Poem on Socks

Du MuNanhai Publication Company · ChinaJun 2024

3.6

Word count: 3.3K words
Chapters: 49

Summary

Du Mu (803–c. 852), courtesy name Muzhi, style name Fanchuan Jushi, Han Chinese, was a native of Wannian, Jingzhao (present-day Xi'an, Shaanxi). An outstanding poet and prose writer of the Tang dynasty, he was a grandson of the chancellor Du You and son of Du Congyu.

Editor's review

Centered on the object-praising works of the Tang poet Du Mu, this book presents his ability to capture things and convey meaning within a concise compass. Du Mu was renowned as a poet and also skilled in prose; in his writing, ingenious touches often emerge from ordinary objects, and his language is brisk yet never lacking in subtlety. The object-praising form may seem slight, but it in fact tests the author's meticulous observation and precise diction, as well as his sense of proportion in moving from object to feeling. The value of this book lies in letting readers start from specific texts and appreciate how Tang object-praising poetry balances formal likeness with implied sentiment, while also experiencing Du Mu's light, agile touch in handling everyday subjects. As you read, note his selection of concrete details, the contraction and release of his sentence patterns, and the turns and lingering aftertaste common at the close. For readers who wish to enter Du Mu's poetic world through shorter texts, this book offers an easy point of entry; read alongside his works on other subjects, it reveals all the more the many facets of his style.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers interested in Tang poetry and Du Mu's works
Literature lovers who want to approach Du Mu's writing through short texts
Readers concerned with the object-praising genre and techniques of description
Teachers who need short classical poems as classroom materials

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting a complete biography or biographical study of Du Mu
Readers who prefer long narratives and complex plots
Researchers who need in-depth textual collation and scholarly examination

Reading tips

Read the whole piece once, then savor the diction and the contraction and release of the sentence patterns line by line.
Note the turns and lingering aftertaste at the close, and consider the path from object to feeling.
Read alongside Du Mu's works on other subjects to sense the differences in style.
After reading, try to summarize the features of the object and the implied meaning, and map out the layers of the text.

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
【题张处士山庄一绝】杜牧
卷523_109【有怀重送斛斯判官】杜牧
卷523_110【赠别二首】杜牧
卷523_111【寄远】杜牧
卷523_112【少年行】杜牧
卷523_113【盆池】杜牧
卷523_114【有寄】杜牧
卷五百二十四
卷524_1【斑竹筒簟】杜牧
卷524_2【和严恽秀才落花】杜牧
卷524_3【倡楼戏赠】杜牧
卷524_4【初上船留寄】杜牧
卷524_5【秋岸】杜牧
卷524_6【过大梁闻河亭方宴赠孙子端】杜牧
卷524_7【题吴兴消暑楼十二韵】杜牧
卷524_8【奉送中丞姊夫俦自大理卿出镇江西叙事书怀因成十二韵】杜牧
卷524_9【中丞业深韬略，志在功名，再奉长句一篇兼有谘劝】杜牧
卷524_10【和裴杰秀才新樱桃】杜牧
卷524_11【春思】杜牧
卷524_12【代人作】杜牧
卷524_13【偶题二首】杜牧
卷524_14【冬至日遇京使发寄舍弟】杜牧
卷524_15【洛下送张曼容赴上党召】杜牧
卷524_16【宣州留赠】杜牧
卷524_17【寄题宣州开元寺】杜牧
卷524_18【赠张祜】杜牧
卷524_19【残春独来南亭因寄张祜】杜牧
卷524_20【宣州开元寺南楼】杜牧
卷524_21【寄远人】杜牧
卷524_22【别沈处士】杜牧
卷524_23【留赠】杜牧
卷524_24【奉和仆射相公春泽稍愆圣君轸虑嘉雪忽降…成四韵】杜牧
卷524_25【寄李播评事】杜牧
卷524_26【送牛相出镇襄州】杜牧
卷524_27【送薛邽二首】杜牧
卷524_28【见穆三十宅中庭海榴花谢】杜牧
卷524_29【留诲曹师等诗】杜牧
卷524_30【洛阳】杜牧
卷524_31【寄唐州李玭尚书】杜牧
卷524_32【南陵道中】杜牧
卷524_33【登九峰楼】杜牧
卷524_34【别家】杜牧
卷524_35【归家（一作赵嘏诗）】杜牧
卷524_36【雨】杜牧
卷524_37【送人】杜牧
卷524_38【遣怀】杜牧
卷524_39【醉赠薛道封】杜牧
卷524_40【歙州卢中丞见惠名酝】杜牧

FAQ

Can readers with no foundation in Tang poetry understand this book?

The book is short and its language relatively brisk, but barriers of classical vocabulary and syntax remain. Readers without a foundation can first use the annotations to clarify the literal meaning, then read aloud repeatedly to feel the rhythm and diction, gradually entering the text; there is no need to seek deep understanding from the outset.

What notable features do Du Mu's object-praising poems have?

Du Mu's touch is light and agile; he excels at selecting details from ordinary objects, and his language is brisk yet subtle. His object-praising works often turn after describing the object, moving from object to feeling without awkwardness. As you read, pay attention to the measure of his diction and the aftertaste at the close; these are key to appreciating his style.

What is the difference between object-praising poetry and ordinary landscape poetry?

Object-praising poetry centers on a specific object, describes its physical features, and often moves from object to feeling with an implied sentiment; landscape poetry focuses more on unfolding the environment and scenery. The two sometimes overlap, but object-praising emphasizes focus on the object and the layers of using the object to express meaning; readers can distinguish them on this basis.

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About the author

Du Mu Author · Chinese

Du Mu (803–852), courtesy name Muzhi and styled Fanchuan Jushi, was a native of Wannian in Jingzhao (present-day Xi'an, Shaanxi). A distinguished poet and prose writer of the Tang Dynasty, he was the grandson of the chancellor Du You. He rose to the office of Zhongshu Sheren and is known above all for his seven-character quatrains; together with Li Shangyin he is called one of the "Little Li-Du." His works include the prose piece "Epang Palace Fu" and poems such as "Mountain Journey" and "Mooring on the Qinhuai River." This library holds nineteen of his works, among them "Two Poems of Parting," "The Complete Works of Du Mu," "The Collected Works of Du Mu," "A Quatrain Sent to a Recluse," and "Three Poems Recalling Past Travels"; they are commonly classified under social sciences, classical poetry, and classic works. His writing is admired for its vigor and clarity, and his quatrains in particular have been praised by later generations, giving him an important place in Tang literary history.