In the long river of history, there are always some characters who are slightly dimmed because the brilliance of their predecessors is too dazzling, such as Li Shangyin and Du Mu in Xiao Li Duzhong. The two of them are talented, but they were born in a talented era, and there were poets and immortals Li Bai and poets Du Fu in front of them, so that their light was covered up a little. Known as "Little Li Du", they may have laughter and tears in their hearts, but they have no choice but to accept such a title.
Imagine, if it weren't for Du Fu's unparalleled status, Du Mu might not be called "Little Du", but would be unique in the history of literature. He lived in a culturally prosperous Tang Dynasty where there were many talented people. It is not easy to leave a strong mark on the history books, not to mention that their objects of comparison are literary giants such as Li Bai and Du Fu.
We often ignore the talents of Li Shangyin and Du Mu because of the word "small", in fact, they can be compared with Li Bai and Du Fu, which is enough to prove that their literary attainments are extraordinary. Today, let's not talk about Li Shangyin for the time being, and focus on Du Mu's literature and life.
Some people call Du Mu a "merry and talented man", and believe that many of his poems were written for prostitutes who befriended him, such as "Graceful and Thirty Years" and "The Dream of Yangzhou in Ten Years". In his life, he has indeed made many women fall in love with him, and he has also left many romantic stories. Among them, there is a story that is particularly famous: when Du Mu traveled to Huzhou, he met a folk woman who was only ten years old, and her beauty and youth made Du Mu fall in love with her. He wrote the popular poem for her: "More than thirteen years of grace, cardamom tips in early February." The spring breeze is ten miles of Yangzhou Road, and it is better to roll up the bead curtain. The two agreed that ten years later, Du Mu would come back to marry her. However, fourteen years later, when Du Mu returned to Huzhou to serve as the assassin, he learned that the woman had been married for three years and had already given birth to two children. The regret and self-blame in Du Mu's heart were indescribable, and he finally wrote "Poetry": "Since I am looking for spring and going to school late, I don't need to be sad and resentful." The wind fell crimson, and the green leaves were full of branches. This poem expresses his deep longing and self-reproach for the woman, and also shows his deep tenderness and emotion.
Although the title of "Merry Talent" is very suitable for Du Mu, he has a heart of meritorious service in his heart. In his poems, in addition to depicting beautiful women, he also expresses his deep concern for the common people in the world and his unique views on current affairs.
Compared with the poetry of the late Tang Dynasty, there is a big gap between the Tang Dynasty. The poets of the Tang Dynasty were full of spirit and high ambitions, while the poetry of the late Tang Dynasty was filled with a decadent atmosphere. Most of the poems of the late Tang Dynasty lamented that they were born at an untimely time, recalling the glory of the Tang Dynasty, or the poetic style was low and depressed.
However, Du Mu's poems are unique. His poetry is heroic and full of lofty aspirations. He cares about current affairs, people's livelihood, and the people of the world. Unlike other poets from poor families who work their own, Du Mu's starting point is very high. He was born in the bustling city of Chang'an, and although the Tang Dynasty already had a imperial examination system, the influence of the family was still great. And Du Mu's family is such a big family.
His distant ancestor was Du Zhou, the imperial historian of the Western Han Dynasty, and in the Jin Dynasty, his ancestor Du Yu served as the Assassin of Jingzhou, the general of Zhengnan and the Marquis of Dangyang. By the time of the Tang Dynasty, his family was even more talented, and eleven of them had served as prime ministers. His grandfather was Du You, the patriarch and prime minister of the Tang Dynasty. And his uncle of the same clan is the world-famous Du Fu.
Such a family background makes Du Mu's growth environment extremely superior. Much of his literary talent was inherited from his grandfather, Du You. "Old Tang Book" once spoke highly of Du You: "Hard-working and tireless, although he is about to be in the picture, he can't release the volume; The quality is clear, the guests are connected, and the night is under the lamp to read, and the work is not slack. "That's a very high rating. Under the influence of Du You, Du Mu is naturally talented.
