據記(ji)載“川口有(you)唐詩 ,杜拾遺祠(ci),記(ji)像石室,登望(wang)杜亭,得地高爽,俯瞰河流,祠(ci)有(you)石刊墨人騷客多賦憑吊”即此。
杜甫,字(zi)子(zi)(zi)美,詩(shi)中(zhong)常(chang)自(zi)稱少陵野老(lao),是(shi)唐(tang)代偉大(da)詩(shi)人(ren)。自(zi)幼(you)好(hao)學,知識(shi)淵博(bo),青年(nian)(nian)(nian)時期很有遠大(da)的(de)(de)(de)政治(zhi)抱負。天(tian)寶十(shi)四年(nian)(nian)(nian)(公(gong)元(yuan)75年(nian)(nian)(nian))七月(yue)(yue)暴發(fa)(fa)了(le)(le)(le)(le)震驚唐(tang)王朝的(de)(de)(de)“安(an)史(shi)之亂”。戰亂一下子(zi)(zi)把時任右衛(wei)率府胄(zhou)曹參軍(jun)的(de)(de)(de)杜甫拋入(ru)(ru)了(le)(le)(le)(le)社會的(de)(de)(de)最下層,他只得攜子(zi)(zi)挈婦,與民(min)(min)眾一起開(kai)始(shi)了(le)(le)(le)(le)逃亡(wang)的(de)(de)(de)生涯(ya)。765年(nian)(nian)(nian)5月(yue)(yue),杜甫先(xian)從(cong)(cong)秦先(xian)(今陜西蒲城縣)出(chu)發(fa)(fa),艱(jian)辛(xin)跋涉來到(dao)延安(an)州(zhou)(今富(fu)縣)羌(qiang)村(cun)落戶(hu)。為(wei)(wei)了(le)(le)(le)(le)去靈武尋找肅(su)宗,參加平叛,杜甫又從(cong)(cong)羌(qiang)村(cun)出(chu)發(fa)(fa)北(bei)上(shang),經石(shi)門,過(guo)徐寨,上(shang)萬花山,沿川到(dao)達延安(an)七里鋪。途抵安(an)塞蘆子(zi)(zi)關附近,不幸被叛軍(jun)虜擒(qin),押解長(chang)安(an)。九個月(yue)(yue)后(hou),公(gong)元(yuan)757年(nian)(nian)(nian)4月(yue)(yue),詩(shi)人(ren)終于冒著(zhu)生命危(wei)險,從(cong)(cong)小路穿越兩(liang)(liang)軍(jun)對峙(zhi)的(de)(de)(de)防線,投(tou)奔風翔,被肅(su)宗任為(wei)(wei)左拾遺,后(hou)因(yin)諫救(jiu)方而遭貶,再度回州(zhou)羌(qiang)村(cun)探親(qin)。杜甫兩(liang)(liang)次延安(an)之行(xing),是(shi)他一生中(zhong)所經歷的(de)(de)(de)極(ji)其(qi)重要事件(jian),使他更加了(le)(le)(le)(le)解了(le)(le)(le)(le)民(min)(min)情,體察了(le)(le)(le)(le)民(min)(min)苦,使詩(shi)人(ren)的(de)(de)(de)“愛(ai)國憂民(min)(min)”思(si)想更加堅(jian)定(ding),在這(zhe)一段的(de)(de)(de)詩(shi)作中(zhong)滲入(ru)(ru)了(le)(le)(le)(le)豐富(fu)的(de)(de)(de)思(si)想感情,因(yin)此(ci)才寫出(chu)了(le)(le)(le)(le)《三(san)(san)觀(guan)水漲》、《晚行(xing)口號》、《玉華宮(gong)》、《避(bi)地(di)》、《得舍弟消息》、《羌(qiang)村(cun)三(san)(san)首》、《北(bei)征(zheng)》、《彭(peng)衙行(xing)》、《喜聞(wen)官軍(jun)已臨(lin)賊境》、《收(shou)京三(san)(san)首》等十(shi)多首著(zhu)名詩(shi)篇。這(zhe)些詩(shi)深刻地(di)反(fan)映(ying)了(le)(le)(le)(le)當(dang)時的(de)(de)(de)的(de)(de)(de)社會生活,揭露(lu)了(le)(le)(le)(le)統治(zhi)階級的(de)(de)(de)殘酷剝削和壓迫,對勞(lao)動人(ren)民(min)(min)的(de)(de)(de)疾苦寄(ji)予(yu)無限的(de)(de)(de)同情,表現了(le)(le)(le)(le)詩(shi)人(ren)崇高的(de)(de)(de)愛(ai)國主義思(si)想。
延(yan)安(an)人民為(wei)了紀念這位偉大(da)的(de)詩人,把他(ta)在延(yan)安(an)經(jing)過的(de)川道取名為(wei)“杜(du)甫川”,并在他(ta)睡(shui)過的(de)地(di)方(fang)建(jian)起(qi)了“杜(du)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)祠(ci)(ci)”作紀念之地(di)。杜(du)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)祠(ci)(ci)建(jian)于何年(nian)(nian),不得詳考,在公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)元1040年(nian)(nian),時任延(yan)州知(zhi)(zhi)事范仲淹曾親筆題(ti)書“杜(du)甫川”三(san)字刻(ke)(ke)于石(shi)崖,可見此時已有(you)此祠(ci)(ci)。清道光(guang)23年(nian)(nian)(公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)元1843年(nian)(nian))膚施縣(今延(yan)安(an))知(zhi)(zhi)事陳炳(bing)林亦書“少陵川”三(san)字刻(ke)(ke)于崖壁。道光(guang)27年(nian)(nian)(公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)元1847年(nian)(nian)),重(zhong)建(jian)了祠(ci)(ci)堂和望(wang)杜(du)亭,石(shi)門(men)兩側有(you)石(shi)刻(ke)(ke)對聯(lian)(lian)“清輝近接州月,壯(zhuang)策長雄蘆子關”,和祠(ci)(ci)內石(shi)窟長聯(lian)(lian)里外(wai)相映(ying)成趣,頗具文彩。到同治年(nian)(nian)間,杜(du)公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)祠(ci)(ci)遭兵毀,光(guang)緒5年(nian)(nian)(公(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)元1879年(nian)(nian))又重(zhong)修(xiu)。地(di)方(fang)政府和旅游部門(men)又專門(men)撥(bo)款維修(xiu)擴建(jian),除恢復重(zhong)修(xiu)了原有(you)祠(ci)(ci)堂、摩崖石(shi)刻(ke)(ke)、拓片(pian)、楹聯(lian)(lian)外(wai),還(huan)新建(jian)了亭臺、展室、成為(wei)國內外(wai)游客經(jing)常光(guang)顧的(de)地(di)方(fang)。