Du Fu

Du Fu (712–770) was a Chinese Tang dynasty poet widely regarded as one of China's greatest poets, noted for his moral seriousness and mastery of classical forms. His work records historical turmoil, personal hardship, and social concern; the cited line reflects homesickness and longing beneath the autumn moon.

Quotes by Du Fu

Quotes: 1

"From tonight the dew grows white; the moon shines brightest over my hometown." — Du Fu

Moonlight, Dew, and the Pull of Home

Finally, the couplet speaks fluently to contemporary lives stretched by migration and conflict. Screens now carry faces where letters once failed, yet the ritual endures: people still step outside and look up, trusting a shared moon to narrow the miles. In refugee camps, dorm rooms, and night-shift parking lots, the same quiet arithmetic holds—tonight plus light equals home. Thus, Du Fu’s lines continue to guide us, suggesting that when place is lost to circumstance, attention can rebuild it. We inherit his method: read the weather, borrow the moon, and let longing find its brightest form. [...]

Created on: 10/6/2025