As the greatest realistic poet in the flourishing period of Tang dynasty (618-907), Du fu was born in Gong County (present Gongyi of Henan Province) on 12th of February in 712, who learned to write poems at 7 and become famous at 15 for his excellent poems, and he had a noble character and showed great concern for his country and the working people throughout his life, leaving behind over 1,500 poems for the later generations.
Du fu wrote poems in a masterly way and had a far-reaching influence on the Chinese classic poems, who was titled "the Sage Poet" and his poetry was awarded "the History of Poem" by the later generations.
Generally speaking, Du Fu's life was divided into four periods: Reading & Roaming Period, Stranded Period in Chang'an, Securing an Official Position Period and Wandering Period in Southwest China.
1.
Reading & Roaming Period (before 30 years old) The 20-year old Du Fu started to roam in Wu (present Jiangsu Province) and Yue (present Zhejiang Province) in the 19th year (731) of Kaiyuan Period, who returned to Luoyang for taking the imperial competitive examination 5 years later, resulting in failure, and he resumed his roaming to Qi (present Shandong Province) and Zhao (present Hebei Province).
He arrived in Luoyang in summer of 744, where he encountered Li Bai (the greatest romantic poet in Chinese history), and they established deep friendship and made a pledge to meet in Liangsong (present Kaifeng) next year.
In the autumn of 744, Du Fu and Li Bai met in Liangsong as scheduled, where they wrote poems, commented on current events, discussed rises and falls of the previous dynasties and expressed their concerns to the potential crisis in the Tang Empire, and they met in Donglu (in Shandong Province) for the third time one year later, during which Du Fu wrote many good poems, including To Li Bai and Watching the Mountain Tai.
2.
Stranded Period in Chang'an (lasting from 30 to 40 years old) Du Fu had been stranded in Chang'an for 10 years owing to his desire to secure a official position through imperial competitive examination, but he failed again and lived a miserable life.
He continuously delivered his poems to the high officials during his stay in Chang'an, and he was appointed sergeant to keep the keys to the arsenal eventually, when he wrote the Song of Conscripts and the Song of Beauty to criticize the current political situation and satire on the high officials.
Three grand ceremonies were held successively by Emperor Xuanzong from the 8th to the 10th of January in 751, so Du Fu seized this opportunity to write three "Odes of Grand Ceremonies" and presented them to Emperor Xuanzong, but there was no response.
3.
Securing an Official Position Period (lasting from 40 to 48 years old) With Tongguan Pass falling into An Lushan's hand during Anshi Rebellion, Emperor Xuanzong fleet to Shu (present Sichuan Province), and Li Heng (the 3rd son of emperor Xuanzong) hastily declared himself state head in Lingwu (in Gansu Province) and made emperor Xuanzong the retired emperor, who was known to the later generation as Emperor Suzong.
Du Fu rode a horse to turn to Emperor Suzong in chaos, but he was captured by the rebels and sent to Chang'an under escort.
Facing the conquered country and the ruined families on his way, Du Fu wrote the most excellent poems in his life, including the Moonlit Night, A View in Spring and Mourning at the River Mouth.
Luckily, Du Fu escaped to Fengxiang (in Shaanxi Province) and met Emperor Suzong, where he was appointed imperial censor, but he was estranged gradually owing to his frank advice.
4.
Wandering Period in Southwest China (from 48 to 52 years old) With the famine widely spreading in Guanfu area (present Shaanxi Province) during Anshi Rebellion, Du Fu gave up his official position and went to Chengdu, where he lived a peaceful life for years with the help of Yan Wu (the governor of Chengdu).
Du Fu lived a wondering life again after Yan Wu's death, departing for Kuizhou from Chengdu and then went to Hubei Province and Hunan Province, who died of disease in a boat floating in the Xiangjiang River eventually, but he also wrote excellent poems during this period, including Climbing Yueyang Tower and A Timely Rain On Spring Night.