About Li Shangyin

In this Chinese name, the family name is Li.

Li Shangyin (Chinese: 李商隐; pinyin: Lǐ Shāngyǐn, c. 813–858), courtesy name Yishan (Chinese: 义山), was a Chinese poet and politician of the late Tang dynasty, born in the Henei Commandery (now Qinyang, Henan). He is noted for his imagist and "no-title" (Chinese: 无题; pinyin: wútí) poetic style. Li has been frequently anthologized, and many of his poems have been translated into various languages, including several collections in English.

Li Shangyin was born in 812 or 813 CE. The exact date is uncertain. His career was rough, and he never obtained a high-ranking position, because of either factional disputes or his association with Liu Fen, a prominent opponent of the eunuchs. He lived at a time when the Tang dynasty was rapidly declining, after 200 years of glorious reign.