Du Mu once wrote such a poem: "The family collection is 200 compilations, and the emperor is up and down." The family collection mentioned in it is the "General Dictionary" written by his grandfather. This is a political book that records the rules and regulations of the past dynasties, and is of great value for the study of China's political system. Du Mu, who grew up in such a family atmosphere, will naturally not be the kind of poet who only knows how to chant the wind and the moon. He has a natural compassion and care for his family and country.
The rich collection of books in his grandfather's family also laid a solid foundation for Du Mu to become an excellent poet. Reading a book a hundred times is never an empty phrase, "there is nothing in the first, and the hall is full of ten thousand books" is a true portrayal of Du Mu's literary creation. Moreover, his family's collection of books is not limited to historical classics, but also covers various types of books such as military books and miscellaneous talks.
These books not only trained Du Mu to become a literary scholar, but also shaped him into a military strategist. He has written many articles on military matters, such as "Words of Crime" and "Theory of War". He even re-annotated the thirteen chapters of Sun Tzu. It can be said that the Confucian idea of "good is to help the world, and poor is good to oneself" is deeply imprinted in Du Mu's heart and has become a guide for his life and creation. As a Confucian student, Du Mu has lofty ambitions and is determined to make contributions and seek well-being for the common people in the world. This kind of feeling, born in a wealthy family, is especially strong under the influence of his grandfather.
However, as fate would have it, Du Mu experienced the death of his father and grandfather at a young age, and the family fell into difficulties. But it was this difficult time that forged Du Mu's aristocratic reserve and perseverance. He was determined to work hard, and finally in 828 he finished fifth in Jinshi and first place, and achieved his studies.
Du Mu has experienced ups and downs in the officialdom, whether he is promoted or demoted, he has always experienced the warmth and coldness of the world, and witnessed the darkness and complexity of officialdom. But even in this environment, he struggled and held on to his ambitions, hoping to one day achieve his dreams.
In the fifth year of junior high school, Du Mu had a premonition that he was about to die in the twilight of his life, so he wrote an epitaph for himself early. In the epitaphs of the ancients, it is common to see praise for his own life achievements, but Du Mu's epitaph does not mention his own achievements. Regarding the literary talent praised by the world, he only lightly mentioned the phrase "a certain life is good at reading, and he is not a writer for literature".
Looking back on Du Mu's life, he is not only famous for his poems, but also for his articles, such as "A Fang Gongfu" is his masterpiece of criticizing political current affairs. Although Du Mu lived in the Tang Dynasty, a thousand years away from the Qin Dynasty, he relied on his rich imagination to depict the majesty of the Afang Palace and the luxurious life of the palace people. And the most profound is his criticism of Qin Shi Huang. The courage and wisdom of the young Du Mu to examine politics from a unique historical perspective and warn the world with sharp and harsh language is really rare.
In addition to his keen insight into political current affairs, Du Mu also has a deep understanding of time. In the poem "Cherish Spring", he lamented the transience of spring and the passage of time: "Spring has been divided for half a year, and the rest is strong." In the social atmosphere at that time, many people thought that young people should be frivolous, but Du Mu was unique, issuing "Life falls into it, what is Peng Yan?" The emotion shows his lonely and unique soul.
So, what kind of person is Du Mu? He is indeed a romantic genius who has attracted the attention of the world. However, most people tend to pay more attention to his scandals and ignore the search for his true soul. Maybe he is not a martyr in the traditional sense, dedicated to the common people, but it is undeniable that he can indeed bear the heavy responsibility of worrying about the country and the people.
Some people may regard the title of "Little Li Du" as a compliment to Li Shangyin and Du Mu. But in fact, most of the literati and writers in history were arrogant and unwilling to be subservient to others. Therefore, it may not be appropriate to compare Du Mu with Li Shangyin. After all, each literati has his own characteristics and achievements. Zhao Yi, a writer, historian and poet of the Qing Dynasty, praised Du Mu in "Poetry of Northern Europe", which precisely reflects Du Mu's unique position in the history of literature. He believes that after the Middle and Tang Dynasty, poetry prevailed, and the harmony of sound disease was emphasized, but Du Mu created a style of Hao Tuo Buggy in an attempt to correct this drawback. Therefore, when we are counting the ancient masters, perhaps we should pay more attention to those overlooked talents, such as Li Shangyin and Du Mu, whose talents and contributions are also worth remembering.