Tang dynasty poet Li Bai (李白; see xx) was asked to compose poems at the court of Emperor Xuan Zong (玄宗, r. 712~756) but turned up drunk and had to be supported by two eunuchs, as shown in this temple bas relief entitled “The Great Bai drunk on alcohol” (太白醉酒).
Despite his condition he managed to compose a dozen or more poems off the cuff, which pleased and impressed the emperor.
Subsequently, however, Li failed to secure permanent position at court. Some accounts say he applied to leave the capital at Chang’an (長安; today’s Xi’an 西安, Shaanxi 陝西); others that he was kicked out for angering the emperor by gossiping and revealing court secrets.
Text and photos © Jiyue Publications
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