The Tang poet Bai Juyi's life was closely connected with Buddhism. Research on Bai has concentrated on his relationship with Zen Buddhism, while little attention has been paid to his involvement with the Pure Land Sect. The Zen and Pure Land of his time did not have a consensus as to the notion of ukhavati, or 'Western paradise'. Bai moved easily between the two sects of Zen and Pure Land. When he resided in Jiangzhou and Luoyang, he had more time and energy for religious activities, and this explains why he managed to practise the more time-consuming rituals of Pure Land Buddhism. Another reason may be the sudden death of kin, as in the case of Tao Yuanming.