Du Fu’s famous saying about reading: Reading thousands of volumes, writing is like a spirit.

Meaning: Having read thousands of books, writing poems and articles is like having divine help.

Full poem:

"Twenty-Two Rhymes for Wei Zuocheng"

If a dandy does not starve to death, he will miss his body if he is a scholar. My father-in-law, please listen quietly. I'll ask you to explain. ?

When I was young, I was a guest of the state. I have read hundreds of thousands of books and written like a god. ?

The poem praises the heroic enemy, and the poem looks at the son and the bride. Li Yong wanted to know his friends, and Wang Han wanted to tell his neighbors. ?

He claims to be quite forward-looking, and he immediately ascends to the important road. To the kings Yao and Shun, and to make customs pure. ?

This meaning is actually depressed, and the singing is not hidden. Riding a donkey for thirteen years, traveling in Beijing and China.

Translation:

Children from rich families will not starve to death, but poor scholars mostly bring trouble to themselves.

Master Wei, you can listen quietly and I will tell you my past.

When I was a boy, I had long been a guest visiting the royal capital.

I have read tens of thousands of books by heart, and when I write articles, I feel like I have a knack for writing.

My poetry rivals that of Yang Xiong, and my poetry is close to that of Cao Zhi.

Li Yong sought an opportunity to meet with me, and Wang Han was willing to become my close neighbor.

Thinking that he is an extraordinary and outstanding person, he must soon be in a position of power.

Assist the king to make him superior to Yao and Shun, and make the social customs honest and honest.

All the ambitions in life have come to nothing, and singing in sorrow is definitely not about leisure and retirement.

I rode a donkey for thirteen years and spent many New Years in Chang'an.

Knocked on the door of the rich in the morning, followed the fat horse in the evening and was covered in dust.

Eating other people’s leftovers makes people secretly feel hardship everywhere.

Not long after he was recruited by the emperor, he suddenly felt that his ambition could be stretched.

But I am like a bird that breaks its wings and falls from the sky, and like a carp that cannot jump over the dragon gate.

I am very ashamed that you are so generous to me. I know that you treat me with sincerity.

Recommend my poems to the officials, recite the good lines, and praise the fresh style.

I want to imitate Gong Yu and let others promote me, but I can't bear to be as poor as Yuan Xian.

How can I make my heart depressed and angry, always moving forward and backward?

I will run eastward into the sea and will soon leave the ancient Western Qin.

I miss the majestic Zhongnan Mountain, and I also want to look back at the clear shores of the Wei River.

I want to repay your "kindness of a meal" and say goodbye to the many ministers who care about me.

Let me appear like a white gull in the mighty waves of smoke, floating thousands of miles away. Who can capture me?

Creative background:

This poem was written in the seventh year of Tianbao reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty (748), when Du Fu was 37 years old and lived in Chang'an. Wei Zuocheng refers to Wei Ji, who was Zuocheng of Shangshu Province at that time. He appreciated Du Fu's poems very much and expressed his concern for them. In the sixth year of Tianbao (747), Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty issued an order for people with skills from all over the world to go to Beijing to take the exam. Li Linfu ordered the minister to take the provincial exam, and refused to admit all those who took the exam. At this time, Du Fu failed the examination and was trapped in Chang'an. He felt lonely and wanted to leave the capital for a trip, so he wrote this poem to say goodbye to Wei Ji. In the poem, he stated his talents and ambitions, expressed his frustrations in career and poor life, and also criticized the darkness of reality.