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Li Chia-yu (719–781) was a native of Chaohsien in Hopei province and the uncle of Li Tuan, who was one of the Ten Talents of the Tali Period. He served as a proofreader in the Palace Library, but due to some unspecified offense he was banished to the South. Although he was called back to the capital, he didn’t stay long and was sent back to the provinces, where he served as magistrate of a series of prefectures south of the Yangtze. The phrase “upright official” (ao-li) comes from the story about Chuangtzu in Ssu-ma Ch’ien’s biography of him, in which the Taoist sage refuses the post of prime minister in favor of a minor post near his hometown north of Minchuan on the Honan–Shantung border. Here, the phrase refers to Secretary Wang, whose job would have been to draft documents in some government office. The tower Wang built was intended as a sleeping platform during the hot and humid Yangtze summer. The South Wind is the wind of compassionate government, but it also represents the less severe cultural milieu south of the Yangtze. An ancient poem goes: “The touch of the South Wind can relieve my people’s pains.” Li also recalls a story in Liehtzu (2.11) in which gulls are said to perceive the thoughts of those who might want to harm or catch them. Clearly, this official has no such thoughts. Also, although he is “idle” and thus not currently employed, he still wears his hat, the emblem of office, suggesting his readiness to serve should the occasion arise.

Written at Secretary Wang’s Bamboo Tower

LI CHIA-YU

An idle upright official laughs at the high and mighty

west of the river he built a tower of bamboo

who needs a palm leaf when the South Wind blows

wearing his silk hat he naps beside gulls