Selected Poems of Du Fu

Author: Deng Kuiying and Nie Shiqiao
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-07-01
Features: Du Fu's poetry extensively and profoundly reflects the major events and social contradictions of the era he lived in. It reflects the destruction of the equal-field system, which had been implemented since the Tang Dynasty's establishment to promote agricultural development, as well as the decline of the tax and labor system and the military service system built upon it. It reflects the increasing corruption of the ruling group of the Tang Dynasty, their arbitrary taxation at home and constant warfare abroad, leading to further intensification of class and ethnic conflicts, which eventually culminated in the An Lushan Rebellion. It reflects the conflicts between the Tang Dynasty and neighboring ethnic groups and tribal regimes, as well as the prolonged civil wars among warlords in various regions. It reflects the tragic conditions of the common people, who were oppressed and exploited under the specific historical background. In summary, it reflects the historical transformation of the Tang Dynasty from prosperity to decline over the three or four decades. Therefore, Du Fu's poetry has long been renowned as "a poetry history." To demonstrate the relationship between Du Fu's poetry and his time, as well as to truly highlight the value of his poetry in the history of social life, we have compiled and annotated this selected collection chronologically. The basis for the chronology is the Du Fu Chronology compiled by the Sichuan Provincial Research Institute of Cultural Relics and History.