Abstract
This paper challenges the traditional stereotype of Du Fu as poet-sage by investigating his relationship to Daoism as is reflected in his poetry and in his life. It first discusses Du Fu's subscription to Daoism as a state ideology promoted by the Tang rulers and his representation of the court in Daoist paradisiacal imagery. It then moves to a discussion of the significance of Daoism to Du Fu as a personal faith and practice, with particular attention paid to his relationship with the doctrine of gold cinnabar. Finally, it investigates the nature and the meaning of the metamorphosis of the poetic self according to patterns set up in Zhuang-zi in his poetry written mostly in Hunan.
First Page
64
Last Page
86
Recommended Citation
Liu, Haoming. 2013. "Penglai, Cinnabar, and the Great Roc: The Presence of Daoism in Du Fu's Poetry." Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art 33, (5): pp.64-86. https://tsla.researchcommons.org/journal/vol33/iss5/16
