1. Li Shangyin was a famous poet in the late Tang Dynasty.
2. Li Shangyin (about 813-about 858), whose courtesy name was Yishan, also named Yuxi (Xi) Sheng, and also Fan Nansheng, his ancestral home was Hanoi, Huaizhou (now Qinyang, Jiaozuo, Henan), and he was born in Xingyang, Zhengzhou (now Xingyang City, Zhengzhou, Henan Province), a famous poet in the late Tang Dynasty. Together with Du Mu, he is known as "Xiao Li Du", and with Wen Tingyun, he is known as "Wen Li". Because the style of poetry is similar to that of Duan Chengshi and Wen Tingyun of the same period, and all three of them were ranked sixteenth in their families, they were collectively called the "Thirty-sixth Style".
3. His poems have novel ideas and rich styles, especially some of his love poems, which are so touching and pathos that they are widely read. But it is too obscure and confusing to understand. There is a saying that "poets always love Xikun and hate that no one writes Zheng Jian." Because he was caught in the partisan struggle between Niu and Li, he was very frustrated in his life. After his death, he was buried in his hometown Qinyang (the junction of today's Qinyang and Boai County).
4. Li Shangyin is usually regarded as the most outstanding poet in the late Tang Dynasty. His poetic style was deeply influenced by Li He, and his syntax, composition and structure were influenced by Du Fu and Han Yu. Many critics believe that among the outstanding poets of the Tang Dynasty, his importance is second only to Du Fu, Li Bai, Wang Wei and others.
5. In terms of the uniqueness of his poetic style, he is not inferior to any other poet. However, there are relatively many allusions and it seems to be obscure. Those who appreciate Li Shangyin's poetry and those who criticize him all focus on his distinctive personal style. Many poets in later generations imitated Li Shangyin's style, but none of them was recognized.