No More Learning

1 This refers either to the recall of the northwestern armies or to Suzong? s Uighur allies. 2 Probably referring to the appointment of Du Fu? s friend Li Yu as Prince of Hanzhong. Since imperial tax revenues from the lower Yangzi could no longer be sent up the Grand Canal to the Yellow River, the route up the Han River through Hanzhong was essential. 3 ? Attached tassels,? zhuiliu ? ? , was an old figure for the way the feudal lords were attached to the ruler. The inverted form used here, liuzhui ? ? , was used in Liu Kun? s (271? 318) famous memorial during the breakup of the Western Jin: ?
The peril of the ruling house is something like banner tassels attached? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . This seems to be Du Fu? s sense here, particularly in the context of the more tightly woven ? net? of imperial rule. 4 This was Li Yu, raised from Duke of Longxi to Prince of Hanzhong. 5 Suggesting engagement in his duties.