Qu Yuan

Poet and political figure of the State of Chu during the tumultuous Warring States period.

Chronology: -343 – -278

Origins & Early Life

Qu Yuan (c. 340 BC – 278 BC) was a Chinese poet and political figure of the State of Chu during the Warring States period. The surviving evidence for his life is limited. The earliest known reference to Qu Yuan is Jia Yi's "Diao Qu Yuan Fu" ("Lament for Qu Yuan"), written in 174 BC.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The first systematic biography appears in Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian, although it contains contradictory details. Qu Yuan is the central figure associated with the Chu Ci anthology. "The Lament" is generally accepted as his work, while the attribution of many other poems has been disputed. Later tradition associates his death by drowning in the Miluo River with customs of the Dragon Boat Festival. == Life == The only surviving source of information on Qu Yuan's life is Sima Qian's biography of him in Shiji, although the biography is circumstantial and probably influenced greatly by Sima's own identification with Qu.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

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...

Source: Wikipedia