35 moments

1. Birth near Luoyang

   0712-01-01 · Luoyang region, Henan, China

   

   Du Fu was born near Luoyang in Henan; the precise birthplace is not known, though Gong County is a leading candidate. Representative coordinates for Luoyang; the precise birth site is unknown.

2. Imperial examination

   0735-01-01 · Chang'an, Tang China (present-day Xi'an, Shaanxi, China)

   

   Du Fu was likely in the Tang capital to sit the imperial examination, an early attempt to enter official life. The source describes Chang'an as likely rather than certain.

3. Domestic residence

   0740-01-01 · Luoyang region, Henan, China

   

   After his father's death, Du Fu began a four-year period living around Luoyang while carrying out family responsibilities. The residence began after his father's death, dated only approximately to 740.

4. Move to the capital

   0746-01-01 · Chang'an, Tang China (present-day Xi'an, Shaanxi, China)

   

   Du Fu moved to Chang'an to renew his pursuit of an official career.

5. Captivity in rebel-held Chang'an

   0756-01-01 · Chang'an, Tang China (present-day Xi'an, Shaanxi, China)

   

   Rebel forces captured Du Fu and brought him to Chang'an, where he witnessed the occupied capital.

6. Family refuge at Baishui

   0756-01-01 · Baishui County, Shaanxi, China

   

   As Fengxian came under threat during the rebellion, Du Fu moved his family to Baishui County. Coordinates represent modern Baishui County.

7. Family refuge at Qiangcun

   0756-01-01 · Qiangcun, Fuzhou (present-day Fuxian area), Shaanxi, China

   

   Du Fu took his family farther north to Qiangcun in Fuzhou during the wartime flight from the capital region. Historical Qiangcun is represented by an approximate point in the modern Fuxian area.

8. Journey to Suzong's court

   0756-01-01 · Lingwu, Ningxia, China

   

   Du Fu set out for Lingwu to join Emperor Suzong, but rebels captured him en route. The source documents his journey to Lingwu before capture; it does not establish that he reached Suzong's court there.

9. Escape from captivity

   0757-01-01 · Chang'an, Tang China (present-day Xi'an, Shaanxi, China)

   

   While a captive in Chang'an, Du Fu escaped and made for the restored imperial court.

10. Joining Suzong's court

    0757-01-01 · Fengxiang, Shaanxi, China

    

    After escaping Chang'an, Du Fu joined Emperor Suzong's court at Fengxiang and was appointed Reminder of the Left. Coordinates represent present-day Fengxiang District.

11. Visit to family in Fuzhou

    0757-01-01 · Fuzhou (present-day Fuxian area), Shaanxi, China

    

    Du Fu visited his family in Fuzhou after his appointment at court, a reunion commemorated in his Jiang Village poems. Coordinates are a representative point for the historical Fuzhou/Fuxian area.

12. Return with the imperial court

    0757-12-08 · Chang'an, Tang China (present-day Xi'an, Shaanxi, China)

    

    Du Fu returned to Chang'an with Emperor Suzong after government forces recaptured the city.

13. Demotion to Huazhou

    0758-01-01 · Huazhou, Tang China (present-day Huazhou District, Weinan, Shaanxi, China)

    

    Du Fu was demoted from court service to an educational post in Huazhou. Coordinates represent modern Huazhou District.

14. Official business in Luoyang

    0758-01-01 · Luoyang, Henan, China

    

    Du Fu travelled to Luoyang on official business near the end of winter. The source gives a seasonal, not Gregorian-day, date.

15. Service in Chang'an

    0758-01-01 · Chang'an, Tang China (present-day Xi'an, Shaanxi, China)

    

    Du Fu remained in Chang'an serving in office before his demotion.

16. Arrival in Chengdu

    0759-01-01 · Chengdu, Sichuan, China

    

    Du Fu reached Chengdu at the end of the year, beginning the principal Sichuan phase of his life. The source gives an end-of-year arrival rather than an exact day.

17. Journey to Tonggu

    0759-01-01 · Tonggu (present-day Chengxian), Gansu, China

    

    Du Fu continued south from Qinzhou to Tonggu during his westward displacement. Coordinates represent Chengxian, the modern location supplied by the source.

18. Return to Huazhou

    0759-01-01 · Huazhou, Tang China (present-day Huazhou District, Weinan, Shaanxi, China)

    

    Du Fu returned to Huazhou in spring before relinquishing his position later that year. The source gives a seasonal, not Gregorian-day, date.

