The Story of Du Mu and Zhang Haohao (Du Mu and Zhang Haohao)

This is a love story buried in the smoke and clouds of the Tang Dynasty, where the charming scholar Du Mu and the young singer Zhang Haohao fell in love but couldn’t bear it. Since ancient times, the names of women in brothels seem to be reduplicated characters? Su Xiaoxiao, Zhang Haohao, Li Shishi, Chen Yuanyuan… Carefully read the name of the female protagonist today, “Haohao”. In the gentle name, there is charm, talent, and wind and moon, which should be an excellent omen. But he was abandoned after getting married and sold alcohol.
Why is the most heartbroken love of poets in the world still in the brothel, and the least fortunate is still in the brothel? The tragedy and incompleteness of love have long been talked about by people. Du Mu’s poetry and calligraphy are both excellent. In his later years, he burned most of his manuscripts without leaving a single word, which is a kind of realm, but “Zhang Haohao’s Poetry” was preserved.
In October of the second year of the Dazhong era, Shen Chuanshi appointed the Right Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Personnel as the Jiangxi Observation Commissioner. Du Mu followed Shen Chuanshi for five years as a staff member in Hongzhou, Xuanzhou, and other places. During this period, the talented Du Mu met the famous courtesan Zhang Haohao from Huzhou.
That was in the third year of the Dahe era, at Shen Chuanshi’s mansion in Nanchang. At that time, Du Mu was not yet married, charming and talented, while Zhang Haohao was beautiful and intelligent, proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting. When attending banquets, the two often meet. Zhang Haohao admires Du Mu’s full of talent, and Du Mu falls in love with Zhang Haohao’s exceptional color and art skills. They are boating in the lake, holding the sunset in their hands, talented scholars and beautiful women, which is infinitely beautiful. It should have left a good story, but surprisingly, Shen Chuanshi’s younger brother also took a liking to Zhang Haohao and quickly took her as his concubine.
As a famous courtesan in Shen Chuanshi’s family, Zhang Haohao had no control over his own fate, and Du Mu held a low official position, so he could only accept the empty words of regret. When Zhang Haohao got married, he left a poem: Lonely lamp, lingering moon, accompanied by idle sorrow, several sad autumns. How can we repay the Old Testament with sorrow? From now on, we will thank Feng Liu.
When Du Mu saw this poem, his heart was filled with sadness. He rushed to Huzhou overnight to meet him, but little did he know that Zhang Haohao felt guilty about his marriage and refused to meet him. Du Mu lingered in Huzhou for several days and had to leave sadly. After many years, Zhang Haohao and Du Mu never saw each other again.
Until April of 833 AD, in the seventh year of the Dahe era, Shen Chuanshi was promoted to the position of Assistant Minister of Personnel within the Ministry of Personnel. Du Mu also left Xuanzhou and went to serve as a curtain official at the position of Niu Sengru, the military governor of Huainan in Yangzhou. He first served as a magistrate and later became the chief secretary, with the title of Supervising Imperial Censorate in the capital.
In the ninth year of the Dahe era, 835 AD, Shen Chuanshi passed away while serving as a deputy minister of the Ministry of Personnel. In the same year, Du Mu went to Chang’an to serve as a supervisory censor, ending his seven-year life as a staff member. Although the rank of the supervising censor was only eighth grade, his authority was to inspect hundreds of officials, patrol counties, and supervise prisons. Du Mu returned to the capital to take office, which was full of hope. However, a political upheaval was brewing in the court, and like-minded friends were being excluded one after another. Du Mu also claimed that he was sick and soon became the supervising censor’s branch in the eastern capital. He left Chang’an and came to Luoyang, where his duties were leisurely. He met with local famous scholars through poetry or accompanied them on tours.
Not long after, I accidentally met an old friend at a hotel in Dongcheng, who was Zhang Haohao, a singer I had known before in Hongzhou and Xuanzhou. After learning about her experience, Du Mu felt very sympathetic and heartbroken. His heart was filled with sadness and sorrow, and he wrote a long five character ancient poem called “Zhang Haohao’s Poetry” to offer comfort.
Zhang Haohao’s poem (excerpt): Meeting again in Los Angeles, I am the one in charge. Why do you blame me for suffering? The young man has white beard. Is Pengyou here now, and can Luotuo be even more absent? After the gate wailed, the water clouds mourned the beginning of the scene. The slanting sun hangs withered willows, and the cool breeze creates a corner of the seat. Shed tears from all over, sing a short song and chat about a book.
After marrying Shen Shushi as a concubine in Xuanzhou, Zhang Haohao was abandoned and fled to Luoyang, selling alcohol in a small hotel. It is said that at the end of the story, Du Mu died of depression in Chang’an. Zhang Haohao heard the grief and despair, and went to Chang’an to worship without telling his family. He remembered the countless sorrows of love and separation, with wind carrying hatred and rain carrying sorrow. Unable to bear the sorrow of separation, he even committed suicide in front of Du Mu’s tomb. Put an end to this desolate story!
You treat me well, I treat you even better!