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QU YUAN BIOGRAPHY
Qu Yuan (c. 340–278 BC) was a Chinese poet and minister who lived during the Warring
States period of ancient China. He is known for his patriotism and contributions to
classical poetry and verses, especially through the poems of the Chu Ci anthology (also
known as The Songs of the South or Songs of Chu): a volume of poems attributed to or
considered to be inspired by his verse writing. Together with the Shi Jing, the Chu Ci is
one of the two greatest collections of ancient Chinese verse. He is also remembered as the
supposed origin of the Dragon Boat Festival.
Historical details about Qu Yuan's life are few, and his authorship of many Chu Ci poems
has been questioned at length.[4] However, he is widely accepted to have written Li Sao,
the most well-known of the Chu Ci poems. The first known reference to Qu Yuan
appears in a poem written in 174 BC by Jia Yi, an official from Luoyang who was
slandered by jealous officials and banished to Changsha by Emperor Wen of Han. While
traveling, he wrote a poem describing the similar fate of a previous "Qu Yuan."[5] Eighty
years later, the first known biography of Qu Yuan's life appeared in Han Dynasty
historian Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian, though it contains a number of
contradictory details.
Sima Qian's biography of Qu Yuan in the Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), though
circumstantial and probably influenced greatly by Sima's own identification with Qu, is
the only source of information on Qu's life.[8] Sima wrote that Qu was a member of the
Chu royal clan and served as an official under King Huai of Chu (reigned 328–299 BC).
During the early days of King Huai's reign, Qu Yuan was serving the State of Chu as its
Left Minister. However, King Huai exiled Qu Yuan to the region north of the Han River,
because corrupt ministers slandered him and influenced the king.[1] Eventually, Qu Yuan
was reinstated and sent on a diplomatic mission to the State of Qi.[9] He tried to resume
relations between Chu and Qi, which King Huai had broken under the false pretense of
King Hui of Qin to cede territory near Shangyu.
During King Qingxiang's reign, Prime Minister Zilan slandered Qu Yuan.[9] This caused
Qu Yuan's exile to the regions south of the Yangtze River.[9] It is said that Qu Yuan
returned first to his home town. In his exile, he spent much of this time collecting legends
and rearranging folk odes while traveling the countryside. Furthermore, he wrote some of
the greatest poetry in Chinese literature and expressed deep concerns about his state.[9]
According to legend, his anxiety brought him to an increasingly troubled state of health.
During his depression, he would often take walks near a certain well to look upon his thin
and gaunt reflection in the water. This well became known as the "Face Reflection Well."
On a hillside in Xiangluping (at present-day Zigui County, Hubei Province), there is a
well that is considered to be the original well from the time of Qu Yuan.
In 278 BC, learning of the capture of his country's capital, Ying, by General Bai Qi of the
state of Qin, Qu Yuan is said to have collected folktales and written the lengthy poem of
lamentation called "Lament for Ying". Eventually, he committed suicide by wading into
the Miluo River in today's Hunan Province while holding a rock. The reason why he took
his life remained controversial and was argued by Chinese scholars for centuries.Typical
explanations including martyrdom for his deeply beloved but falling motherland, which
was suggested by the philosopher Zhu Xi of Song Dynasty, or feeling extreme despair to
the situation of the politics in Chu while his lifelong political dream would never be
realized. But according to Yu Fu, widely considered to be written by Qu himself or at
least, a person who was very familiar with Qu, his suicide was an ultimate way to protect
his innocence and life principles.
Living in the latter part of the Warring States Period (476 BC - 221 BC), Qu Yuan was
the earliest great patriotic poet as well as a great statesman, ideologist, diplomat and
reformer in ancient China. He has the reputation of being one of the world four great
cultural celebrities. The traditional Chinese Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated to
commemorate him. His patriotic influence has left its mark on many subsequent
generations in China and beyond.
Political Career
The Warring States Period covers a period during which the seven individual kingdoms,
Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao, Wei and Qin - contended with each other for hegemony. Qu
Yuan, who lived in the Chu State, was trusted by King Huai and did much to assist the
King in governing the state. Following reformation in the Qin state, the Qin gained in
strength and invaded the other six states. he suggested an alliance with Qi in order to
resist Qin. However, this was rejected by some of the ministers as they could see that
they would lose some of their power and privileges. They made false accusations against
him that were believed by King Huai. The misguided monarch became alienated from his
valued advisor and sent him into exile as a consequence.
In the years that followed, Huai, lacking the wise counsel of Qu Yuan, was deceived by
the Qin into thinking that they could live together in peace. However, King Huai was
subsequently detained by the Qin State for years until his eventual death. King Huai was
succeeded to the throne by his son who was even more fatuous than his father. He
disregarded Qu Yuan's advice not to surrender to the Qin. Qu Yuan was exiled to an even
further away than before.
In 278 BC, upon learning that the Chu State had been defeated by the Qin, Qu Yuan, in
great despair and distress, ended his life by drowning in the Miluo River in the
northeastern part of Hunan Province.
As a Poet
Not only was he a true patriot, he is famed for leaving many immortal poems for us.
During the days of his exile, Qu Yuan wrote many famous poems. In them, his love for
his country and its people are revealed naturally. Among his greatest works are Li Sao
(The Lament), Tian Wen (Asking Questions of Heaven), Jiu Ge (Nine Songs), and Huai
Sha (Embracing the Sand).
Of these, Li Sao was the representative work of Qu Yuan and the longest lyric of
romanticism concerning politics in the history of ancient Chinese literature. Tian Wen is
characterized by 172 questions put to heaven. The questions concern aspects of
astronomy, geography, literature, philosophy and other fields.
Reputation
Qu Yuan was respected not only by the people during his own time but also after, and not
only by people in China but also in the wider world. On March, 5th, 1953, great
commemorative activities were held in China in honor of him. In September, the World
Peace Council held a meeting to remember him and urged people around the world learn
from him. He was also listed as one of the world's four literary celebrities for that year.
Nowadays, on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month the Dragon Boat Festival is
celebrated annually by eating Zongzi and holding dragon boat races to commemorate Qu
Yuan. And other countries like Korea, Japan, Burma, Vietnam, and Malaysia etc. now
celebrate this festival. His masterpiece Li Sao has been translated into many languages
and his portrait displayed in libraries in many countries.

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QU YUAN BIOGRAPHY

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