Li Mengyang (1473–1529): Echoes of Archaism in Ming Dynasty Poetry Li Mengyang (李夢陽; 1473–1529) stands as a singular figure within the vibrant tapestry of the Ming dynasty, renowned primarily for his pioneering role in establishing the archaist movement—復古 (fùgǔ)—a reaction against prevailing stylistic trends that sought to revive classical aesthetics and philosophical ideals. Born into a military family in Shaanxi province around 1473, Li Mengyang’s early life was marked by hardship. His granduncle's substantial financial losses due to gambling plunged his family into poverty, yet his fath…