Liu Ling

Liu Ling (221–300 CE) was a Chinese poet and scholar, notable as one of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove. Born in the state of Pei of the Western Jin dynasty, Liu Ling retreated to the countryside to embrace a Taoist lifestyle, seeking spontaneity and natural existence away from the constraints of the Imperial court. He was popularly regarded as an eccentric, especially for his renowned love of alcohol. His most famous work, 'In Praise of the Virtue of Wine', reflects this characteristic. A folk tale depicts him with a servant carrying wine and a shovel, ready to offer drink or burial. He was also known for his practice of walking nude at home, considering the universe his home and his rooms his clothing.