Chu Ci--Poetry of the State of Chu

Chu Ci

Chu Ci, also known as Poetry of the State of Chu, was a new style of poetry emerged after the Book of Songs. It was created in the 4th century BC. In the course of its formation, it was influenced by folk sons, music and the folk literature of the Chu State, and as a result, it was characterized by a strong local flavor.

 

Qu Yuan was the central figure of Chu Ci. Born in the Chu State, Qu Yuan was regarded as on of the greatest patriotic poets who are held in the highest esteem in Chinese history. Witnessing the corruption of his colleagues and the inability of his king, Qu Yuan was rather worried, so he wrote a great number of poems expressing his resentment. Afterwards, defamed by other villains, Qu Yuan was exiled to lead a vagrant life for a long time and finally drowned himself in the Miluo River. On the Dragon Boat Festival every year Chinese people will wrap glutinous rice dumplings which is made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves and hold dragon boat race to commemorate him, His main works include On Enountering Trouble (Li Sao), Heavenly Questions (Tian Wen)–a long poem with more than 170 questions concerning heaven put forward in one breath., Nine Songs( Jiu Ge)–which are based on folk legends of the Chu State. Drawing on the form of obit songs, Qu Yuan compsed a group of lyrics, including East Emperor Tai Yi, The person in the Clouds, The person from Hunan, The Madam from Human, etc.

Qu Yuan

On Encountering Trouble(Li Sao) is a colossal political lyric made up of over 370 lines with 2400 characters. Drawing on the technique of romanticism, the poet recounted his life, his beliefs and misfortunes, expressed his concern over the fate of the Chu State and his determination to maintain his lofty aspirations. In this poems, riding on a rainbow chariot driven by dragons as white as jade, guarded by the god of wind, god of sun, and god of moon, he soared to heaven in search of his ideals. Finally he was forced to leave his most beloved Chu State .Qu Yuan’s patriotism and unyielding spirit has moved and encouraged many readers down through the generations, edifying their sentiment.

 

After Qu Yuan, Song Yu and Tang Le also wrote exquisite works in Chu Ci style, making Chu Ci a typical genre of poetry in a certain period, which was called the ” Poetry of Sorrow”.

Glutnous Rice Dumpling

The profusion of myths and fantasies, the unusual twists of imagination, the vigorous surge of feeling and exotic use of verses in Chu Ci was a complete breakthrough compared with the “Four-Character-Trim-Verse” style in The Book of Songs, thus enlarging the content of every line of poem and enhancing the expressiveness, thereby demonstrating a unique romanticism that has never faded and pioneered a new road for the development of Chinese culture.

 

 

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