Touch the sky

Straight from the Heavens: Li Bai's Poetry in Retrospect

Some may argue that Chinese poet Li Bai is				numerous images in Li Bai's work, the moon
beyond compare. With words that seem to fall				provides light in the midst of darkness. In
straight from the heavens, he, perhaps like				other Chinese literary representations it has
no other poet can make us both feel the earth				been known to provide an aura of hope when
and touch the sky.Born during China's				the sky seems quite ominous and
illustrious Tang Dynasty, Li Bai could in				foreboding.Influenced by ancient Chinese
modern day terms be described as an eccentric				precepts that draw associations between
outcast. A renowned member of the fringe of				entities with disparate qualities, the moon
Chinese society, his poetry would				in conjunction with the sun provides natural
subsequently show that as an extraordinary				harmony in a world that may, in the best of
artist, he lived his life far beyond the				times, represent some sort of ideal cosmic
range of any ordinary human experience.As a				design. Often portrayed as a feminine image,
composer of a large body of work that				the moon is a celebrated icon that remains a
includes contemplations on the nature of				focal point for not only Chinese conceptions
human existence, the natural unity of the				of time, it is an important symbol for many
cosmos and the sheer exaltation of the human				other important traditions as well. Perhaps
spirit his writing, is no doubt,				the most notable examples of this symbol are
characterized by a set of emotions that are				the many images that occur during Chinese New
responsible for, none other than, some of the				Year celebrations. During these festive times
worlds' most exquisite art.An intricate set				family ties are solidified and traditional
of emotionsDistinguished not only by				ideas may be reinforced as well.A unique
picturesque landscapes, unique personalities				poetic visionWith this in mind, it is quite
and highly imaginative descriptions of the				fascinating to consider how this ancient
universe, his poetry often contains an				symbol became such an important part of Li
underlying conflict that contrasts his				Bai's poetry. And perhaps even more
natural tendency to revel in the grand				interesting to consider how it became a part
glories of nature with profound feelings of				of the inner workings of his mind.In the
both loneliness and despair.With striking				classic poem "Alone Drinking under the Moon"
heartfelt images, Li Bai combines allusion,				for example, the moon provides a light that
innuendo and sublime subtlety to create a				shimmers across a dark forbidding sky. Below
dark depressing underworld that appears to				it however is the the pondering poet, highly
lie just below the surface of his conscious				immersed in his own deep reflection.Then as
thought. These images provide the texts with				he begins to sip his legendary wine, he
a texture and complexity that is rarely found				catches a glimpse of himself the moon and his
in any other work. And at the same time they				shadow. In a scene somewhat reminiscent of
continue to intrigue an impressive number of				some sort of divine religious apparition, Li
people who are captivated by the nature of				Bai appears to come to terms with both his
his unwonted, unparalleled bliss.In "Alone				spiritual side, as well as the ironic aspects
Drinking under the Moon" for example, this				of his own material existence.In an
fascinating dichotomy reaches a great				assessment of his need for wholeness, harmony
climactic crescendo. In a conflicted,				and friendship, he writes, "While still not
debauched state of drunkenness, Li Bai writes				drunk...I am glad to make the moon and shadow
" I am alone...for the moon cannot				into friends...but when I have drunk too much
drink...and my shadow goes emptily along with				we all part.Champion for human freedomTo say
me...never saying a word.On loneliness and				that Li Bai, a man whose thoughts often seem
despairIn just a few short lines, Li Bai, a				marked by some sort of intense internal
great master of mystic revelry has created a				struggle, is a bit of an enigma, is certainly
unique poetic vision whereby we as readers				more than on the mark. Perhaps no other poet
are encouraged to experience both his				was so effective in creating such disparate
abundant joy as well as his agonizing				emotion.Drawn by his conflicting thoughts,
sorrow.In a drunken state of merriment we can				readers of Li Bai are often intrigued by a
quite literally feel the great waves of				blend of dissonance that creates a very
pleasure pulsating through his veins. Yet at				unique poetic vision. And it is precisely
the same time he encourages us to yearn for				this vision that has not only attracted
something more.Caught in a cross-fire between				readers for many centuries. It has caused
his own licentious behavior and a desire for				them to examine the poet, his position and
spiritual transcendence, he describes a				his extraordinary way of experiencing the
