A Sigh

Du FuThe Commercial Press · ChinaJun 2024

4.2

Word count: 7.9K words
Chapters: 49

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Summary

"You Tan" is a work by Du Fu, the great Tang dynasty poet.

Editor's review

Du Fu's "You Tan" is short but typifies his dense, brooding, halting force: a scene before his eyes gives rise to lament over the times and his own fate, emotion advancing layer by layer without direct exposure. This book is the original Republican-era Commercial Press edition, retaining much of the source text's appearance, and is suitable as an entry point for close reading of a single Du Fu poem. In reading such works the point is not to memorize conclusions but to see how Du Fu places personal lament within a concrete historical atmosphere: what he laments, why he laments, and where the lament stops are all matters for line-by-line scrutiny. The typesetting and punctuation of the Republican edition also offer a perspective different from today's standard annotated editions; read alongside "Detailed Annotations on Du Fu's Poems" to perceive differences in text and commentary. For those who wish to enter Du Fu's world through one short poem, this small volume is easier to start with than a bulky anthology; for readers with a foundation, the original edition can test their grasp of textual detail. It is suggested to read first without annotations, punctuating and sensing the tone oneself, then compare other editions.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Classical poetry enthusiasts who wish to begin close reading with a single poem
Literary researchers needing the original Du Fu edition for textual comparison
Chinese majors interested in Tang history and the mentality of scholars
Readers who enjoy close reading of short poems and are willing to scrutinize line by line

Not a good fit for

General readers hoping for a biography or life story of Du Fu
Beginners who need extensive annotations and vernacular translation to read
Readers seeking an anthology that comprehensively presents Du Fu's poetry

Reading tips

First recite and punctuate on your own, writing down intuitive judgments of tone, then consult annotated editions.
Read alongside the annotations to the same poem in "Detailed Annotations on Du Fu's Poems," noting variant readings and interpretive disagreements.
After reading, try to summarize the emotional turns in one or two sentences to test whether you have understood it.
Compare with Du Fu's works from the same period to perceive different approaches within one period.

About the publisher

The Commercial Press China · Founded in 1897

"Republic-era Commercial Press Original Editions" refers to original books printed by The Commercial Press during the Republican period, not a separate publishing house. Judging from the 300 titles held in the collection, its publishing focus centers on classical poetry and lyrics, literary appreciation, classic works, military texts, prose and miscellaneous writings, and Eastern philosophy. Representative titles include Wang Guowei's Renjian Cihua, Zhong Rong's Shipin, the lyric collections of Xin Qiji and Liu Yong, Sun Wu's The Art of War, and Lü Buwei's Xianshi Lan. Its author resources are mainly classical writers, together with modern scholars such as Li Jingbang and Guo Huaruo, whose collations and annotations are also represented, giving the list a character centered on original texts while attending to annotation and appreciation. Public information on the precise Republican-era catalog and printings is limited; this overview is based only on the titles held in the collection.

版权信息
【白盐山（白盐崖高千馀丈，在州城东十七里）】杜甫
【滟滪堆】杜甫
【滟滪】杜甫
【白帝】杜甫
【白帝城楼】杜甫
【晓望白帝城盐山】杜甫
【白帝城最高楼】杜甫
【白帝楼】杜甫
【陪诸公上白帝城宴越公堂之作（越公杨素所建）】杜甫
【峡隘】杜甫
【诸葛庙】杜甫
【峡口二首】杜甫
【天池】杜甫
【瞿塘两崖】杜甫
【夔州歌十绝句】杜甫
【上卿翁请修武侯庙，遗像缺落，时崔卿权夔州】杜甫
卷二百三十
【偶题】杜甫
【秋兴八首】杜甫
【咏怀古迹五首】杜甫
【诸将五首】杜甫
【秋日夔府咏怀奉寄郑监李宾客一百韵】杜甫
【赠李八秘书别三十韵】杜甫
【寄刘峡州伯华使君四十韵】杜甫
【夔府书怀四十韵】杜甫
【解闷十二首】杜甫
【复愁十二首】杜甫
【承闻河北诸道节度入朝欢喜口号绝句十二首】杜甫
【喜闻盗贼蕃寇总退口号五首】杜甫
【洞房】杜甫
【宿昔】杜甫
【能画】杜甫
【斗鸡】杜甫
【鹦鹉（一作翦羽）】杜甫
【历历】杜甫
【洛阳】杜甫
【骊山】杜甫
【提封】杜甫
【覆舟二首】杜甫
【垂白（一作白首）】杜甫
【草阁】杜甫
【江月】杜甫
【江上】杜甫
【中夜】杜甫
【江汉】杜甫
【白露】杜甫
【孟氏（集有过孟十二仓曹十四主簿兄弟诗）】杜甫
【吾宗（卫仓曹崇简）】杜甫

FAQ

What kind of poem is "You Tan"?

According to the book's materials, "You Tan" is a work by the Tang poet Du Fu; the specific form and content should be based on the original published text. When reading, focus on how Du Fu draws lament from concrete scenes and how emotion turns and concludes within a short piece—this reveals his force better than memorizing conclusions.

Is the original Republican-era Commercial Press edition suitable for beginners?

It can serve as a supplement but is not suitable for use alone. The original edition retains early modern typesetting, with punctuation and wording differing from today's standard editions; beginners should first read selected Du Fu poems with modern annotation and translation, then compare with this book, lest they give up due to the gap between editions.

What methods are there for reading a single short poem by Du Fu?

It is suggested to read aloud first without annotations, judging pauses and tone by feel; then ask line by line where the lament comes from and where it points; finally check your understanding against annotated editions. The benefit of close reading a single poem is repeated review, which trains sensitivity to Du Fu's brooding style better than broad reading.

Can this book replace a complete collection or anthology of Du Fu's poetry?

No. This book contains only "You Tan," being an original edition of a single poem, suitable for close reading and textual comparison, and does not serve to present Du Fu's poetry comprehensively. To understand Du Fu's overall work, one still needs to read selected or complete collections.

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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.