Qu Yuan seems to be a familiar stranger. I am familiar with it because we celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival every year, which is said to be in memory of Qu Yuan. We have read or heard Qu Yuan's works, such as Li Sao. It's strange because we don't know much about Qu Yuan.
The most reliable and systematic information about Qu Yuan's life story is Historical Records Biography of Qu Yuan and Jia Sheng. Historical Records Biography of Qu Yuan and Jia Sheng begins: "Qu Yuan's surname is Ping, and Chu's surname is also." In other words, Qu Yuan's surname is Qu, his name is Ping, and his word is original. "Chu has the same surname" means that Qu Yuan is also a noble of Chu, and he is the same clan as the king of Chu.