Number of "Songs of Chu": 65
"Songs of Chu" is an important collection of poetry in ancient my country. Chu Ci was also called "Fu" in the Han Dynasty. For example, Sima Qian said in "Historical Records" that Qu Yuan "made the poem "Huaisha"". In fact, Chu Ci, as an independent poetic style that originated in the Chu region, should not be confused with Han Fu. Han Fu is a half-poetry, half-text, or rhymed prose work developed to meet the needs of the court of the Han Dynasty. Fu generally uses the form of question and answer as a narrative form. It is not lyrical, but an elaboration of words and reasoning. Chu Ci is different. Although it is rich in literary talent, detailed description, and contains narrative elements, it mainly expresses personal feelings and is a kind of poetry. It is named after a new poetry style called "Ci" that was formed in the Chu region of southern my country during the Warring States Period in the fourth century BC. This poetic style was carried forward by Qu Yuan, and later Song Yu and other Han Dynasty writers continued to create Chu Ci.
The reason why "Songs of Chu" is called "Chu" is because its rhyme, tune, thoughts and even spiritual outlook all have distinct Chu characteristics. From a formal point of view, "The Songs of Chu" breaks the four-character sentence pattern of the "Book of Songs" and replaces it with long sentences of five, six, or even seven or eight characters, and retains the exclamation in chanting. From the perspective of structure, it breaks through the limitation of short chapters and overlapping chapters in The Book of Songs, and develops into a long and huge piece with "sections and chapters", which is more suitable for expressing complex social life content and content. Describe complex emotions experienced over a larger span of time. In addition, "Chu Ci" still maintains a close relationship with music.
In the "Book of Songs" before Chu Ci, the poems were mainly four-character sentences, with relatively short chapters and simple styles; in Chu Ci, the chapters were grand and unbridled, and the structure and length of the poems were expanded. The sentence patterns are uneven and full of changes, and the unrestrained emotions, rich imagination, gorgeous literary talent and gorgeous style are completely different from the "Book of Songs". Generally speaking, "The Book of Songs" was produced in the north and represents the culture of the Central Plains at that time, while "Chu Ci" is the local literature of the Chu region in the south. The works of "Chu Ci" were absorbed by the great romantic poet Qu Yuan and other later writers. The result of creative improvement of southern folk literature. "The Book of Songs" and "Chu Ci" together constitute the two major sources in the history of ancient Chinese poetry. They pioneered realism and romanticism in ancient Chinese poetry respectively, and became the "double gems" in the history of ancient Chinese poetry. In the history of Chinese literature, has special meaning.
"Chu Ci" is a poetry style that originated from the Chu State in the late Warring States Period. The Chu State is located in the south, with a unique geographical environment and superior natural conditions. Its political system, cultural traditions and customs are very different from those of other countries in the Yellow River Basin, so it is regarded as a "southern barbarian". By the Spring and Autumn Period, the Chu State became powerful and became one of the "Five Hegemons". By the Warring States Period, political and cultural exchanges between countries were frequent, and the Chu State began to accept a large amount of Central Plains culture, but still maintained its own cultural characteristics. Chu Ci is a poetry genre born in such cultural soil. Its founder is Qu Yuan, a famous patriotic poet of Chu State.