Career
Known for his erudition and his poems of the "pure and spare" style, Li is recognized as one of the leaders of the Zhejiang School of poetry. Born in a poor family in Qiantang (modern Hangzhou, Zhejiang) and orphaned in early childhood, Li East nevertheless became well educated and made a living as a tutor for many years. In 1720 he passed the imperial examination for the juren degree, but was unable to advance his career in government, partly due to his temperament.
Instead, he made a name for himself as the most erudite person with regard to Song Dynasty poetry.
He is widely considered a leader of the Zhejiang School of poetry (also known as Western Zhejiang School of Lyrics), which was started by Zha Shenxing and Zhu Yizun. Li East valued his interest in scholarship more than his worldly career.
When he was passing through Tianjin on the way to capital Beijing for a government appointment, he was invited to stay with the wealthy scholar Zha Weiren. When he found out that Zha had been working on annotating 13th-century scholar Zhou Mi"s Jue Miao Hao Ci (Best of the Best Lyrics), Li abandoned his appointment and decided to join forces with Zha.
In 1749, they completed their work Jue Miao Hao Ci Jian (An Annotated Best of the Best Lyrics), which was printed the following year.
Li East died two years later in 1752.