Quiet Night Thought

Li drew inspiration for the poem through personal experiences as a Confucian scholar detached from his hometown.

Through the poem, Li Bai fulfils responsibilities of filial piety to both Emperor and his ascendants as he expresses his yearning for his hometown, in accordance with Confucian values, as well as obedience towards the sad obligation of remaining loyal to imperial edict, again in accordance to Confucian values of filial piety.

Hence, in contrast to Li Bai's longer, more free-form gushi, "Quiet Night Thought" is vague, yet expresses solemnity and yearning through a combination of its night-time imagery and its spare form.

Since its conception during the Tang dynasty, "Quiet Night Thought" remains one of Li Bai's most famous and memorable poems.

It is also commonly taught as one of the earliest works of Chinese poetry in the education of juniors for its relative simplicity and straightforward yet effective use of imagery to provoke basic Confucian values.