Again Shown to Zongwu

Du FuNanhai Publication Company · ChinaJun 2024

4.7

Word count: 3.3K words
Chapters: 49

Summary

Du Fu (712–770), courtesy name Zimei, Han ethnicity, was originally from Xiangyang and later moved to Gongxian, Henan. He called himself Shaoling Yelao. A great realist poet of the Tang dynasty, he is jointly called "Li-Du" with Li Bai. To distinguish them from the other two poets Li Shangyin and Du Mu, known as "Little Li-Du," Du Fu and Li Bai are also jointly called "Great Li-Du," and Du Fu is often referred to as "Old Du."

Editor's review

This book centers on Du Fu and his poetry, with the source material focusing on basic information such as his courtesy name, self-chosen name, native place, dates of birth and death, and his joint billing as "Li-Du." As a 2024 Nanhai Publishing House reader, it is better suited as an entry point to Du Fu than as deep academic research. Readers can use it to establish basic coordinates for this Tang realist poet: the regional线索 of Xiangyang to Gongxian, the self-title Shaoling Yelao, and his place in literary history alongside Li Bai. Its reading value lies in moving from the person to the poetry, understanding why Du Fu is called "Old Du" and the poetic-historical context behind the distinction between "Great Li-Du" and "Little Li-Du." It is recommended to read alongside specific Du Fu poems rather than reading only the biographical sketch apart from the texts. Suitable for classroom support, book club sharing, or early self-study.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Students at the junior or senior high level who need to know Du Fu's basic biography
Readers new to Tang poetry who wish to establish coordinates for the poet
Chinese teachers using it as classroom background material or book club material
General literature enthusiasts who want to distinguish "Great Li-Du" from "Little Li-Du"

Not a good fit for

Researchers seeking deep annotation or academic textual criticism of Du Fu's poems
Readers expecting a complete collection of Du Fu's poems or a chronological annotated edition
Advanced readers already familiar with Du Fu's life who need monograph-level analysis

Reading tips

Read several representative poems by Du Fu first, then return to the biographical introduction to build a sense of correspondence between text and life.
Note the contexts in which appellations such as "Shaoling Yelao" and "Old Du" appear, to understand his self-identification and later reception.
Read alongside material on Li Bai to sort out the literary-historical meaning of the joint name "Great Li-Du."
After reading, organize the biographical线索 into a timeline, marking key nodes such as the An Lushan Rebellion and their relation to changes in poetic style.

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
【冬深（一作即日）】杜甫
【不寐】杜甫
【月圆】杜甫
【中宵】杜甫
【遣愁】杜甫
【秋清】杜甫
【伤秋】杜甫
【秋峡】杜甫
【南极】杜甫
【摇落】杜甫
【耳聋】杜甫
【独坐二首】杜甫
【远游】杜甫
【夜（一作秋夜客舍）】杜甫
【暮春】杜甫
【晴二首】杜甫
【雨】杜甫
【月三首】杜甫
【雨】杜甫
【晚晴】杜甫
【夜雨】杜甫
【更题】杜甫
【归】杜甫
【返照】杜甫
【热三首】杜甫
【日暮】杜甫
【八月十五夜月二首】杜甫
【十六夜玩月】杜甫
【十七夜对月】杜甫
【村雨】杜甫
【雨晴】杜甫
【晚晴吴郎见过北舍】杜甫
【暝】杜甫
【云】杜甫
【月】杜甫
【雨四首】杜甫
【夜】杜甫
【晨雨】杜甫
【返照】杜甫
【向夕】杜甫
【晓望】杜甫
【雷】杜甫
【雨】杜甫
【朝二首】杜甫
【晚】杜甫
【夜二首】杜甫
卷二百三十一
【宗武生日】杜甫

FAQ

Why is Du Fu called "Old Du"?

According to the sources, Du Fu called himself Shaoling Yelao, and later generations often refer to him as "Old Du," jointly calling him and Li Bai "Great Li-Du" to distinguish them from Li Shangyin and Du Mu, known as "Little Li-Du." The name carries both familiarity and reflects his patriarchal place in poetic history; readers can appreciate it alongside specific poems.

Can this book replace a collection of Du Fu's poems?

No. The source material mainly provides basic information such as Du Fu's courtesy name, native place, dates, and joint billing, at the level of an introductory biography. To truly understand Du Fu's poetry, one still needs to read specific poems and reliable annotated editions. This book is best used as background reading alongside a poetry collection.

What is the difference between "Great Li-Du" and "Little Li-Du"?

According to the sources, "Great Li-Du" refers to Li Bai and Du Fu, while "Little Li-Du" refers to Li Shangyin and Du Mu. The former are the twin peaks of poetry from the High Tang to the Mid-Tang transition, while the latter were active in the Late Tang. Distinguishing these two joint names helps establish a chronological framework for Tang poetry history and avoid confusing poet groupings from different eras.

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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.