famous poets, ranking even with the great Li Po, the two being jointly spoken of as the chief poets of their age. He had indeed such a high opinion of his own poetry that he prescribed it as a cure for malarial fever. His father was a native of Hsiang-yang in Hupeh; but he himself was born at Ta-ling in Shensi, whence he is often spoken of as 少陵 Shao-ling or Tu Shao-ling. Of brilliant promise in early youth, he failed to distinguish himself at the public examinations, and took to poetry as a profession. He soon attracted the attention of the Emperor Ming Huang, who bestowed upon him a position at Court. There his popularity emboldened him to apply for an increase of salary, which was readily granted, the first year being paid in advance. But at that time (A.D. 755) occurred the revolution which drove Ming Huang from his throne and Tu Fu into exile, from which he returned at the accession of the Emperor Su Tsung to undertake the dangerous duties of Censor. The honest fulfilment of these duties brought him eventually into disgrace with the Emperor, and he was appointed Governor of a town in Shensi, which was practically a sentence of banishment. Tu Fu regarded it as such; and on arriving at his post, formally resigned, and retired to the wilds of Ssŭch'uan, where for some time he spent a wandering life. In spite of this, he was appointed to a post in connection with the grain supply; and on his refusal of the same, to a more congenial post as secretary in the Board of Works, in reference to which he is sometimes spoken of as 杜工部. This he held for six years, but finally went back to his old wandering life. He persisted in going alone to visit certain old ruins in Hu-Kuang, where he was overtaken by an inundation and had to seek refuge in a deserted temple, living for some ten days on roots. From this perilous position he was saved by the exertions of the local magistrate, but he succumbed next day to the effects of eating roast beef and drinking white wine to
