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This article is part of CGTN’s “China in Ink” initiative, designed to present the rich heritage of classic Chinese literature to a worldwide audience.
Qu Yuan (340-278 BC) is celebrated as the pioneer poet of China, renowned for his contributions to “Chu Ci” (“Songs of Chu”), the second oldest anthology, which heralded the advent of romanticism in Chinese literary history.
The state of Chu, once deemed “barbarian” under the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046-771 BC), flourished in the fertile Yangtze Valley, now known as Hubei Province. After enduring years of northern invasions, Chu’s leaders ultimately broke away from Zhou dominance in 706 BC. For four centuries, they remained formidable foes against northern states, until their defeat in 223 BC at the hands of Qin, which laid the foundations for the first great Chinese empire.
Born into the ruling class, Qu Yuan’s rise coincided with King Huai’s reign (r. 328-296 BC). However, due to political intrigue, he faced exile, ultimately taking his own life in defiance of his mistreatment and the decline of Chu. His most notable poems, composed during his exile, express deep sorrow for his homeland. The Dragon Boat Festival, celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar, honors his legacy.
Despite the complexities of his work, particularly in “Li Sao,” interpreted variably as “Encountering Sorrow” or “Leaving Sorrow,” archaeology has illuminated aspects of his life and the culture he represented. Artifacts, including the renowned chime bells of Marquis Yi of Zeng, have revealed the sophisticated legacy of Chu, contradicting its historical label as “barbaric.” These chime bells, discovered in 1978 and inscribed with musical notation, exemplify the rich artistic culture of the time, alongside representations of phoenixes, which play a symbolic role in “Li Sao”.
Source: news.cgtn.com
