The Mysterious Passing of Poetry’s Twin Stars: Li Bai and Du Fu
The Celestial Twins of Chinese Poetry
When exploring classical Chinese poetry, two monumental figures immediately capture our imagination: Li Bai, the Poet Immortal, and Du Fu, the Poet Sage. These literary titans represent the perfect duality of creative expression—one embodying the unrestrained romantic spirit, the other mastering profound realism. As Han Yu, leader of the Eight Great Prose Masters of Tang and Song, eloquently stated: “The works of Li and Du shine with eternal radiance.” Their legacy continues to resonate across centuries, yet the circumstances surrounding their departures remain shrouded in mystery and speculation.
The Moon-Chasing Romantic: Li Bai’s Mysterious End
Li Bai (courtesy name Taibai, pseudonym Qinglian Jushi) was not merely a poet but a cultural phenomenon. Trained in swordsmanship during his youth, he traveled extensively throughout China, his extraordinary imagination transforming landscapes into timeless verse. Despite his political aspirations, disillusionment with court politics led him to increasingly seek solace in wine.
The Moon Embrace Legend
The most poetic account of Li Bai’s passing comes from Wang Dingbao’s Tang Zhi Yan, which describes how the intoxicated poet, perhaps during a nighttime riverside poetic session, saw the moon’s reflection in the water and attempted to embrace it, ultimately drowning in this celestial pursuit. Hong Mai’s Rongzhai Essays further popularized this romantic narrative.
Historical Perspectives
Contrary to the poetic legend, The Old Book of Tang records Li Bai’s death as alcohol-related in Xuancheng. His relative Li Yangbing attributed it to illness, a view supported by poet Pi Rixiu’s reference to “chest necrosis” possibly caused by chronic alcoholism. These contrasting accounts—one mythological, one medical—create the enduring mystery surrounding the Poet Immortal’s departure.
The Earthbound Sage: Du Fu’s Tragic Journey
Du Fu (courtesy name Zimei, pseudonym Shaoling Ye Lao) embodied the compassionate realist, his verse saturated with social concern and human suffering. Unlike his contemporary Li Bai, Du Fu struggled with recognition during his lifetime, overshadowed by more flamboyant poets.
A Life of Struggle
Du Fu’s political ambitions were thwarted by Chancellor Li Linfu’s notorious “No Talents Left in Wilderness” examination result, limiting him to minor bureaucratic positions. His poignant line to Li Bai—“Fame for ten thousand years, but loneliness after death”—reveals his awareness of posthumous recognition versus earthly struggles.
The Controversial Demise
One account suggests Du Fu died from overindulgence—feasting on roast beef and wine offered by a county magistrate after years of deprivation. The more historically plausible narrative describes his decline after patron Yan Wu’s death left him destitute, ultimately succumbing to illness and poverty aboard a small boat on Dongting Lake.
Eternal Legacy Beyond Mortality
The contrasting narratives surrounding these poets’ deaths reflect their artistic essences: Li Bai’s mythological departure aligns with his transcendental verse, while Du Fu’s earthly struggles mirror his humanistic concerns. Their twin legacies continue to illuminate Chinese literature, reminding us that great art often transcends the circumstances of its creation—and even the mysteries of its creators’ endings.
What do these different accounts reveal about how societies remember their artistic geniuses? Does the romanticized version of Li Bai’s death enhance our appreciation of his work, while Du Fu’s tragic end deepens our understanding of his compassionate verse? The mysteries surrounding their passings ultimately contribute to their enduring fascination across centuries and cultures.
