When and where was Li Bai born?
Li Bai was born around the 1st of January 701 in Suyab, a city in ancient Central Asia now part of Kyrgyzstan. His family had prospered as merchants on the frontier before moving to Sichuan when he was five years old.
Common questions about Li Bai
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How did Li Bai die according to legend?
Li Bai drowned in the Yangtze River while reaching from his boat to embrace the reflection of the moon. This tale is likely apocryphal but captures the essence of a man who lived deeply in the realm of imagination.
Why was Li Bai exiled from the imperial court in 744?
Li Bai was sent away from the imperial court in 744 after a drunken incident involving the powerful eunuch Gao Lishi and the imperial consort Yang Guifei. He asked Gao Lishi to remove his muddy boots, an act of insolence that led to his exile.
What happened to Li Bai during the An Lushan Rebellion?
Li Bai was captured and sentenced to death after Prince Yong's forces were defeated in 755. General Guo Ziyi intervened to commute the death sentence to exile in Yelang, a remote region in the southwest.
Who was Li Bai's closest friend and when did they meet?
Li Bai's closest friend was the famous poet Du Fu, and their meetings occurred only in 744 and 745. They continued to correspond through poetry, creating a literary bond that has endured for over a millennium.