condition that few of us may ever really come				world.In an assessment of his extraordinary
to know.Highly engrossed in the natural				way of viewing the world, some may argue that
spirit of his own material existence, Li Bai				it is the result of unconscious efforts to
can make us quiver with unequivocal bliss.				repress unwanted painful thoughts. Others may
Yet far removed from a prolonged state of				argue that the poet's art is merely the
euphoria, he is deeply entrenched in an empty				result of his failure to adjust to the
bottomless pit.In this classic poem Li Bai				mundane realities of an unhappy unfulfilled
writes...Amongst the flowers I am alone with				life.When considering the nature and
my pot of wine drinking by myself;				significance of Li Bai's poetry it may be
				helpful to acknowledge that while his writing
then lifting my cup I asked the moon to				often includes considerable fantasy, it is
drink with me,				indeed true that beneath his words lies an
				artist with acute sensitivities to the nature
its reflection and mine in the wine cup,				of his everyday experiences. And it is with
just the three of us;				these acute sensitivities that he has created
				a transcendent reality that is based upon the
then I sigh for the moon cannot drink,				sanctity of his own material
				existence.Certainly a courageous poet and a
and my shadow goes emptily along with me				bit of a political maverick as well, Li Bai's
never saying a word;				poetry often challenges various Chinese art
				forms that may be bound by the authoritarian
with no other friends here, I can but use				roots of its' longstanding Confucian
these two for company;				traditions. But like a modern-day rebel, he
				has forged his way into the annals of Chinese
in this time of happiness, I too must be				history by creating unparalleled poetry with
happy with all around me;				a style and personality that is not only
				phenomenal, it is wild and wonderful as
then if I dance it is my shadow that dances				well.Great romantic spiritFor those who are
along with me, while still not drunk,				eager to delve into the depths of Li Bai's
				poetry such an endeavor will surely prove to
I am glad to make the moon and shadow into				be quite an adventurous trip. Embedded in his
friends,				art is the soul of a lively free spirit with
				a writing style that seems to leap straight
but then when I have drunk too much we all				from the page.Undoubtedly the product of a
part.				highly independent mind, Li Bai has taught us
				that while the parameters of human freedom
Yet these are friends I can count on,				may at times seem to be quite limited,
				creative alternatives are always available to
these who have no emotion whatsoever;				those who place great faith in the natural
				spirit of their own physical
I hope that one day we three will meet				sensations.Admittedly a romantic point of
again, deep in the milky way.A natural state				view, which emphasizes the freedom of self
of elationTo provide some perspective upon a				expression, he has written in a style that is
mind that was often in a natural state of				among the most captivating the world has ever
elation while it created poetry with a				known.The unique elements within his texts
melancholic form of discontent, it is				include fascinating descriptions of the
important to realize that Li Bai was no				relationship between his internal and
ordinary person.Like a true Taoist priest he				external world, as well as a true celebration
chose to concern himself with the natural				of the great nobility of the common man. With
beauty of the vast Chinese countryside. Away				a predilection for melancholy, and a profound
from the city and all that it represents, Li				interest in the remote, these stylistic
Bai created a personal philosophy that				features intensify the emotional content that
bordered upon religious fervor. And at the				is an essential part of the meaning of the
core of this philosophy was a profound				poet's words.It is for these reasons, and
appreciation for the natural world and all of				many others, that we, who appreciate the
the magical qualities that it seemed to				great significance of Li Bai's work, will
possess.Purportedly born upon the steppe in				continue to stand and applaud as it continues
nearby Central Asia, Li Bai's family fled				to send great ripples across our minds.An
China to escape political persecution at the				uncommon characterYet it is not only Li Bai's
hands of Li Yun, the first emperor of the				words that seem to have such a dramatic
legendary Tang dynasty.Upon resettling in				affect upon his readers, it is the unique
Sichuan province years later, he began				character of his personality that always
traveling the countryside producing a				seems to shine right through. Biographers may
tremendous body of poetry. Tragically				argue that Li Bai's life upon the steppe may
however, after living quite an exciting and				have shaped his burgeoning personality.
