Du Fu - “Poet
Historian” or “Poet Sage” … who
lived in the 8th century (712 – 770 AD) ...
 |
| Du Fu c/o Wikipedia - an artist's impression |
… at the time here in Britain the Anglo-Saxons ruled
from the 5th Century to 1066 AD (William the Conqueror’s invasion) …
during which time the Vikings marauded and over time (770 – 1066 AD) integrated
…
There was a biographical programme about Du Fu – which I
found really interesting … giving me some insight into the interior of China …
Two adapted quotes …
 |
| In the deep sky: Scorpius in the Milky Way |
It may be almost as hard for friends to meet again …
... as for Orion’ and Scorpius’ stars in earth’s firmament
to halt the precession …
 |
| Reconciliation by Josefina Vasconcellos |
We humans tread lightly on this world … can we look to
leave it in safe hands … caring ones, empathetic ones … for the poor,
displaced, discouraged … all peoples – everyone needs to be thought about … and
remembered …
Take care, going carefully into each day … our world is strange today ... lets bring it back together into the compassionate one we'd all like to live in ...
Du Fu - BBC 4 tv programme: China's greatest poet
If you're not that knowledgeable about China's interior - there's a very good map in the Wiki post on Du Fu ... as he did not travel east to the coastal regions. He lived during the Tang Dynasty ...
If you're not that knowledgeable about China's interior - there's a very good map in the Wiki post on Du Fu ... as he did not travel east to the coastal regions. He lived during the Tang Dynasty ...
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
45 comments:
Glorious stained glass pic. Happy Easter, Hilary, however you are celebrating it.
Probably all countries have been invaded back and forth over the centuries, particularly island countries that were easy to sail around. If I had been a Scandinavian and needed to do trading or military work elsewhere, I too would have been looking for a warmer environment.
The problem with William the Conqueror and his men was that they had been Viking marauders themselves, only a few generations earlier. Hopefully they had become more cultivated and more refined in France, during those couple of generations :)
We will bring it back together. It's Easter weekend, which is all about salvation.
It would be lovely to think we can start normal life again as a more caring society, Hilary. I loved the stained glass window and the thoughts from Du Fu. Thank you!.
Book Man loves Du Fu... I'll have to tell him to keep an eye out for the documentary.
I hope you have a lovely Easter, even if celebrations are low-key.
Good morning Hilary: I really do hope we learn something from this pandemic and mend our ways, especially as we relate to the environment. We are seeing how even a moderate relaxation of human activity improves air quality, facilitates the recovery of ecosystems, and I think that in a perverse sort of way, enforced confinement has brought out the better side of humanity - not in all cases but in many. Stay well, Hilary. We need your wisdom and your highly entertaining and informative blog to keep us company. With my very best wishes, David
Now more than ever, people in each county need to remember that we're all in this together and need to solve it together. It doesn't help when leaders look after their own at the expense of others :(
I like the reconciliation statue - a lot of that needs to be going on these days here in the states.
I hope you have a wonderful and blessed Easter. Love, sandie
@ Nila – I loved the stained glass, it comes from a church in Scotland – Colmonell, Ayrshire. Thank you - peacefully as is life right now …
@ Hels – the history here is extraordinarily curtailed and brief … but sort of covered the idea – ie du Fu lived in the 8th century, while the Anglo-Saxons ruled here … until the Norman Vikings decided to invade.
William’s men – took what they wanted, realised there was a good administrative system here – so kept that … as long as it conformed to them … if not brutality reigned: as in the Harrowing of the North.
@ Alex – we will recover from this period of time … however long it lasts …
@ Val – wouldn’t it be just … history is unfolding before us. Thanks re Colmonell’s stained glass window… while Du Fu’s thoughts I was so interested in …
@ Jz – thanks so much for emailing more on Du Fu – and I’ll be in touch and properly read your notes and learn more about Book Man. It’ll be quiet here – tis quiet!
@ David – gosh it would be wonderful if we can get the world back on a steady keel … human and environmental; I’ve noticed there’s a lot more bird activity and it’s beautifully silent much of the time … I can hear myself!
I think my teachers would be amazed to read your comment – perhaps age has improved me! The blog has increased my knowledge that’s for sure … it is very eclectic – but I’m so glad it’s the path I took.
@ Ian – I know it’s embarrassing to be human sometimes – I can’t believe what some leaders are doing … if only we could change their spots – but suspect not. We definitely need to put the caring back into life …
@ Sandie – yes the Reconciliation statue is a favourite of mine – I gather it’s outside Coventry Cathedral, which was rebuilt after being bombed out in WW2.