19. Westward flight to Qinzhou

    0759-01-01 · Qinzhou (present-day Tianshui), Gansu, China

    

    After giving up his office, Du Fu headed west with his family toward the frontier region of Qinzhou. Coordinates represent modern Tianshui.

20. Building the Thatched Cottage

    0760-01-01 · Du Fu Thatched Cottage area, Chengdu, Sichuan, China

    

    In spring, Du Fu built the thatched cottage in Chengdu's western suburbs that became closely associated with his poetry. Coordinates represent the traditional Thatched Cottage site; the present complex is a later reconstruction.

21. Flight to Zizhou

    0762-01-01 · Zizhou (present-day Santai), Sichuan, China

    

    A local rebellion drove Du Fu east from Chengdu to Zizhou. Coordinates represent present-day Santai.

22. Return to Chengdu

    0764-01-01 · Chengdu, Sichuan, China

    

    Du Fu returned to Chengdu and joined Yan Wu's staff, resuming association with his former patron.

23. Residence at Yun'an

    0765-01-01 · Yun'an (present-day Yunyang), Chongqing, China

    

    Leaving Chengdu by the Min and Yangtze rivers, Du Fu reached Yun'an in the ninth month; illness kept him there into spring 766. Historical Yun'an is represented by modern Yunyang; the historical riverside landscape has changed substantially.

24. Arrival at Kuizhou

    0766-01-01 · Kuizhou (present-day Fengjie), Chongqing, China

    

    After leaving Yun'an, Du Fu reached Kuizhou at the end of spring and began a two-year residence at the entrance to the Three Gorges. Coordinates represent present-day Fengjie, the modern location given by the source.

25. Autumn at Gongan

    0768-01-01 · Gongan, Hubei, China

    

    During his continuing eastward journey, Du Fu went to Gongan in autumn. The source gives a seasonal, not Gregorian-day, date.

26. Winter arrival at Yuezhou

    0768-01-01 · Yuezhou (present-day Yueyang), Hunan, China

    

    Du Fu reached Yuezhou on the shore of Lake Dongting in winter. Coordinates represent present-day Yueyang.

27. Yangtze departure for Jiangling

    0768-01-01 · Jiangling (present-day Jingzhou), Hubei, China

    

    Du Fu left Kuizhou and proceeded east down the Yangtze, reaching Jiangling in the third month. Coordinates represent present-day Jingzhou.

28. Arrival in Tanzhou

    0769-01-01 · Tanzhou (present-day Changsha), Hunan, China

    

    After crossing Lake Dongting, Du Fu reached Tanzhou in the second month. Coordinates represent present-day Changsha.

29. Journey to Hengzhou

    0769-01-01 · Hengzhou (present-day Hengyang), Hunan, China

    

    Du Fu continued south from Tanzhou to Hengzhou and passed Mount Heng before turning north. Coordinates represent present-day Hengyang.

30. Return to Tanzhou

    0769-01-01 · Tanzhou (present-day Changsha), Hunan, China

    

    Du Fu returned north to Tanzhou and remained there through the summer, autumn, and winter. Coordinates represent present-day Changsha.

31. Death at Tanzhou according to one account

    0770-01-01 · Tanzhou (present-day Changsha), Hunan, China

    

    One widely used biographical account places Du Fu's death in Tanzhou in November or December. Other accounts place his death while travelling north toward Yuezhou; the exact final location remains disputed. The place and circumstances of death are uncertain; another scholarly chronology says he died en route from Tanzhou toward Yuezhou.

32. Flight to Hengzhou

    0770-01-01 · Hengzhou (present-day Hengyang), Hunan, China

    

    A local rebellion forced Du Fu south from Tanzhou to Hengzhou. The source gives a lunar-month chronology rather than a Gregorian-day date.

33. Flood-bound at Leiyang

    0770-01-01 · Leiyang, Hunan, China

    

    While attempting to reach Chenzhou, Du Fu was blocked by floods at Leiyang. The source does not provide a more precise date than the fourth-month sequence.

34. Late return to Tanzhou

    0770-01-01 · Tanzhou (present-day Changsha), Hunan, China

    

    After the rebellion was suppressed, Du Fu returned to Tanzhou in late summer. Coordinates represent present-day Changsha.

35. Spring in Tanzhou

    0770-01-01 · Tanzhou (present-day Changsha), Hunan, China

    

    Du Fu was still in Tanzhou in spring during the final year of his life. Coordinates represent present-day Changsha.