore the themes of love, longing, and separation.

Li Shangyin's later poems are more complex and ambitious, and they often explore the themes of power, corruption, and the meaning of life. He was a master of the ci, a form of Chinese poetry that is characterized by its use of irregular lines and rhyme schemes. His ci poems are often characterized by their use of subtle wordplay and their ability to evoke a wide range of emotions.

Li Shangyin's poetry has been praised by critics for its beauty, subtlety, and depth of feeling. He is considered one of the greatest poets of the Tang Dynasty, and his work has been translated into many languages.

Here is one of Li Shangyin's most famous poems, "The Palace of Everlasting Life":

The Palace of Everlasting Life By Li Shangyin In the Palace of Everlasting Life, The spring breeze blows through the jade railings. The peach blossoms are in bloom, And the swallows are flying. The emperor and his concubines Are laughing and talking. They are drinking wine and playing music. They are enjoying the good life. But outside the palace walls, The people are suffering. They are poor and hungry. They are sick and dying. The emperor and his concubines Do not care about the people. They are only interested in their own pleasure. The Palace of Everlasting Life Is a place of illusion. It is a place where people forget their troubles. It is a place where people can pretend that everything is perfect. But the real world is not like the Palace of Everlasting Life. The real world is a place of suffering and sorrow. It is a place where people must struggle to survive. The Palace of Everlasting Life Is a lie. It is a dream. It is a fantasy. The real world is the only world that matters. The real world is the only world that is real.

Li Shangyin's poetry is a powerful reminder that the world is not always a fair or just place. It is a reminder that we must all strive to make the world a better place for ourselves and for others.