Thanks for all your thoughts … each and everyone of you – have peaceful and loving Easters - Hilary
Don’t forget, you can block, or send to junk, unnecessary mail. I’ll also try to delete. Do you have Sunflower Splendor, three thousand years of Chinese Poetry, or Poems of the Late Tang? Both great books x🌹(printed in America! but translated beautifully)
Beautiful words from Du Fu. It is a strange world. I hope with all the sadness that is happening that people will come together to make some positive changes in the wake of what has been happening. I am sorry for all the sickness and death- but hope that this pause in the world will give people the chance to see what is important and what it not. To see ways we can improve our impact on our planet. May we all slow down and be kinder to others, and ourselves. :)
Hugs!
~Jess
Hari OM
Thank you for this intro, Hilary - I shall now go in search of more! YAM xx
I'd never heard of Du Fu, but I like his words.
Hopefully we remember and change things for the next time something hits. Because there will be a next time and it could be a lot worse.
Let's bring the world back into the world we wish to live in filled with compassion, one can hope.
Stay safe - bright blessings
@ Carole Anne – yes thanks re the tips. I haven’t ever come across Chinese poetry or poems before – but this biographical take on Du Fu really interested me – more probably for his journey … poetry: I need to take some courses!! Thanks for the thoughts though …
@ Jess – thank you … I loved the documentary on Du Fu. Love your words … about the times now. I totally agree … may we all slow down and be kinder to others, and ourselves …
@ Yam – that’s great … I hope you’ll enjoy the documentary, as too the background in Wikipedia … while in your searches for more information …
@ John – no, nor had I heard of Du Fu til the BBC4 programme appeared … actually it first came out in 2013 I think. I’m afraid his words were adjusted by me … but sort of fitted in to the post …
@ Diane – there will be other pandemics … I would hope we learn from this output too – it’s too terrible, and as you say it could be much worse next time …
@ Truedessa – I do hope we can bring compassion back into the world … let’s hope …
To you all to confirm Truedessa’s lovely words: stay safe – bright blessings … Hilary
Our current strange times are compelling us to tread a little more lightly - which I hope continues.
I am seeing a groundswell of compassion which I hope reaches tsunami status.
Words for the ages.
Happy Easter, Hilary.
Such a lovely Easter post, Hilary. Hope you have a wonderful Easter Sunday. Cheers and my best, Denise
I didn’t see this - but I have been to Du Fu’s cottage in Chengdu!
Lovely thoughts.
I like to think, actually, I need to think that every hardship humans go through together is creating a more compassionate world. Otherwise, what is it all for?
I hope you are keeping well. Look at me, visiting twice in a week! It's still very cold here, and I can't possibly do anymore housework.
Andrea
Hi Hilary,
Wishing you and yours a happy Easter, and if you're staying home (sorry, couldn't help it) have a great/relaxing holiday weekend!!
PS: Thanks so much for stopping by my blog these last few weeks and I'm sorry I've been a slacker again at returning the always appreciated gesture :)
compassionate in the world we want to live in.
You summed it up perfectly.
We need to think globally, not shrink in, but think outward, work together and all countries find a solution, vaccine, etc to combat a singular enemy (Covid 19).
I can only wish our narrow minded Prez chooses the right course. Alas, I do not feel confident, but want to convey how he does not represent what so many want.
Happy Easter - normally a time of renewal and hope. Take care
Thank you Hilary for this truly inspirational post. Love to delve into Chinese history too, so much wealth and wisdom. Too bad Mao tried to destroy it all. But they have survived and their culture, history and traditions have not been forgotten.
Would you be so kind as to enlighten me on the whereabouts of the statue Rreconciliation, Spain I expect, but in front of which cathédrale ?
And the stained glass window ?
12 years ago, I was still in Eastbourne , enjoying my solitary spring break. I stayed at the Tudor House B&B. Do you know it ? Does it still exist ? It’s just behind the seafront white and yellow houses, East promenade. I was looking at my photos of my walks on the cliffs. Never got as far as the nine sisters, though, so will definitely be back some day.
Take care and keep writing. Happy Easter. Though, let’s not forget it commemorates a tragedy of human cruelty and suffering. How did it become cause for celebration and eating chocolate ! Man’s memory is full of flaws and his mind too manipulative for my liking. Can he really be changed ?
Happy Easter if you celebrate.
Beautiful post and images. Stay safe! :-)
Greetings from London.
@ EC – the times are very strange, but like you I do hope we can bring more compassion and fairness into this world; also think of others first … no self …
@ Sandra – thank you … we need to think back, as well as think forward for our children’s future …
@ Denise – many thanks …
@ Anabel – oh way to go … having visited Chendu …that must have been amazing … lucky you!!
