Du Fu Thatched Cottage facts for kids
Entrance gate of Du Fu Thatched Cottage
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| Location | Chengdu, Sichuan, China |
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The Du Fu Thatched Cottage (Chinese: 杜甫草堂; pinyin: Dù Fǔ Cǎotáng) is a special park and museum. It covers about 24 acres. This beautiful place honors a famous Chinese poet named Du Fu. It is located in the western part of Chengdu, China. The park is right next to the Huanhua Xi, also known as Flower Rinsing Creek. In 1961, the Chinese government recognized the cottage as an important National Heritage site.
Contents
History of Du Fu's Cottage
Du Fu's Life in Chengdu
In the year 759, the poet Du Fu moved to Chengdu. He built a simple hut with a thatched roof. This hut was close to the Flower Rinsing Creek. Du Fu lived there for four years. This time in the "thatched hut" was very important for his writing. He wrote 240 poems during these years. Some of his famous poems from this period include "My Thatched Hut was torn apart by Autumn Gales" and "The Prime Minister of Shu".
Why the Cottage is Important Today
Today, Du Fu Thatched Cottage is a popular place. People who admire Du Fu come from all over the world. They visit to show their respect for the great poet.
How the Cottage Was Maintained
In ancient China, many wealthy families helped care for this cottage. They donated money for many decades. This helped keep the cottage in good condition. Donating money was also a way to show how rich and powerful a family was. The names of these donors were often carved on a wall. This was done to thank them for their generosity. For example, a branch of the Zhang family, who ruled part of Hubei at the time, was known for their donations.
Exploring the Du Fu Thatched Cottage Museum
The original hut Du Fu built was destroyed long ago. The main buildings you see in the park today were built much later. They were first constructed in the early 1500s during the Ming dynasty. Then, they were greatly repaired and updated in 1811 during the Qing dynasty.
The Du Fu Thatched Cottage has several interesting areas to explore:
Du Gongbu Memorial Hall
This hall is called Gōngbù Cí in Chinese. Inside, you can learn about Du Fu's life and his many poems. There is a library area that shows Du Fu's published works. Some of these are very old, rare books printed using wood carvings from the Song dynasty. There is also a section with many books of Du Fu's poems translated into different languages.
Du's Reconstructed Thatched Cottage
This is a rebuilt version of Du Fu's original thatched hut. It is divided into different rooms. You can see a study, a bedroom, and a kitchen. This helps visitors imagine how Du Fu lived and worked during his time there.
The Hall of Great Poets
This hall is known as Dàyǎ Táng in Chinese. It is an exhibition hall with a very large mural painting. The painting is 16 meters long and 4 meters tall. It shows scenes from two of Du Fu's famous poems: "My Thatched Hut Wrecked by the Autumn Wind" and "A Song of War Chariots". You can also see statues of twelve other important Chinese poets here. These poets include Qu Yuan, Tao Qian, Li Bai, Wang Wei, Su Shi, Li Qingzhao, and Lu You.
Gallery
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Gongbu Shrine in the cottage
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Shaoling Thatched Cottage Tablet Pavilion
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See also
- Chinese architecture
- Kuizhou, another place where Du Fu lived in a thatched cottage
- List of museums
- Museums in China
