Du Fu (杜甫) — The Poet-Sage of Universal Compassion
Dynasty: Tang Dynasty (712-770)
Turned the devastation of civil war into the conscience of a civilization and poems that live forever.
Life Footprint & Journey Nodes
Gongxian (Birthplace), Henan (河南巩县 (诗书世家启蒙)) - Age 18
Yellow River agricultural heartland, modern Zhengzhou, Henan
Born into a Lineage of Grand Imperial Scholars and Poets
Born in Gongxian to a lineage of scholars. His grandfather Du Shenyan was a leading court poet. Du Fu showed prodigal literary talent from early childhood.
At seven my thoughts were already grand; opening my mouth, I sang of the mythical Phoenix.
七龄思即壮，开口咏凤凰。 (Qī líng sī jí zhuàng, kāikǒu yǒng fènghuáng.)Mount Tai (Summit of Qi & Lu), Shandong (山东泰山 (齐鲁壮游 · 望岳)) - Age 24
Chief of China's sacred peaks, inspiration for 'View of Mount Tai', Shandong
Standing on the Sacred Summit: 'I Shall Conquer All Mountains!'
Roaming Shandong in his 20s, Du Fu climbed the sacred Mount Tai. Gazing at the endless peaks shrouded in clouds, he composed 'Gazing at Mount Tai' (Wang Yue), the immortal anthem of youthful ambition.
I shall climb to the very summit, and behold all other mountains looking small beneath me.
会当凌绝顶，一览众山小。 (Huì dāng líng juédǐng, yī lǎn zhòng shān xiǎo.)Luoyang (Meeting Li Bai), Henan (河南洛阳 (与李白、高适世纪相逢)) - Age 33
Eastern imperial metropolis where Du Fu and Li Bai forged their historic friendship, Henan
The Younger Brother Meets His Hero: Du Fu Meets Li Bai
In Luoyang, 33-year-old Du Fu met 44-year-old Li Bai. Du Fu held immense reverence for Li Bai's wild genius, writing over a dozen heartfelt poems throughout his life remembering his dear elder friend.
Ah, Li Bai's poetry stands peerless across the world, his soaring thoughts rise unmatched above the crowd.
白也诗无敌，飘然思不群。 (Bái yě shī wúdí, piāorán sī bùqún.)Chang'an (A Decade of Urban Poverty), Shaanxi (陕西西安 (困守长安十年 · 卖药卖字)) - Age 40
Tang imperial capital where Du Fu lived in humble poverty for a decade, modern Xi'an
Ten Years of Starvation in the Golden Capital
Trapped in the capital for ten years without an official post, Du Fu survived by selling herbal medicines. He saw through the decadent facade of the empire right before the catastrophic civil war.
Behind the vermilion gates of the rich, meat and wine rot away; along the frozen roads, the bones of the starved lie cold.
朱门酒肉臭，路有冻死骨。 (Zhūmén jiǔròu chòu, lù yǒu dòngsǐ gǔ.)Chang'an (Captured in Rebel War), Shaanxi (陕西西安 (长安陷落 · 身陷叛军战火)) - Age 44
Captured imperial capital engulfed in wartime smoke and ashes, modern Xi'an
Captured in the Burning Capital: 'The Empire is Broken, but Mountains Remain'
Captured by rebel forces in occupied Chang'an. Wandering the ruined palace walls, he penned 'Spring View' (Chun Wang)—grieving not for himself, but for the devastated people and country.
The nation is shattered, but mountains and rivers endure; spring returns to the city, grass and trees grow dense. Grieving for the times, flowers shed tears; hating this parting, birds startle the heart.
国破山河在，城春草木深。感时花溅泪，恨别鸟惊心。 (Guó pò shānhé zài, chéng chūn cǎomù shēn. Gǎn shí huā jiàn lèi, hèn bié niǎo jīng xīn.)Fengxiang (Audience with the Emperor in Hemp Sandals) (陕西凤翔 (麻鞋见天子 · 官拜左拾遗)) - Age 45
Emperor's temporary wartime headquarters during the An Lushan Rebellion, Shaanxi
Escaping Enemy Lines in Rags to Serve the Loyal Throne
Appointed Imperial Reminder (Zuoshiyi) after a heroic escape. However, his unyielding moral courage led him to defend Chancellor Fang Guan, angering the Emperor and causing his demotion.
In simple hemp sandals I stood before the Emperor; through ragged sleeves my two bare elbows showed.
