The 'Du Fu is Busy' (杜甫很忙) phenomenon began in 2012 in China, celebrating the 1,300th anniversary of the legendary Tang Dynasty poet. It started when students began uploading photos of their textbook illustrations of Du Fu, which they had hilariously doodled over to depict him in various modern roles—ranging from a sniper and a delivery man to a rock star and a superhero. The trend quickly became a massive viral sensation on Weibo, symbolizing a playful rebellion against rigid academic standards and a creative way for the youth to engage with historical figures. Today, the meme represents the universal urge to procrastinate through classroom art and remains one of the most iconic examples of Chinese internet subculture.