白居易
Bai Juyi
字乐天
Tang Dynasty (唐代) · 772–846
Biography
Bai Juyi (772–846) was one of the most prolific and popular poets of the Tang Dynasty, renowned for writing in a clear, accessible style that could be understood by common people. Legend says he would read his poems to an old woman and revise anything she couldn't understand. He had a successful official career, rising to high positions before being exiled for his outspoken criticism of government policy. His narrative poems, especially "Song of Everlasting Regret" (长恨歌) about Emperor Xuanzong and Yang Guifei, are among the most beloved works in Chinese literature.
Poetic Style
Bai Juyi deliberately cultivated a plain, direct style, believing that poetry should serve as social commentary accessible to all. His "New Yuefu" (新乐府) poems directly addressed social injustices — corruption, military conscription, poverty, and the excesses of the wealthy. Despite this accessibility, his best work achieves remarkable emotional depth and narrative power. His long ballads combine storytelling skill with lyric beauty, while his shorter poems demonstrate that simplicity and profundity are not mutually exclusive.
Most Famous Lines
野火烧不尽，春风吹又生
yě huǒ shāo bù jìn, chūn fēng chuī yòu shēng
Wildfire cannot burn them away; spring wind blows and they grow once more
— Grasses (赋得古原草送别)
离离原上草，一岁一枯荣
lí lí yuán shàng cǎo, yī suì yī kū róng
Endless grasses on the plain — each year they wither and flourish again
— Grasses (赋得古原草送别)
Legacy & Influence
Bai Juyi was enormously popular during his lifetime — his poems were copied on walls and sung in streets across China. His influence was particularly strong in Japan, where he was considered the greatest Chinese poet for centuries (more popular there than Li Bai or Du Fu). His emphasis on clarity and social relevance influenced generations of Chinese writers. "Song of Everlasting Regret" has been adapted into operas, films, and novels. His famous couplet "Wildfire cannot burn them away; spring wind blows and they grow once more" from "Grasses" remains one of the most quoted lines in Chinese.