Li Jinfa

Li Jinfa (李金髮; November 21, 1900 – December 25, 1976) was a Chinese poet, sculptor, and diplomat of Hakka descent.

[1] Li chose sculpting to be his college major and two of his works was showcased in a Pairs art exhibition.

[1][2][4] In 1924 Li returned to China from Germany where he was offered a position at the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts as the school's sole sculpting professor.

[12] It was not until the 1930's were Li's initial publication of "Light Rain" began to be recognized as the first instance of Chinese symbolist poetry.

[6] In 1938 Li and his family fled to Vietnam when the city was captured by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

[6][2] During this time Li published patriotic poems in literary magazines in support of the Chinese war effort against the Japanese.

[6][5][2] In 1951 Li immigrated to the United States where he became a chicken farmer before using his skills as a sculptor to make a living.