Su Tung-P'o (1036–1101) On the Birth of His Son LINKS No links found. BIOGRAPHY Su Tung-p'o (1036–1101) Su Tung-p'o, one of the great poets of his time, was born and reared in Szechwan in western China and had a long career as a government bureaucrat. His sharp criticisms of government policy resulted in his twice being exiled by the emperor. As a government official, he upheld the Confucian ideals of public service and strived, according to contemporary accounts, to improve the lives of ordinary citizens. Like other great poets of his era, he often spoke out against government abuse. He was also known as an essayist, calligrapher, and painter.