Another Interpretation to Li Bai's Image——A Discussion about Li Bai's Image in Li the Drunken Immortal from Heaven's Reply to the Foreign Envoy

Fen Menglong,a novelist in the Ming Dynasty,uses a popular style to portray the characteristics of Li Bai,better known as Li Po in the West,who was a great poet in the Tang Dynasty in his Jin Shi Tong Yan or Stories to Warn the World.Different from the rigorous and simple style inShi Ji or Records of the Grand Historian,Feng Menglong generally adopts a creative literary style,portraying Li Bai's image based both on the real and imaginary affairs.Li the Drunken Immortal from Heaven's Reply to the Foreign Envoy deals with the multitudinous legendary stories with more imagination and exaggeration than facts,vividly depicting Li Bai's quick wit,independent character,uninhibited personality,unyielding spirits,overwhelming addiction to wine and unlucky life experiences,which present the readers another interpretation to Li Bai's image.Some people,like Feng Menglong in late Ming Dynasty,have encountered similar experiences as Li Bai in spirit and the imperial official world.They are not only pursuing spiritual pleasures,but also pursuing materialistic pleasures.They are not only enjoying a free,unrestrained,natural,and broad-minded life,but also good at savoring life.Therefore,in the process of writing this story he created Li Bai's image in a way of using others' golden goblet to express his own in-depth wishes.