@ Liz – thank you …
@ Andrea – I’ll be over … so it’s good to see you. I would hope that as we work our way through this darkness – we bring the light forth. We’re about to have an Arctic snap – it’s been glorious for the last few days …
@ Mark – just me here … being of the elderly vintage – I’m trying to sort life for the years ahead – a job someone else doesn’t have to do! You’ve got lots on your plate – so take care of you …
@ Joanne – thank you … trying to keep it simple, but very relevant. You’re so right we need to work globally, as well as think globally. People power will help … I hope – business isn’t the ‘be all’ … people are. Let’s hope renewal and compassion in world leaders comes to the fore …
@ Susan – thank you … I know nothing again about Chinese history and perhaps I’d better have a closer look – as you say so much wealth and wisdom there. So much to learn about though … one day, I suspect …
The sculpture by Josephina de Vasconcellos is outside Coventry Cathedral – the one that was bombed in the war – then was rebuilt in the 1950s. There are articles in Wiki on both of them … the sculptress and the Cathedral.
The stained glass window I found and is in Colmonell Church, Ayrshire … the windows I saw in a Stincharvalley site relating to the area – donated by a wealthy patron.
Yes the Tudor House is the other end of the promenade from where I am. It’ll be good to see you here sometime … we shall need visitors!
I realise it’s a religious festival – it’s not something I personalise here … I do the history part and may well have done that in another year’s post – and I didn’t want to write about the virus … so when I saw the programme about Du Fu – that came into my posting brain. You’re right though – but people/populations change … some of us still remember.
@ Ro – good to see you …
@ ACIL - many thanks ... something a little different - Du Fu is pretty interesting though ...
Thanks everyone – we need each other now – so take care and look after each other at this Eastertide and beyond – all the best - Hilary
Alex said it, we need a bit of salvation.
I know a bit about the interior of China because a friend's daughter was there for a year or so teach and she travelled and blogged.
A country I would love to have visited. Even if they keep sending us viruses.
There's a lot of wisdom there, and introspection. Happy Easter, friend. Enjoy the peace.
Good one. One thing that is being realised all over now is how human beings and the world around us is all interconnected.
I didn't know about Du Fu so thanks for introducing me to a poet I was unfamiliar with. Those quotes are so interesting. Happy Easter, Hilary and have a great week!
@ Jo - yes Alex always leaves appropriate and wise comments. I guess anything one learns about China is very interesting - must have been fun to follow your friend's blog and news.
@ Jacqui - it was one of those posts ... a few thoughts as we go into this strange time ...
@ Pradeep - yes we are all interconnected aren't we ... I just hope we can use it to the world's advantage ...
@ Anstice - that's great ... that you can now look up more about Du Fu ... I must too. Please note the quotes are partly made up ... adapted to the post and the times ...
Thank you so much for visiting - take care all of you - for you and for your families - Hilary
Hoppy Easter, Hilary.
Happy Easter, Hilary.
I share your closing thought.
Let.s bring our world back together into the compassionate one we'd all like to live in.
Stay safe!
Another interesting post, my Easter was better then last years
A lovely introduction to Du Fu, Hilary. Love your mini biopics and snippets. Happy Easter <3
His words are as relevant today as they were when he wrote them. I knew nothing of him either, and you've inspired me to find out more.
I agree it's compassion / the best of people that will realign our world. Happy Monday Hilary.
Be well
~Moonie
During this global crisis, I've seen so many encouraging signs that we're all finding a bit more compassion for others. So hoping it will continue.
Yes, please yes, more empathy and caring would be the best way to come out of this pandemic. Hopes and prayers we all find that is the case!
Maybe we'll come out better after this pandemic.
Hope you are doing well!
@ Sandra – many thanks …
@ Donna – thank you … I do hope we can change the world for the better … definitely more compassionate … while for now, we all need to stay safe. I expect you would know about Du Fu after your time out in China …
@ Jo-Anne – that’s good your family had an easier Easter time …
@ Debby – that’s great … I hadn’t heard of Du Fu before, but his life really fascinated me – so am so happy some readers have enjoyed the introduction …
@ Keith – his words were slightly ‘updated’ by me … but that programme was fascinating …
@ Lesley – thank you … I do hope compassion in the people’s of this world will come to lead the world back to a better place ….
@ Elizabeth – I do hope it is coming – we so need it. And yes people are being more compassionate and helping each other in the neighbourhoods …
@ Renee – wouldn’t it help so much if we could establish that kind of society and ensure it continues as this crisis unwinds itself …
@ Sherry – I do hope so – it will make such a difference to everyone in the world in all countries …
Take care and stay safe … Hilary
How I would love to forward this post to the White House, so much in it to show what's required of a great leader. Of course it would fall on deaf ears, but still.......
Thanks Inger - that's really kind of you ... I'm just trying to remind us all - we need to be leaders and set examples for each of us. I pass to comment on the rest ... just would love to be in a period of compassion .. take care - Hilary
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