Born on January 8, 1037, in Meishan (now in the Sichuan province), China, Su Shi received top honors in governmental civil service exams. Though revered in his appointed state posts, Su also faced banishment due to his opposition to the New Laws Party of Wang Anshi. A humorous, thoughtful man, Su mastered a variety of literary forms and was also known for his calligraphy and bamboo paintings. He died on August 24, 1101, in Changzhou, located in China's Jiangsu province.