麻鞋见天子，衣袖露两肘。 (Máxié jiàn tiānzǐ, yīxiù lù liǎngzhǒu.)Tonggu & Qinzhou (Winter Wanderer), Gansu (甘肃同谷与秦州 (弃官西行 · 岁暮穷途)) - Age 47
Rugged western mountain pass along the Silk Road, modern Gansu
Abandoning Official Rank: Digging Wild Yams in Freezing Snow
Disillusioned with court corruption, Du Fu resigned. In the bitter winter of Gansu, his family lived on wild chestnuts and yams, nearly freezing to death before heading toward Sichuan.
There is a sojourner, a sojourner styled Zimei; white tangled hair hangs past his ears.
有客有客字子美，白头乱发垂过耳。 (Yǒu kè yǒu kè zì Zǐměi, báitóu luànfà chuí guò ěr.)Chengdu (The Thatched Cottage Haven), Sichuan (四川成都 (浣花溪草堂 · 安得广厦千万间)) - Age 48
Peaceful bamboo thatched cottage sanctuary, modern Chengdu, Sichuan
'Could I Shelter All Poor Scholars of the World in Ten Thousand Mansions!'
In Chengdu, Du Fu built his famous Thatched Cottage beside Huanhua Brook. When an autumn gale destroyed his roof, he wrote 'Song of My Thatched Cottage Torn by Autumn Gale'—one of the crowning humanitarian anthems in world literature.
Could I but obtain tens of thousands of grand mansions, sheltering all the poor scholars of the world and bringing radiant joy to their faces—standing solid as mountains against wind and rain!
安得广厦千万间，大庇天下寒士俱欢颜！风雨不动安如山。 (Ān dé guǎngshà qiānwàn jiān, dà bì tiānxià hánsì jù huānyán! Fēngyǔ bù dòng ān rú shān.)Kuizhou / Fengjie (The Poetic Peak), Chongqing (重庆奉节 (夔州绝唱 · 无边落木萧萧下)) - Age 53
Majestic Qutang Gorge entrance where Du Fu composed his greatest Autumn Meditations, Chongqing
The Crown of All Chinese Verse: 'Endless Falls the Boundless Autumn Leaves'
Living in Kuizhou for two years, Du Fu created over 400 poems—representing nearly a third of his life's work. In 'Climbing High' (Deng Gao), he captured the grandest synthesis of nature, history, and human vulnerability.
Boundless fall the autumn leaves, rustling softly down; endless rolls the mighty Yangtze, surging ever on.
无边落木萧萧下，不尽长江滚滚来。 (Wúbiān luòmù xiāoxiāo xià, bùjìn Chángjiāng gǔngǔn lái.)Yueyang (Yueyang Tower on Dongting Lake), Hunan (湖南岳阳 (登岳阳楼 · 凭轩涕泗流)) - Age 57
Fabled lakeside pavilion overlooking the vast expanse of Dongting Lake, Hunan
Ascending the Legendary Yueyang Tower beside the Vast Lake
Leaning on the balcony of Yueyang Tower, Du Fu gazed at the majestic waters splitting Wu and Chu. Knowing wars were still ravaging the north, he wept for his motherland.
Warhorses still gallop north of the mountain passes; leaning against the pavilion rail, my tears flow in ceaseless streams.
戎马关山北，凭轩涕泗流。 (Róngmǎ guānshān běi, píng xuān tìsì liú.)Xiang River, Hunan (Sunset of the Poet-Sage) (湖南湘江 (孤舟绝笔 · 诗圣谢幕)) - Age 58
Gentle waterways of the Xiang River where the Poet-Sage spent his final days, Hunan
Passing Away in a Drifting Skiff: The Soul That Warmed All of Humanity
Du Fu passed away peacefully on a small boat along the Xiang River at age 58. He left behind over 1,400 immortal poems. He is universally venerated as China's greatest poet and the moral conscience of an entire culture.
Battle blood still flows as before; the roaring march of armies shakes the earth to this very day.
战血流依旧，军声动至今。 (Zhàn xuè liú yījiù, jūn shēng dòng zhìjīn.)
In-Depth Essays & Philosophical Inquiries on Du Fu
Browse All Classical Wisdom Essays in Directory
- Who Was Du Fu? China's Poet-Sage and the Conscience of the Tang Dynasty
Who was Du Fu? Discover China's Poet-Sage, his traumatic survival of the An Lushan Rebellion, and his immortal verses of universal human compassion.
