Du Mu Collection

Author: Zhang Houyu
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-01-01
Features:
"High up on the cold mountain, the stone path winds along.
White clouds rise where there are homes.
I stop to appreciate the evening glow of maple forest,
Where frost-covered leaves are redder than flowers in February." — Du Mu, "Mountain Path"
"On the Qingming Festival, rain falls in torrents,
Travelers on the road seem to lose their souls.
I ask where the tavern is,
A cowherd points to the village of apricot blossoms from afar." — Du Mu, "Qingming"
Du Mu (803–852), styled Muzhi, was a native of Jingzhao Wannian (present-day Xi'an, Shaanxi). He was the grandson of Du You, a prime minister, and passed the imperial examination during the Great Harmony era, serving as a copyist in the Hongwen Academy. Later, he joined the office of the Jiangxi Military Commissioner, then the Huainan Military Commissioner, and finally the Xuanhui Military Commissioner. During the reign of Emperor Wuzong, he served as a Left Supplementary Officer, then as an Assistant Director of the Ministry of Food and Clothing and the Ministry of Justice. During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong, he was appointed as the governor of three states—Huang, Chi, and Mu—and later served as an Assistant Director of the Bureau of Personnel, an editor of the Historical Records, and the governor of Huizhou. He was recalled to serve as the Director of the Imperial Chancellery and reached the rank of Zhongshu Shaoren. Du Mu emphasized literary meaning and stylistic refinement in his poetry, pursuing elegance and beauty, setting himself apart from the ornate poetry of late Tang. He excelled in regulated verse, particularly in quatrains. Du Mu's literary achievements were multifaceted, with poetry, prose, and fu all reaching renowned status. He advocated that literature should prioritize meaning, supported by spirit, with stylistic refinement as its auxiliary. He had a relatively correct understanding of the relationship between content and form in works. He also absorbed and integrated the strengths of predecessors to develop his unique style. In poetry, Du Mu was renowned alongside another outstanding poet of late Tang, Li Shangyin, and together they were known as the "Two Little Duos." His classical verse was influenced by Du Fu and Han Yu, with broad themes and a sharp, vigorous style. His regulated verse was noted for its elegant language and expressive rhythms. His seven-character regulated verse "Early" used metaphorical techniques to express sympathy for the northern frontier people displaced by the Uyghur invasions, conveying subtlety and depth. In contrast, "Ascending Qiqi Mountain on the Ninth Day of the Ninth Month" employed a bold style to express his open-mindedness while alsoing profound sorrow. The general trend of late Tang poetry was ornate and intricate, and Du Mu, influenced by the era, also emphasized stylistic refinement. This shared tendency combined with his personal trait of "heroic and radiant" charm, resulting in poetry that was both exquisite and ethereal, grand yet refined. This book selects 107 poems and 5 prose and fu pieces, all from the "Fanchuan Collection" and "Fanchuan Poetry Collection" published by Shanghai, with additions and deletions based on the "Du Mu Collection" published by Yuelu Book Society.