Tang Dynasty Poetry: Li Bai, Du Fu, and the Golden Age of Verse

Tang Dynasty poetry represents one of the greatest flowerings of literary creativity in human history. The 7th and 8th centuries saw the emergence of poets — Li Bai, Du Fu, Wang Wei, Li Shangyin, and dozens of others — whose works have been memorized, recited, and admired for over a millennium.

Li Bai: The Immortal Poet

Li Bai (李白, 701–762) is considered the greatest Chinese poet — "the immortal poet" whose works capture the Taoist sense of freedom and unity with nature. His poems about drinking, friendship, and the moon are among the most famous in the Chinese language.

Du Fu: The Sage of Poetry

Du Fu (杜甫, 712–770) — "the sage of poetry" — wrote with compassion about the suffering of ordinary people during the An Lushan Rebellion. His poems about famine, war, and the plight of the common people established social commentary as a legitimate subject for poetry.