Also known as Su Shi, Su Dongpo was born in Meishan in Sichuan province. At a young age, he performed brilliantly in the imperial examinations and began a long and distinguished career as an official in various governmental positions, where he experienced a series of political setbacks, including appointments to minor posts in distant locations. Despite these hardships, Su remained optimistic in his private and political life, an optimism that can also be seen in his poems, which reflect his own experiences.

He was twice appointed as an official in Hangzhou.