Du Fu, a great poet of the Tang Dynasty in China, was revered as the "Saint of Poetry" by later generations, and his life was bumpy and his works had a far-reaching impact. Let's explore his life and work together.
Du Fu was born in 712 A.D. in today's Gongyi City, Henan Province (Xi'an, Shaanxi Province). He was born in a literary family, and his great-grandfather Du Xianyan was one of the four masters of the early Tang Dynasty. Such a family background laid a solid foundation for Du Fu's literary accomplishment.
When Du Fu was young, he took the imperial examination several times, but failed repeatedly. During this time, he traveled to many places, and his poetry style was in his own right.
After the outbreak of the Anshi Rebellion, Du Fu was displaced. In 759, he came to Chengdu and established a thatched cottage there. During his ten years in Chengdu, Du Fu wrote a large number of poems, which are known as the "Chengdu Poetry Period".
After Tang Suzong succeeded to the throne, Du Fu briefly held an official position, but soon resigned. After that, his life fell into exile again, and until the last years of his life, he spent it wandering.
Du Fu died in 770 AD at the age of 59. The place of his death has been disputed, possibly in Yueyang, Hunan, or Hubei.
Du Fu's poems cover many fields such as politics, society, and nature, and their styles are varied, ranging from profound revelations of social reality to delicate expressions of personal emotions.
Spring Hope": This poem depicts the desolate scene after the Anshi Rebellion, expressing the poet's deep concern for the country and the people.
Ascending": It expresses the poet's feelings about his life experience and his worries about the future.
Song of the Thatched House Broken by the Autumn Wind": In the personal encounter, it reflects the difficulties of the times and the turmoil of society, as well as the yearning for a better life.
"Three Officials" and "Three Farewells": Through the description of the suffering of civilians in the war, the poet's praise and sympathy for the people are shown.
Du Fu's poems have an important place in the history of literature and have been widely studied and praised by later generations. His works have not only reached a peak in art, but also have far-reaching influence in history, philosophy and other aspects. With his deep humanistic care and unique artistic achievements, Du Fu has become an immortal symbol in the history of Chinese literature.