Yiai Temple
- Poetry of Bai Juyi

This poem was written between 815 and 818 AD, during the Yuanhe reign of Emperor Xianzong, a period when Bai Juyi served in the demoted post of Marshal of Jiangzhou. This demotion was a major setback in the poet's political career. However, in Jiangzhou, the majestic Mount Lu and its serene ancient temples provided him with a spiritual refuge and a space for mental healing. Yiai Temple is a product of this state of mind. It is not a grand ode to landscapes, but rather selects a few of the most ordinary moments from a corner of the mountain temple. Through a series of delicate actions and auditory experiences, it outlines the vivid process of how the poet, by immersing himself completely in nature and interacting with all things, finds inner peace. It is a miniature travelogue that embodies the concept of "poetic dwelling in exile."