Bai Juyi
Bai Juyi

Bai Juyi (also Bo Juyi Chinese: 白居易; 772–846), courtesy name Letian (Chinese: 樂天), was a renowned Chinese poet and Tang dynasty government official. Many of his poems concern his career or observations made about everyday life, including as governor of three different provinces. He achieved fame as a writer of verse in a low-key, near vernacular style that was popular throughout medieval East Asia. Besides his surviving poems, several letters and essays are also extant. Among his most famous works are the long narrative poems "Chang Hen Ge" ("Song of Everlasting Sorrow"), which tells the story of Yang Guifei, and "Pipa xing" ("Song of the Pipa").

Bai Juyi Famous Poems

  • ○ Autumn Butterfly (秋蝶)
    "By Bai Juyi"
  • ○ Lament for My Son Cui (哭崔儿)
    "Deng You (?-326) allowed his own child to die while saving the life of his nephew."
  • "Although Bai Juyi and the little boy both spend time around fish, the former observes the fish and gives them food to grow whereas the latter fishes for food. The tone of this piece can be interpreted in many ways; in my opinion, the poet ex…"
  • ○ Everlasting Longing (长相思·汴水流)
    "Bai Juyi (772-846)was a popular realistic poet who served as official in the south of the Yangzi River.This lyric depicts the longing of a young woman for the return of her husband.Leaning on the railings of a balcony on a moon-lit night,she…"
  • ○ The song in spring (春词)
    "By Bai Juyi"
  • "By Bai Juyi"
  • ○ Flower isn't flower (花非花)
    "By Bai Juyi"
  • ○ Riverwater and seawave (浪淘沙)
    "By Bai Juyi"
  • ○ On the Lake (池上)
    "By Bai Juyi"
  • ○ Spring Sleep (春眠)
    ""
  • "This poem was written before Bai Juyi became the Governor of Hangzhou, around the second year of Changqing (822). At that time, he passed through Hangzhou and stood by the river, where the beautiful scenery before him touched his soul. Throu…"
  • "This poem captures the character traits of its subject within a specific setting through meticulous description, successfully portraying an elderly gentleman of contented leisure. The entire work reflects the poet's state of political disill…"
  • "By Bai Juyi"
  • "By Bai Juyi"
  • ○ Regret for Peony Flowers (惜牡丹花)
    "By Bai Juyi"
  • ○ Reading Laozi (读老子)
    "This poem was composed by Bai Juyi after reading the Dao De Jing, drawing upon philosophical reflections on material possessions and worldly affairs inspired by Laozi's seminal Daoist philosophical text."
  • ○ Peach Blossom at Dalin Temple (大林寺桃花)
    "In this famous piece, Bai Juyi takes a natural occurrence and transforms it into a mystical phenomenon. Due to differing altitudes and temperatures, flowers on the Dalin Temple mountain would bloom later than the flowers on lower altitudes; …"
  • ○ Night Snow (夜雪)
    "This poem is a snow ode in which the poet employs indirect description, depicting the ‘night snow’ through tactile, visual, sensory and auditory perspectives, thereby conveying the solitary melancholy of exile in Jiangzhou."
  • ○ A Visit to Qiantang Lake in Spring (钱唐湖春行)
    "By Bai Juyi"
  • ○ A Song of the Palace (后宫词)
    "Seven-character-quatrainThis poem describes the sorrow of a palace lady who has fallen out of favor, portraying the cruelty and indifference of court life. Bai Juyi, with delicate brushstrokes, depicts her desolate situation and, through con…"
  • ○ A Suggestion to My Friend Liu (问刘十九)
    "Five-character-quatrainThis poem was written around the 10th year of Yuanhe in the reign of Emperor Xianzong of Tang (815). At that time, Bai Juyi had been demoted to Jiangzhou Sima due to the failure of the "Yongzhen Reform." Duri…"
  • ○ The Song of a Guitar (琵琶行并序)
    "Seven-character-ancient-verseThe song of lyre: 琵琶行,its original name is "The song of Pipa",it translated into "Lyre",it's easier to understand."The song of a Guitar" was written by Bai Juyi when he was demote…"
  • ○ A Song of Unending Sorrow (长恨歌)
    "Seven-character-ancient-verseThe song of Eternal Sorrow:长恨歌,it's the best poem of Bai Juyi that told the love tragedy between Emperor Xuanzong of Tang(唐玄宗) and his concubine Yang Yuhuan(杨玉环).This long narrative poem is dated from 80…"
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