The Legendary Life of Du Fu

China's Greatest Poet Who Almost Starved to Death

Digitized version of "Du Fu Traveling" Ming Dynasty

Hey friends! Today, I want to share with you the extraordinary life story of one of China's greatest literary figures - Du Fu.

He was a poetry superstar who nearly died of starvation, a devoted fan who became a literary giant, and a government official who lived like a comedian. This man, who embodied talent, foodie culture, and idealism all in one, is none other than Du Fu.

The Ultimate Fan Boy

In 744 CE, the hottest news in Chang'an (modern-day Xi'an) was about a young man named Du Fu who camped out at the Luoyang city gate for an entire month just to meet his idol, Li Bai.

At that time, Li Bai was the absolute top poet in China, enjoying a luxurious life in Princess Yuzhen's mansion with fans all across the country. Meanwhile, Du Fu was a complete nobody. But this guy was so determined to meet his idol that he braved the scorching summer heat, waiting at the city gate every single day.

He was the first to arrive in the morning and the last to leave at night. When security guards tried to chase him away, he would hide at a nearby tea stand, keeping watch while sipping tea, terrified of missing the moment his idol might appear.

When he finally met Li Bai, Du Fu was so excited that he spontaneously composed "Song of the Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup," writing:

"Li Bai can write a hundred poems after a single jug of wine,
Then falls asleep in Chang'an's wine shops..."

This was like a modern fan meeting their favorite celebrity and immediately creating a hit song on the spot! And amazingly, this poem later became one of the most famous in Chinese history. Now that's next-level fandom!

From Fanboy to Struggling Scholar

Life is full of irony. By age 35, Du Fu had transformed from an enthusiastic fan to the most unfortunate exam candidate.

Back then, the imperial examination system was as competitive as today's civil service exams. Du Fu would stand at the gates of influential families, waiting for opportunities for hours on end.

Picture this scene: It's the scorching noon of midsummer. Du Fu stands perfectly straight in his standard blue scholar's robe, sweat streaming down his face, afraid to lose his dignity by slouching. Passing officials ignore him completely.

Old acquaintances pretend not to know him. Worst of all, people point and whisper, "Isn't that Du Fu who wrote 'Song of the Eight Immortals'? How did he end up like this?"

But for the sake of his ideals, he remained stubborn and persistent.

The Court Satirist

Fate loves to play jokes on talented people. When Du Fu finally secured a minor position as a Left Reminder (a low-ranking official), even more exciting things happened.

He couldn't stand the corrupt practices of court officials and essentially became the court's stand-up comedian. When ministers embezzled funds, he wrote memorials to criticize them. When officials neglected their duties, he confronted them face-to-face. He even dared to interfere in matters concerning the emperor's favorite consort.

"In just 86 days in office, he accomplished three major things:

1. Exposing corrupt officials

2. Advocating for wrongful convictions

3. Criticizing the court's extravagance

In his final memorial, he directly criticized the court's treatment of Yang Guifei's sister, writing: "

"The former imperial favorite has died, yet her portrait is not returned to her hometown."

This was like rubbing salt in Emperor Xuanzong's wounds. The result was predictable – he was immediately dismissed.

Surviving War and Poverty

But worse was yet to come. When the An Lushan Rebellion broke out, Du Fu was captured by rebel forces.

The rebels were hunting down government officials everywhere. Du Fu was locked in a temporary prison, but while the guard was dozing off, he escaped through a window and hid in the wilderness for three full days.

When he finally made it back to Chang'an, he discovered he had become completely destitute:

- No home (his house had been burned)

- No money (his savings had been stolen)

- No job (the court had fled)

Yet even in these circumstances, he continued to document the suffering of ordinary people during the war through his poetry.

Once while fleeing with his family in Fengzhou, he was so poor that when he received a dozen or so oranges, he held them in his hands, examining them for a long time as if they were precious treasures. Then he wrote:

"Today there are good fruits on the mountain,Tomorrow morning I return to Fengzhou with nothing"

What does this mean? Simply that today he had oranges to eat, but tomorrow he would be hungry again. How poor must one be to be so moved by a few pieces of fruit?

The Thatched Cottage Years

His days in the Chengdu thatched cottage were even more interesting. Historical records show that Du Fu's hut was extremely shabby. During typhoons, it practically became open-air accommodation.

One deep night, as autumn winds howled, Du Fu's family huddled together, watching helplessly as layers of thatch were torn from their roof. With a loud crash, the entire roof flew off and got caught in the trees across the way.

In his poem "Poem on the Cottage Damaged by Autumn Wind," he wrote:

"In the eighth month autumn winds rage howling, Blowing away the three layers of thatch on my roof, The straw flies across the river, scattered along the shore, The highest pieces caught in the treetops of the tall forest."

The family huddled in the leaking house, moonlight streaming in and illuminating their faces. Yet in the conclusion of the poem, Du Fu wrote:

"If only I could build a house with thousands of rooms,

To shelter all the poor scholars in the world and make them smile with joy."

What an incredible spirit! His own house was destroyed, yet he dreamed of building homes for everyone under heaven.

The Poet's Fundraising Campaign

During his time at the thatched cottage, Du Fu was extremely poor and wrote a series of "money-seeking poems" that were essentially the ancient version of crowdfunding campaigns.

For example, in his "Poem on Poor Friendship," he wrote:

"With a turn of the hand they make clouds, with a flip they make rain, So many fickle friendships, why even count them? Look at those young men south of the city, Riding horses in groups, how carefree and warm they are."

What does this mean? It's saying, "Brothers, you all know I'm very poor. If you have extra food, please don't forget about me!"

This style is just like modern social media posts saying, "It's the end of the month, and I'm a bit tight on cash."

