Li Qingzhao(1084~1155), self-titled Yi'an Jushi, was a native of Zhangqiu, Jinan (in the present-day Shandong Province).

李清照(1084~1155)，自号易安居士，济南章丘(今属山东)人。

双语阅读之中国历史名人:李清照

Her life was a bittersweet story.

她的一生既享受过幸福，也饱经苦难。

She married Zhao Mingcheng and shared with him the love of poetry and antiquities¹. They had enjoyed a happy family life before the emperors of the Song Dynasty were captured by the invasive Jin people. In the midst of the Jin's invasion, her husband died and she had to flee from her sacked home town.

前半生与赵明诚婚姻美满，诗词酬唱，共同收集整理金石文物，生活舒心适意:靖康之难后，家破夫亡，受尽劫难和折磨。

Hardship and suffering made her poetic² style widely different from earlier works, which mainly deliver the maiden³ naivety⁴ and the subtle feelings of parting with her husband, or her passion with mother nature and her love of plants and pets.

因此，李清照的词作前后呈现出截然不同的风格与心境，前期词作主要是传达少女天真烂漫的情怀以及少妇淡淡的离愁别绪，或者是表达对自然景物的热爱，对花草禽鸟的眷顾。

It turned to be melancholy⁵ and imposing⁶, reflecting the hardship she bore.

后期词作由轻盈妙丽的望夫词变成了沉重哀伤的生死恋歌，词境由明亮轻快变成了灰冷凝重，真切地反映了时代的苦难。

Li Qingzhao is credited with the establishment of ci as a different genre⁷, independent from other genres⁸. She suggested that ci should follow more melodic⁹ and rhythmic¹⁰ patterns, distinguishing itself with shi. In practice, she excelled in using normal language to depict¹¹ the subtle mentality¹² and emotions of the characters in question.

理论上，李清照从词的本体论出发确立了词的独特地位，提出了“词别是一家”之说，认为词对音乐性和节奏感有更独特的要求，是与诗不同的抒情文体;创作中，她善于选取日常生活中的起居环境、行动、细节，用最平常、最简单的语言来表现微妙复杂的心理和多变的情感流程。

Her choice of images and words, whether they are formal or informal, is unique and innovative¹³. The following lines best illustrate¹⁴ her poetic creativity, "The red must be getting thin, while the green is becoming plump";"I dwindle¹⁵, thin as a golden flower";“spoiled willows¹⁶ and coquet flowers"; "willow-leave eyes and plum-colored cheeks".

她的语言独具特色，无论口语还是书面语，一经她提炼熔铸，即别开生面，精妙清亮，如“绿肥红瘦”、“人比黄花瘦”、“宠柳娇花”、“柳眼梅腮”等，都是她的独创。

Li Qingzhao is believed to be the most prolific¹⁷ and accoplished female poet in the history of Chinese literature. Her audacity¹⁸ in expressing the pursuit of true love and delicacy¹⁹ in the depiction²⁰ of emotions reflect her intuition of being a female.

李清照是中国文学史上创造力最强、艺术成就最高的女性作家，她以女性的身份，真挚大胆地表现对爱情的热烈追求，丰富生动地抒写自我的情感世界，比“男子作闺音”更为真切自然。

Her prominence²¹ in the Southern Song Dynasty unprecedentedly²² changed the male-dominated field of poetry.

李清照的横空出世，改变了男子一统文坛的传统格局。