Biographical Compilation of Li Qingzhao

Author: Chu Binjie, Sun Chong'en, Rong Xianbin
Publisher:
Publishing Date: Not available
Features: Li Qingzhao was a renowned female poet of the Song Dynasty, known by the pseudonym Yilian Jushi, and was from Jinan, Shandong. Her father was the literary figure Li Gefei, and her mother was the daughter of Wang Gongchen, a top scholar, who was also skilled in writing. Li Qingzhao grew up in a family with a strong cultural atmosphere. At the age of 18, she married Zhao Mingcheng, a student of the imperial academy. Zhao Mingcheng wrote The Compendium of Antiquities and Artifacts, and Li Qingzhao wrote the preface to it, detailing their shared life and their love for calligraphy, painting, and antiquities. Her early poetry primarily depicted the charm of domestic life and the beauty of nature, with a fresh and bright style. After the fall of the Northern Song Dynasty, Li Qingzhao and her husband fled south in haste. In 1129, Zhao Mingcheng passed away in Jiankang (now Nanjing), and she experienced the pain of a nation torn apart alone. As a result, her later works reflected the suffering of war and turmoil, filled with sorrow for the times, nostalgia, and a somber, poignant style. The artistic features of Li Qingzhao's poetry lie in her use of simple and vivid descriptions, her skill in portraying subtle emotional changes, and her clear, conversational language. Among Song Dynasty poets, she stood out as a unique figure. She left behind Shuyu Ci, a collection of her poems. Li Qingzhao achieved remarkable success in poetry, ci (a classical Chinese poetic form), and prose. Her works were already widely celebrated during her lifetime, with many famous lines and phrases still widely quoted and discussed. From the Song Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, scholars have either researched her life, commented on her creations, or composed poetry in response to hers, accumulating a vast body of work. To provide some convenience for modern researchers, we have compiled this Compendium of Li Qingzhao Materials for reference.