Generosity Despite Poverty

Despite being so poor, Du Fu's thatched cottage became a pilgrimage site for literary youth in Chengdu.

Once during a heavy rainstorm, a young scholar named Li Jiu came to visit. Du Fu noticed this young man was even poorer, without even a decent set of clothes. Without hesitation, Du Fu gave him his entire bag of rice that he had saved by living frugally. He even wrote a poem praising Li Jiu's talent.

The Simple Joys of Gardening

During his days at the thatched cottage, Du Fu lived quite interestingly. He planted many vegetables in his garden and could often be seen bent over, busy tending to his plants.

Once, he wrote to a friend saying, "The chives I planted this year are growing well. If you can make it in time, you must come see them when they flower." This wasn't just letter-writing – it was the ancient version of showing off his home life on social media!

The Final Chapter: Kuizhou

Now, let's travel to ancient Kuizhou to witness the final chapter of the Poetry Saint's life. This experience elevated Du Fu's poetry to unprecedented heights.

Imagine this scene: A dilapidated wooden boat drifting through the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River. On both sides are cliffs soaring into the clouds. The river roars beneath the boat.

In the twilight, terrified fishermen shout in local dialect, "Old sir, don't go! There are rapids ahead! The boat will capsize!"

Standing on the boat is a thin old man – 59-year-old Du Fu. In his poem "Climbing Yueyang Tower," he wrote:

"I had heard of Dongting Lake before,Today I climb Yueyang Tower, Wu and Chu split the southeast,Heaven and earth float day and night."

This isn't just poetry – it's like filming a 4K panoramic documentary.

The nights in Kuizhou were especially dark, with only the roar of the river continuing endlessly. People here lived by the rhythm of sunrise and sunset. Every evening, fishing boats would hang up lanterns, their lights reflecting on the surface of the river.

Du Fu moved into a riverside thatched hut. The locals affectionately called him "Master of the Thatched Cottage." Fishermen would often see this thin figure walking along the riverside, wearing a local blue hemp cloth garment.

Everyone told him this place wasn't suitable for long-term living. When the water rose, the river would flood the area. But Du Fu had no other choice. In his "Song of Kuizhou," he wrote:

"Who knows there are human affairs in the gorges?

Looking from afar at the empty cloud mountains."

This sense of loneliness was like the mist in the Three Gorges – impossible to disperse or dissolve.

Poetic Masterpieces Born from Hardship

Yet it was during these difficult times that Du Fu wrote his most stunning poems.

One night, while walking by the river, he saw a full moon rising behind the White Emperor City. Moonlight shimmered on the water's surface. The sounds of cicadas, flowing water, and distant fishing songs mingled together.

In one breath, he wrote "Moonlit Night":

"Tonight the moon shines over Fuzhou, In her chamber, she watches it alone, I pity my far-off little children, Too young to remember Chang'an."

This poem instantly became a sensation throughout Kuizhou, as viral as today's trending videos.

Even more remarkable was his "Climbing High." On the Double Ninth Festival, a fine drizzle fell as locals prepared for the custom of climbing hills and enjoying chrysanthemums. The streets were filled with the fragrance of chrysanthemum wine.

By this time, Du Fu was terminally ill, but he forced himself to climb the mountain. Looking at the autumn scenery, he wrote:

"Wind fierce, sky high, monkeys wail in sorrow,Clear islet, white sand, birds fly home,Endless falling leaves rustle down,The endless Great River rolls on."

This poem is like a 3D motion picture – howling mountain winds, mournful monkey cries, falling leaves, and surging river waters. But what truly touches the heart is the old poet's profound understanding of life gained from standing at the heights and seeing all of human existence.

The Final Days

During his last winter in Kuizhou, a terrifying event occurred. A massive flood suddenly struck. The river rose violently.

In the middle of the night, Du Fu was awakened by the sound of rushing water. His thatched hut was already on the verge of collapse as water poured in. Without time to put on shoes, he grabbed a bundle of manuscripts and struggled desperately in the pouring rain and raging currents.

A local fisherman named Old Zhang was patrolling the river when he spotted a dark figure bobbing in the water. He quickly rowed over and pulled Du Fu into his boat. But most of the manuscripts were soaked.

Du Fu spent the night drying the manuscripts by fire, revising them as he dried them. He wrote "In a Boat During a Storm":

"River waters mercilessly swallow a hundred streams, Half my manuscripts still remain."

After this disaster, Du Fu seemed to sense something. He began organizing his manuscripts tirelessly, as if writing the final memo of his life.

In "Meeting Li Guinian in the South," he calmly recalled the prosperous days in Chang'an:

"Commonly seen in Prince Qi's mansion,How many times heard in Cui Jiu's hall,It's the beautiful season in the South,In falling flower time, I meet you again."

Between the lines, there is not a hint of complaint, only a deep understanding of life.

In the spring of 770 CE, Du Fu boarded his final boat, heading for Hunan. His gaze remained fixed on the landscapes along both shores.

His last poem, "Written While Traveling at Night," only reached:

"Fine grass, gentle breeze on the shore,Tall mast, lonely boat in the night."

His writing abruptly ended here, but his poetry reached eternity at this moment.

The Legacy of Du Fu

This was the life of Poetry Saint Du Fu. Through his poetry, he captured both the glory and desolation of the Tang Dynasty, as well as the joys and sorrows of human existence.

He never pretended, never played word games. He lived with clarity and wrote with sincerity. Whether poor or suffering, he always recorded the most authentic life through his poetry.

It is precisely this authenticity that has allowed his poetry to transcend a thousand years, remaining magnificent, brilliant, and touching to this day.

I hope we can all find these brilliant stories together in the long river of history. Please share with your friends, and I'll see you next time!