 Most of what is known of Du Fu 's life comes from his poems . His paternal grandfather was Du Shenyan , a noted politician and poet during the reign of Empress Wu . Du Fu was born in 712 ; the exact birthplace is unknown , except that it was near Luoyang , Henan province ( Gong county is a favourite candidate ) . In later life , he considered himself to belong to the capital city of Chang 'an , ancestral hometown of the Du family . 
 Most of what is known of Du Fu <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>life <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>comes</mark></a> from his poems . His paternal grandfather was Du Shenyan , a noted politician and poet during the reign of Empress Wu . Du Fu was born in 712 ; the exact birthplace is unknown , except that it was near Luoyang , Henan province ( Gong county <a href='drop_aux' title='3'><mark>is</mark></a>a favourite candidate ) . In later life , he considered himself to belong to the capital city of Chang <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'</mark></a>n , ancestral hometown of the Du family . 
Most of wat is known of Du Fu  life come from his poems . His paternal grandfather was Du Shenyan , a noted politician and poet during the reign of Empress Wu . Du Fu was born in 712 ; the exact birthplace is unknown , except dat it was near Luoyang , Henan province ( Gong county a favourite candidate ) . In later life , he considered himself to belong to the capital city of Chang  n , ancestral hometown of da Du family .