Li Zonghan was born in the 34th year of Qianlong. In the fifty-seventh year of Qianlong's reign (1792), he passed the imperial examination and in the fifty-eighth year (1793) of the Qianlong Emperor's reign, he passed the imperial examination and was selected as a scholar and editor of the Hanlin Academy. In the second year of Jiaqing (1797), he was appointed as the editor and editor of Wuying Palace. In the following year, he was promoted to the second class in the major examination. He was promoted to Zhan Shi and supplemented Zuo's praise. He was appointed as the co-editor of the National History Museum. In four years, he was enriched in the compilation and revision of the Lu Library. In the fifth year, he was appointed to the Fujian Classics Examination. In the tenth year, he was transferred to study as a bachelor, supervising the school in Hunan, and became the Minister of Taipu Temple in Jin Dynasty. Later, he entered the capital and was awarded the title of Prime Minister of the clan. In the 19th year, he served as the left deputy censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the chief examiner of the Dianwu Examination. During his tenure, he handled cases impartially and supported people of insight. Wei Yuan, a thinker, writer and historian during the Xianfeng period, received his appreciation, recommendation and help.
While Li Zonghan was an official in the court, he experienced the pain of the death of his adoptive parents and biological mother. In the 21st year of Jiaqing (1816), his biological father Li Bingli was in his old age and his later life was miserable. Li Zonghan built Huxi Temple for him. He came to the village so that he could take care of himself until his old age, and begged the court to live with his grandmother. He devoted himself to studying poetry and calligraphy. Within a few years, his grandmother also died. In the eighth year of Daoguang's reign (1828), Li Zonghan went to Beijing to serve as the Minister of Industry, Zhejiang Dianshi, and Zhejiang Academic Affairs. In the eleventh year of Daoguang's reign (1831), at the age of sixty-three, his father Li Bingli died in Guilin. Li Zonghan worked hard to nurse his illness and died in Zhouci, Quzhou.
Li Zonghan has a kind nature and is honest with others. He treats his biological father and adoptive father with the same sincerity and filial piety. Treat colleagues with sincerity and never blame others. He was well-read in books and was fond of epigraphy. He was known by his literary name during the Jiadong and Daoist dynasties. The imperial court produced many works. He once built a building on the south bank of Rong Lake in Guilin to collect epigraphy, calligraphy and paintings, and named it "Zheyuan". When he was relaxing at home, he devoted himself to studying poetry and calligraphy. He was good at poetry and admired Han Yu.
Li Zonghan lived in the forest for ten years to support his relatives when he was middle-aged. His calligraphy was particularly important in the world. His calligraphy is a distant ancestor of Wang Xizhi, and he recently studied Yu Shinan. He is good at running and regular script, but few seal scripts have been handed down to the world. His books do not use their appearance to please people, but are dedicated to the inner strength of knowledge and cultivation. The appearance is diluted and peaceful, but the inner part contains a clear and strong spirit, calmness and impatience, and elegant steps. He is known as the "Yonghua" of the dynasty. Following Zhang Zhao and Wang Shu." Zeng Guofan commented: "Those who occasionally thought that the method of writing calligraphy could be used as a teacher, wrote a second sentence: 'Shi Xian has one stone and two water'. One stone is Liu Shi'an (Yong), and the two water is Li Chunhu and Cheng Chunhai." The contemporary Ma Zonghuo even called it "the profoundness of the calligraphy, which has no parallel in the world." Li Zonghan once copied the Confucius Temple Stele and the Huadu Temple Stele on two stone volumes, which are cherished by the world and are known as "Li Ben". His handed down calligraphy and running script "Changan Miscellaneous Poetry Scroll" is now collected in the Kyoto National Museum, Japan, and published in Japan's "Complete Collection of Calligraphy (Twenty-four)". His collection of "Master Meng's Stele", "Temple Stele", "Zen Master Xinxing's Stele" and "Shancai's Poetry Stele" are known as the "Four Treasures of Linchuan".