1611 Born in Rugao, Jiangsu on the seventh day of the eighth lunar month (Sept. 13, 1611).
1629 Father dies, returns to ancestral home in Lanxi, Zhejiang.
1635 Sits for youth examination in Jinhua on five Classics, praised by the Assistant Superintendent, Xu Zhi.
1637 In Jinhua, enrolls in the prefectural school to prepare for the examinations.
1639 Goes to Hangzhou for the provincial exam, fails.
1642 Attempts to take exam in Hangzhou a second time, forced to turn back due to military activity.
1644 Flees to the mountains to escape the war.
1645 Homeless after the war, takes a position in the home of Jinhua Magistrate, Xu Jicai, for two years.
1646 After Qing troops occupy Jinhua, Li Yu returns to Lanxi.
1647 Constructs a rural retreat in Lanxi.
1651 Appointed clan leader by family.
1652 Moves to Hangzhou to try to make a living. Publishes Lianxiang ban and Fengzheng wu around this time.
1655 Publishes Yu saotou.
1656 Publishes Wusheng xi.
1657 Travels between Hangzhou and Nanjing. Publishes Naihe tian and Wusheng xi erji.
1658 Travels between Hangzhou and Nanjing. Publishes Shi’er lou.
1659 Travels between Hangzhou and Nanjing. Publishes Gujin shilüe and Shenzhong lou.
1660 In Hangzhou. Publishes Bimu yu.
1662 Moves to Nanjing.
1663 Publishes Zizhi xinshu chuji.
1664 Publishes Liweng lungu. Travels to Guangdong/Guangxi.
1665 Publishes Huang qiu feng.
1666 Travels to Beijing and Shaanxi. Receives concubine Qiao as a gift.
1667 Travels to Lanzhou, receives concubine Wang.
1668 Returns to Nanjing. Publishes Qiao tuanyuan.
1669 Constructs Mustard Seed Garden.
1670 Travels to Fujian with his concubines.
1671 Troupe performs. Publishes Siliu chuzheng and Xianqing ouji.
1672 Travels to Shaanxi. Qiao dies.
1673 Returns to Beijing. Wang dies.
1674 Returns home to Nanjing.
1675 Visits Hangzhou and Shaoxing; takes his sons to sit for the youth exam.
1677 Moves to Hangzhou.
1678 Constructs Ceng Garden. Writes Liweng biejie preface. Writes preface to Naige ci.
1679 Writes prefaces to Qiangu qiwen, Jieziyuan huazhuan, Sanguo yanyi.
1680 Dies on the thirteenth day of the first lunar month (Feb. 12, 1680).