Du Fu (712-770) was one of China’s greatest poets. He called himself Zi Mei. Later generations called him “the wise poet.” His poetry reflects the troubled times in which he lived, when the Tang Dynasty was in decline.
Du Fu was born in Gong County, Henan Province. In 755, the rebellious army of An Lushan disrupted the peaceful lives of the Chinese people and caused extreme personal hardship for Du Fu, who experienced hunger and poverty. His concern for his country and its people, and his own troubles, helped him to create a great number of poems, many demonstrating the poet’s compassion for the suffering of people during wartime.
Du Fu’s main works include the epic poem “The Army Carts,” which attacks war; “Song of a Beautiful Lady,” a satire on the luxury of the Chinese court; “Three Officials;” and “Three Farewells.” His poetry is written in a gloomy but powerful style that is moving and obviously sincere. More than 1,400 of his poems still survive. His verse reflects the depth of his learning and his familiarity with Chinese literary tradition.
