Liu Yuxi

Took part in the Yongzhen Reform and, despite repeated exiles, never lost his bold spirit; he was called the "Hero of Poetry."

Life

Yongzhen Reform

Liu Yuxi passed the jinshi exam in the same year as Liu Zongyuan, and both were key members of the Yongzhen Reform. When the reform failed in 805, he was demoted to sima of Langzhou.

Unbowed through repeated exiles

Summoned back to the capital ten years later, he wrote a poem mocking the newly powerful: "The thousand peach trees in Xuandu Temple were all planted after Master Liu went away," and was demoted again to the even more remote Lianzhou. He then served as prefect in various places for more than 20 years, writing works such as "Inscription on a Humble Dwelling" and "Bamboo Branch Songs."

Liu and Bai exchange poems

In old age he returned to Luoyang and exchanged poems with Bai Juyi; the two are known together as "Liu and Bai." He died in 842.

Legacy

Liu Yuxi stayed optimistic and bold through twenty-three years of exile, and Bai Juyi called him the "Hero of Poetry."

Major works & achievements

• "Inscription on a Humble Dwelling"
• "Bamboo Branch Songs"
• "Wuyi Lane"

Did you know? "Beside the sunken boat a thousand sails pass by; before the sickly tree ten thousand trees burst into spring" are lines he wrote to Bai Juyi.

Key dates

• 793Passed the jinshi exam
• 805The Yongzhen Reform failed; demoted to Langzhou
• 815Demoted again over his Xuandu Temple poem
• 828Revisited Xuandu Temple
• 842Died