LI Y

born 937, modern Nanking died Aug. 15 (?), 978, Pien, now K'ai-feng, Honan Province, China Pinyin Li Yu, WadeGiles romanization Li Hou-chu (Chinese: The Last Ruler) Chinese poet and the last ruler of the Southern T'ang dynasty (937975) who succeeded his poet father, Li Ching, in 961. Though Li Y had paid annual tribute to T'ai Tsu, founder of the Sung dynasty (9601279), the Sung forces invaded his country in 974. When his capital, Chin-ling (modern Nanking), fell the next year, Li Y surrendered and was taken to the Sung capital, Pien. There he was given a nominal title, but his life was one of misery. When T'ai Tsu died in 976 and his brother T'ai Tsung ascended the throne, the new emperor, angered by Li Y's poems, had him poisoned. Li Y was a master of the tz'u (q.v.). More than 30 of his lyrics have survived. The earlier poems reflect the gay and luxurious life at his court, though some are tinged with romantic melancholy. Li Y achieved his greatness, however, in his later poems in which he expressed his grief and despair at the loss of his kingdom. Their direct and powerful emotional appeal has won them lasting popularity. In addition to being a poet, Li Y was also a painter, calligrapher, collector, and musician.