Li was born to an upper-class family in Sankakuyū (Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Saⁿ-kak-éng), Japanese Taiwan (modern-day Sanxia District, New Taipei City) on 13 March 1902.

In 1929, he was accepted by the Division of Western Painting at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts, where he studied with teachers such as Okada Saburousuke and Kobayashi Mango.

After graduating in 1934, Li returned to Taiwan and co-founded the Tai-Yang Art Society along with artists such as Liao Chi-chun, Tan Teng-pho, and Yen Shui-long.

After World War II, Li served several terms as chairman of Sanxia street, township representative, and county councilor.

Li emphasized the characteristics of the people he was painting through details such as the patterns of their clothing and subject’s relationship with the background.