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

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

Soul Journey

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