The Ninth Day

Du FuNanhai Publication Company · ChinaDec 2020

4.6

Word count: 2.6K words
Chapters: 48

Summary

Du Fu (712–770), courtesy name Zimei, of Han ethnicity, was originally from Xiangyang and later moved to Gongxian, Henan. He styled himself Shaoling Yelao and was a great realist poet of the Tang dynasty, known together with Li Bai as "Li Du".

Editor's review

Nine Day takes Du Fu's poetry as its core and serves as an accessible introductory selection for approaching Du Fu's verse and the Double Ninth theme. Du Fu is revered as the "Poet Sage", and his realist spirit and grave, forceful style are often vividly evident in works on seasonal occasions, climbing heights, and longing for absent loved ones. Published by Nanhai Publishing House in 2020, the book is described as tracing Du Fu's life and creative background so that readers can understand the poems in light of the poet's experience. Its value lies in three respects: first, through a single poem one can glimpse how Du Fu fused personal vicissitudes with concern for country and family into seasonal writing; second, it suits slow reading in autumn or around the Double Ninth, allowing readers to appreciate the blending of scene and feeling in classical poetry; third, it can serve as supplementary material for students extending their reading of classical poetry and for teachers preparing lessons. Note that the available introduction is brief; readers should use it alongside the specific poems and annotations and should not treat it as a substitute for a complete edition of Du Fu. Overall, this is a small book suited to quiet, careful reading and repeated savoring.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers wishing to approach Du Fu's style through seasonal poetry
Middle school students and Chinese teachers needing supplementary classical poetry reading
Lovers of classical literature fond of Double Ninth, height-climbing, and longing themes
Readers wishing to practice slow reading and copying in autumn

Not a good fit for

Research scholars needing Du Fu's complete works with detailed textual collation
Beginners expecting modern vernacular translation and extensive appreciation
Readers who prefer light entertainment and avoid classical Chinese poetry

Reading tips

Read the poem through first, then understand it line by line with the annotations, and finally review the overall structure.
While reading, note the connection between seasonal imagery and the poet's life, making brief annotations.
Read alongside other Du Fu works on the Double Ninth and height-climbing to appreciate his variations.
Read in autumn or around the Double Ninth, combining recitation and copying to deepen memory

About the publisher

Nanhai Publication Company China · Founded in 1988

Nanhai Publication Company is a comprehensive publisher known for its literature and arts titles, covering fields such as classical poetry, martial arts fiction, and folk literature. Judging from the more than 1,600 books in the database, the company has released classical poetic works including the Nineteen Old Poems and the Nine Songs, as well as multiple volumes of Huanzhulouzhu's series The Swordsmen of Mount Shu, along with related writings by authors such as Guan Hanqing, Qu Yuan, Zuo Si, and Wang Zhihuan. Its publishing character lies in balancing the organization of classic texts with the dissemination of popular literature, placing poetry anthologies alongside long martial arts novels and presenting a relatively diverse literary profile. Public information is limited, and further details about its editorial practices and series planning remain to be supplemented.

版权信息
【送卢主簿】王勃
【饯韦兵曹】王勃
【白下驿饯唐少府】王勃
【杜少府之任蜀州】王勃
【仲春郊外】王勃
【郊兴】王勃
【郊园即事】王勃
【观佛迹寺】王勃
【山居晚眺赠王道士】王勃
【八仙径】王勃
【春日还郊】王勃
【对酒春园作】王勃
【观内怀仙】王勃
【秋日别王长史】王勃
【上巳浮江宴韵得遥字】王勃
【长柳】王勃
【铜雀妓二首】王勃
【羁游饯别】王勃
【易阳早发】王勃
【焦岸早行和陆四】王勃
【深湾夜宿】王勃
【伤裴录事丧子】王勃
【泥谿】王勃
【三月曲水宴得烟字】王勃
【秋日仙游观赠道士（一作骆宾王诗）】王勃
【晚留凤州】王勃
【羁春】王勃
【林塘怀友】王勃
【山扉夜坐】王勃
【春庄】王勃
【春游】王勃
【春园】王勃
【林泉独饮】王勃
【登城春望】王勃
【他乡叙兴】王勃
【夜兴】王勃
【临江二首】王勃
【江亭夜月送别二首】王勃
【别人四首】王勃
【赠李十四四首】王勃
【早春野望】王勃
【山中】王勃
【冬郊行望】王勃
【寒夜思友三首】王勃
【始平晚息】王勃
【扶风昼届离京浸远】王勃
【普安建阴题壁】王勃

FAQ

Does this book contain only one poem by Du Fu?

According to the available information, the book centers on Du Fu's Nine Day, and the introduction only outlines Du Fu's life without stating the number of poems included. Before buying, readers should check the table of contents or a sample page to confirm whether it is an appreciation of a single poem or a selection, so as to avoid mismatched expectations.

Can I understand it without knowing Du Fu's life?

Yes. It is advisable to read the book's outline of Du Fu's life first, then the poem and annotations. Knowing that Du Fu lived through the An Lushan Rebellion and wandered in the southwest helps in understanding the sense of personal vicissitude and concern for country and family common in his poems, but it is not necessary to read all of Du Fu's poetry first.

Is it suitable as extracurricular reading for middle school students?

It is suitable for middle school students with some grounding in classical Chinese. Du Fu's language is condensed and rich in allusions and imagery, so reading under a teacher's or parent's guidance, with annotations and background information, is recommended; selected famous lines can be memorized and appreciated.

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About the author

Du Fu Author · Chinese

Du Fu was a realist poet of the Tang dynasty, styled Zimei and self-named Shaoling Yelao. His ancestral home was Xiangyang, and he was born in Gongxian, Henan. He served as Left Remonstrator and as an adjunct员外郎 of the Ministry of Works, and is known to later generations as Du Shiyi and Du Gongbu. During the An Lushan Rebellion he was displaced and wandered from place to place, later settling in the Thatched Cottage in Chengdu. About 1,500 of his poems survive, most collected in The Complete Works of Du Gongbu. He is revered as the "Sage of Poetry," his verse is called "poetry as history," and he is ranked alongside Li Bai as "Li and Du." His writing confronts social reality and personal hardship, covering war and displacement, the sufferings of the people, landscapes, and everyday reflections; his style is deep and forceful, his language precise and varied, and his influence on later poetry is profound. This site holds 31 of his works, including complete collections such as The Complete Works of Du Fu and The Collected Poems of Du Fu, as well as individual pieces such as "Again Showing Zongwu," "Visiting the Temple of the First Lord," "Song of the Year's End," and "The Ninth Day." His works are commonly classified under ancient poetry, Eastern philosophy, and culture.