Du Fu: China’s Poet Sage and Prophet of Hardship

A Poet for the People Amid Tang’s Fall

Du Fu (712–770) lived through the An Lushan Rebellion, a war that crushed the Tang Dynasty’s golden age. His poems, dubbed “poetry history,” record this chaos like a war journalist. For example, they show starving families and broken cities. Reading him feels like diving into Charles Dickens’ tales of struggle, but Du Fu’s pain cuts deeper—he was a refugee himself.

“My country lies in ruins, yet mountains and rivers endure.” — Du Fu, Spring View

His words carry the weight of loss and hope, much like Bai Juyi’s poems about everyday struggles.

Three Phases of a Poet’s Life

Phase 1: The Free-Spirited Youth

Born to a noble family, young Du Fu roamed freely, living a bold life. He climbed Mount Tai and wrote Gazing at the Peak: “I’ll stand atop, all mountains small below.” He also befriended Li Bai, sharing nights of poetry and wine, as he recalled, “Drunk, we slept under autumn quilts.”

Phase 2: Trapped in Chang’an

By his 30s, Du Fu faced hardship in the capital. He failed the imperial exams and saw the rich live lavishly. In Beauty’s Parade, he exposed the Yang sisters’ wealth. Worse, his young son starved, inspiring the raw line: “Mansions reek of wine and meat, while bones freeze on the road.”

Phase 3: Drifting in Chaos

The An Lushan Rebellion made Du Fu a war captive at 48. Yet, this sparked his best work. His “Three Officers, Three Farewells” series, like Shihhao Village, tells of an old woman forced to join the army. Later, in Chengdu’s Thatched Cottage, he wrote Song of the Thatched Roof: “Could I build vast homes to shelter all the world’s poor?” This cry for justice predates Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables by 1,000 years. Learn more about Tang poetry at Britannica.

Why Is Du Fu Called the Poet Sage?

Du Fu earned the title “Poet Sage” for his unmatched skill and heart. Here’s why:

• Epic Social Record: His poems are like snapshots of history. For instance, Spring View captures war’s toll: “My country lies in ruins.” It’s akin to Homer’s tales of Troy or Pepys’ plague diaries.
• Poetry Innovator: His seven-character regulated verse, like Climbing High, sets a gold standard with lines like “Endless leaves fall, rustling down.” He also used simple speech, such as “Fish leap in soft rain,” paving the way for poets like Walt Whitman.
• Universal Voice: American poet Rexroth said Du Fu outshines Shakespeare for his raw human pain, a quality echoed in Wang Wei’s nature poems.

Du Fu’s Echoes in Today’s World

Du Fu’s work still speaks loudly:

• War Reporter’s Ancestor: Syrian poet Adonis translated Du Fu into Arabic, calling him “war’s eternal eye.” His poems mirror modern conflict reports.
• Champion of Fairness: London’s Du Fu Cottage Center uses his Song of the Thatched Roof to advocate for affordable housing.
• Nature’s Poet: Lines like “Blossoms weep at the times” link human and natural worlds, predating Wordsworth’s nature poetry by 1,000 years. Explore Chinese literary traditions at Poetry Foundation.

A Global Pilgrimage to Du Fu’s Legacy

Du Fu’s footprints draw fans worldwide:

These places keep Du Fu’s spirit alive, much like Su Dongpo’s legacy inspires through his bold creations.