A Poet's Playful Tease Carries Deep Admiration for a Friend's Craft

A playful exchange between ancient Chinese poets Li Bai and Du Fu offers a window into their distinct approaches to verse and their deep friendship. Li Bai, known for his spontaneous and free-flowing style, encountered Du Fu, whose poetry is characterized by its deliberate craft and weighty themes.

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Meeting Du Fu at the head of Ban'ga Mountain, I saw him wearing a bamboo hat under the midday sun. I asked, 'Why have you become so thin since we parted? It must be from the hardship of writing poetry in the past.'

Li Bai's poem, "Jokingly Given to Du Fu," describes seeing his friend looking gaunt under the midday sun, wearing a bamboo hat. He asks why Du Fu has become so thin since their last meeting, humorously concluding it must be from the sheer effort of writing poetry.

While some interpretations once saw this as mockery, the author argues for a warmer reading. Li Bai's words, though framed as a jest, carry genuine concern and admiration. He recognizes that Du Fu's leanness stems not from idleness but from the profound struggle to capture the world's sorrows and complexities within his poems.

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If Li Bai's poetry surges like the scent of wine, Du Fu's poetry is heavy and solid like long-forged iron. The two men's methods differed, but neither was lighter than the other.

This lighthearted jab, therefore, is also a testament to Du Fu's poetic depth. Li Bai acknowledges the heavy burden Du Fu carries in his art, validating the seriousness and significance of his work. The enduring appeal of this seemingly simple poem lies in the sincerity of Li Bai's understanding and affection for his friend's artistic endeavor.

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Rather, Li Bai recognized Du Fu's struggles. He knew that Du Fu had not grown thin in vain, but because he was trying to capture the world's pain within his poems.