adventurous life, he died as a result of the				Others may emphasize political factors,
effects of				namely his family's persecution at the hands
				of Li Yun, the Tang dynasty's first
chronic long term alcoholism. Folk stories				emperor.In any event, to the extent that Li
even claim that in a highly demented state he				Bai's poetry provides insight into the true
drowned attempting to scoop the moon from the				nature of his personality, we find recurrent
Yangtze river.On rapture and revelryWhile it				themes that color his most famous work. Among
would be easy to consider Li Bai's death a				the most interesting of these themes is a
great calamity, his enormous talent and				passionate desire to achieve harmony in the
lasting legacy may certainly serve as some				form of warm comforting relationships. These
compensation for an untimely, and arguably,				relationships, sometimes sensual in nature,
an unnecessary death. Often described as a				may at times, even include erotic overtones
great romantic poet, his style precedes the				that stimulate the mind, adding strength,
classic writers of th English genre by				vitality and clarity to each of his legendary
approximately one thousand years. And like				scenes.Other images are quite abstract. Yet
other romantic poets that include Blake,				dripping with colorful hues and bright with
Byron, Wordsworth, Coleridge and Keats, Li				fervid imagery, he can really reel you in.
Bai's work is characterized by an independent				---- Just think of the gleaming moon.It
spirit that defies convention and expands the				resonates above us glowing in its perfect
limits of human freedom.Clearly influenced by				round symmetrical shape. Considered an object
Taoist conceptions of the universe as well as				of beauty, stimulating ire joy and misery, he
the flourishing art and culture of the highly				has created imagery that appeals to both our
celebrated Tang dynasty, Li Bai immersed				sense of aesthetics as well as our most base
himself in the spectacular scenery that				primal impulses.Sipping deep red wine from a
surrounded him. Known for his unrestrained				shining silver chalice, one can really begin
emotional style, his greatest attribute may				to consider the joyful pleasure and endless
have been his extraordinary ability to				possibilities that may be available to both
accentuate the natural beauty in his own				woman and man.The destiny and origin of a
native environment. In an era that preceded				poet and his poetryAnd like other divine
the development of modern technologies by				work, we hope that much of Li Bai's poetry
centuries, Li Bai created lasting images so				will arrive at its final destination, an
striking and colorful his place in Chinese				unknown amorphous heaven.For we, the chosen
art and culture can never be denied.So we				recipients of his illustrious words are truly
must ask ourselves how did this legendary				grateful for his divine gifts and all that
figure become such a creative force? How did				they have now come to represent.And as great
he come to write such celebrated words? And				admirers of his poetry, we can only hope that
how did he develop into such an outstanding				more of us will begin to enjoy the profound
talent?"Alone Drinking under the Moon", one				meaning of his inspiration, as well as his
of his most famous works certainly provides				heavenly heartfelt words.To appreciate this
us with some important clues.Reflections from				poet, is to appreciate both Li Bai and the
a dark moonlit skyWith images that often				world. And at the risk of sounding quite
linger deep within the human mind, Li Bai has				callow, or perhaps even a bit naive---we must
introduced many important aspects of				surely ask, is there any real reason to
traditional Chinese culture within this				believe that anything, could possibly, begin
fabled poem. The moon for example, in stark				to mean much more?For Li Bai like no other
contrast to frequent representations in				can make us both feel the earth and touch the
western literary traditions is often a symbol				sky.Gerald Marchewka is an American free
of hope, not an image of gloom and doom.In				lance writer currently living in Ulaanbaatar,
Chinese culture, and in particular in				Mongolia.

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Straight from the Heavens: Li Bai's Poetry in Retrospect