Various activities have been held across China and overseas to commemorate the 1290th birthday of Du Fu, one of the world-renowned poets of the Tang Dynasty (618-907).
A meeting was held recently at Du Fu's "Thatched Cottage" in Chengdu, capital city of southwest China's Sichuan province, where Du Fu resided from the age of 47.
In addition, the 12th annual meeting to present research materials on Du Fu, a photographic exhibition and symposiums have been held to honor the great poet's birthday.
Similar activities were also held in Japan, Romania, Mongolia and other countries.
China plans to hold special commemorative activities every decade to mark Du Fu's birthday.
The imperial Tang Dynasty was in decline in Du Fu's time. Violent social changes and upheaval brought him much affliction, which gave him profound understanding of the times. Much of his voluminous poetry records the untold misery of the toiling people and his enlightened views toward their suffering.
China has constructed Du Fu memorials in Sichuan, Hunan and Henan provinces, Xinjiang Uygur and Inner Mongolia autonomous regions. More than 10,000 treasured exhibits can be found at these cultural sites.
(People's Daily August 26, 2002)
