The Late Wanderings of Du Fu - by Daniel Hsieh (Hardcover)

About the Book

A close reading of Du Fu's poems as he confronts the brilliance and collapse of the Tang dynasty and transformed all he experienced into poetry.

Book Synopsis

History remembers Du Fu (712-70) as the Confucian poet-sage, but why would he abandon his official post to wander the remote fringes of the Tang empire? This exploration of Du Fu's late wanderings reveals the restless spiritual and intellectual journey that mirrored his seemingly directionless, perplexing physical travels. Moving beyond traditional portrayals, it uncovers a complex figure torn between north and south, service and retreat, and the truths of the Three Teachings.

A close reading of the poems from his last, prolific decade follows Du Fu as he confronts the brilliance and collapse of his dynasty, transforming all he experienced into poetry that became both his autobiography and his apology. Through his verse, a man who refused to settle for a single answer emerges, one whose constant wavering was a part of his greatness and ultimately redefined the possibilities of Chinese poetry.

About the Author

Daniel Hsieh, Associate Professor of Chinese, Emeritus, at Purdue University, is a scholar specializing in early Chinese fiction, including zhiguai and chuanqi tales, as well as medieval poetry, with a particular focus on the Tang dynasty. A graduate of the University of Washington, where he studied with Professors Wang Ching-Hsien and David R. Knechtges, Hsieh has published several monographs in these areas, including The Evolution of Jueju Verse and Love and Women in Early Chinese Fiction, in addition to a variety of articles.