Biography of Bai Juyi

Bai Juyi (772-846) was born in Xinzheng, Henan Province. He showed his talent as a "child prodigy" at a young age. He could read a thousand words at the age of three and could recite poems at the age of five. Wandering in Vietnam for six years, he witnessed the suffering of the people and planted the seeds of realistic-themed creation. He also regained his interest in reading because of his longing for and commitment to Xiang Ling.​ In 795, he met his close friend Yuan Zhen; in 800, he passed the Jinshi examination. Although he was named on the gold medal list, he was disappointed because he did not meet Xiang Ling. In 806, when he was serving as a lieutenant in Yusi County, he completed "Song of Everlasting Sorrow", which caused a sensation in Chang'an. In 808, he served as Zuo Shiyi and other officials. He spoke out and gave advice and wrote "Qin Zhongyin" to expose the darkness of society and offend the powerful. In 815, he was demoted to Jiangzhou and wrote "Pipa Xing".​ In his later years, he still made great achievements. When he was the governor of Zhongzhou, he built water conservancy projects and won the love of the people. When he was the governor of Hangzhou and Suzhou, he promoted good governance, built the "White Embankment" and created "Spring Tour of Qiantang Lake". In 829, he retired to Luoyang and lived a leisurely life. After becoming an official in 842, he sang and had fun with his friends in Xiangshan and compiled poetry collections. He died in 846 and was buried in Xiangshan, leaving behind "Bai's Changqing Collection". His literary legend and sentiments for the people have created the immortal status of "the name of poetry will be passed down through the ages".