The Tang Dynasty introduced a system of imperial censors from sub8th to 3rd grade. The systematization of imperial censors satisfied the scholar’s political expectation for advising the government on the one hand and on the other helped to stiffen the power of advice, weakening the scholar’s sense of political mission for advising the government. This phenomenon was well highlighted in Bai Juyi’s experience as imperial official. In contrast to Bai, Du Fu, whose highest rank was no more than an 8thgrade consultant, never neglected his duty as an imperial censor. Similarly, Bai Juyi used to be an assistant consultant, in which he dared to state his advice frankly despite the risk of his life. However, his position as an imperial censor didn’t last long, and he no longer put on the airs of an imperial censor. Through the comparison, Du and Bai represented the two main modes of government advising, Du as a missionary imperial censor but Bai as a functional censor.

Du Fu; Bai Juyi; consultantship; psychology as an imperial censor