李山甫，字明叟，北宋建昌军南城县龙溪保人（今江西省资溪县高阜镇港口村叶源人），汉族江右民系。李山甫是北宋皇祐元年（1049年）进士，任建宁知县。熙宁六年（1073年）从经略安抚使王韶攻取吐蕃占据的河州，因守香子城有功，升为太常博士、河州通判。元丰三年（1080年），王韶以其才可用，荐于朝廷，授作坊使，任澧州。上任前受神宗召见，慰勉有加。在澧州妥善处理了当地少数民族的问题。他积极参加王安石倡导的变法运动，与之交厚，王安石曾赴其家探访，留有《过长山访山甫不遇》诗一首。
Li Shanfu, also known as Mingsou, was a resident of Longxi Baobao in Nancheng County, Jianchang Army during the Northern Song Dynasty (now from Yeyuan Village, Gaofu Town, Zixi County, Jiangxi Province). He belonged to the Jiangyou ethnic group of the Han ethnic group. Li Shanfu was a scholar in the first year of Huangyou in the Northern Song Dynasty (1049) and Ren Jianning was the Supervisor of the County of the county. In the sixth year of the Xining reign (1073), Wang Shao, the pacification envoy, captured Hezhou occupied by Tubo. Due to his meritorious service in defending Xiangzicheng, he was promoted to the position of Taichang Doctor and Hezhou Assistant Judge. In the third year of Yuanfeng (1080 AD), Wang Shao recommended his talent to the court and appointed him as the workshop envoy, serving as the governor of Lizhou. Before taking office, he was summoned by the Divine Sect and was greatly comforted. The issue of local ethnic minorities has been properly handled in Lizhou. He actively participated in the reform movement advocated by Wang Anshi, and had a close relationship with him. Wang Anshi once visited his home and left behind a poem called “Visiting Changshan, Visiting Shanfu, Not Encountering”.
李山甫·《别墅》
此地可求息，开门足野情。
窗明雨初歇，日落风更清。
苍藓槎根匝，碧烟水面生。
玩奇心自乐，暑月听蝉声。
My Detached Villa
Li Shan-fu
On this ground I may look for rest;
Open the door—enough for bucolic feelings.
The window brightens—at least the rain is spent;
The sun goes down—again the wind is fresh.
Gray-green moss winds round the roots of felled trees.
Deep-blue haze quickens on the water’s face.
Trifles and oddities—in these my heart finds its own joys.
Summer heat—the moon—listening to the cicadas call.
（Edward H. Schafer 译）
The Villa “is a masterpiece by Li Shanfu, and the entire poem is filled with longing for nature and peaceful life.
