Du Fu

杜甫 - Du Fu (712-770)

生平 - Life

I am referred as the "Saint of Poems." It is of no surprise, really, considering what I had been as a child and what I had done later in my life.

I was born in 712 as the grandson of Du Shenyan (杜審言), a known prose writer and poet of his day. It is quite likely that his reputation motivated me to study literary works - his works included - in my early years (Davis 14-16). As stated in my poem "The Wanderings of My Prime," I was composing poetry at the age of seven, writing calligraphy at age nine, and had poems in the literary arena by fourteen/fifteen. Like most of the great poets of my time - Li Bai especially - I started drinking wine at a relatively young age, being rather mature and associating with elders who were far more wise then those of my own age.

At nineteen, I began a series of travels, although the poems that I wrote during that period were not preserved. Rather, my experiences were known through my works of reminiscence done much later, possibly resulting in them being in a lighter mood than they really were, after the harsh life I had endured. I returned to take the Civil Services Examination and was unsuccessful, much to my surprise. In my disappointment, I set out to travel again, this time focusing more on riding and hunting than poetry (Davis 17-20).

I was raised with traditional Confucian beliefs, but when I was around thirty, I became somewhat curious about Buddhism and Taoism. My interest in Taoism, especially immortality, increased with the meeting with Li Bai (李白) in 744. I so very fond of him that I wrote to and about him after we parted, and continued to write even though my feelings nor my letters were returned, however my interest in Taoism soon faded (Davis 23-27).

I was no longer young and cannot afford to waste the rest of my life away, so at age thirty-three I returned to the capital. In 747, I had the opportunity to take the Civil Service Examination again. This time, Prime Minister Li Linfu failed everyone. Never again did I attempt the exam; instead, I petitioned to officials and the emperor himself. I was not able to gain office and thus lived poverty for the next ten or so years. My frustration was expressed in the poems that I wrote during this period (Davis 27-29)

参考 - References

Davis, A.R. Tu Fu. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1971. Print.

-not done- Du Fu. "The Wanderings of My Prime."