Origins & Early Life

Li Qingzhao (Chinese: 李清照; 1084 – ca. 1155), art name Yi'an Jushi (Chinese: 易安居士), was a Chinese poet and essayist of the Song dynasty. She is considered one of the greatest poets in Chinese history. Li Qingzhao was born in 1084 in Qi Prefecture, Jingdong East Circuit (today's Zhangqiu, Shandong province).

Pivotal Works & Achievements

She was born to a family of scholar-officials. Her father, Li Gefei, was an academic professor, a famous essayist, and a member of a poetry and literary circle led by Su Shi. Her mother was a renowned poet descended from prime minister Wang Kung-ch'en. The family had a large collection of books, and Li was able to receive comprehensive education in her childhood. Her poems showed her girlish innocence, sharp mind, and love of nature, such as "Happy Memories: Dreamland".

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Since she was a teen, she studied hard and had an in-depth understanding of literature. As a teenager, she started to develop a career as a poet by writing two poems in shi form to rhyme with a poem by a friend. Li's poetry was already well known within elite circles by 1101, when, aged eighteen, she married Zhao Mingcheng. They had numerous similarities and both loved...

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