Du Fu Thatched Cottage

*Du Fu Thatched Cottage|Self-salvation and Salvation of Others Shaoling (Du Fu) lived a life of great ups and downs. He started from a high point, born into a prestigious family, and showed exceptional talent from a young age. Later, he faced disappointment in the imperial examinations, wandered during wartime chaos, experienced family decline, and lost close relatives. The thatched cottage, built with the help of friends, provided him with relatively stable years. After drifting half his life, he eventually died on a boat on the Xiang River. The thatched cottage has a classical garden style. Though not as elegant as Suzhou gardens in the south, it still has a poetic tranquility. Although everything has been rebuilt, the location remains the same, and its significance endures. Looking back at Shaoling's life from others' perspectives, it was twisted, difficult, unfair, and sorrowful—an inevitable tragedy in the turbulent times of feudal society. The four years of seclusion in the thatched cottage were perhaps his most peaceful time, during which he created over 200 poems. His works expressed his own melancholy, the sufferings of common people, and concerns for the country. When life is like a temporary journey on a boat, the self-contentment brought by creative work becomes infinitely magnified and cherished, continuously providing inspiring energy for dark days—this was perhaps Shaoling's way of self-salvation. Mental struggles are common for contemporary people. When we are shaken by the torrents of our times, we can look at how Shaoling faced circumstances that could drive one mad, yet remained positive and faced reality—truly remarkable. Despite experiencing such life setbacks and witnessing human suffering, he maintained a broad-minded and optimistic outlook, writing resilient works that have been passed down through generations, achieving self-salvation while helping others find their way.