The Songs of Chu is an artistic masterpiece of Chinese civilization and an important poetry collection in ancient my country. It was compiled by Liu Xiang, a famous litterateur and bibliographer in the late Western Han Dynasty.
Its main authors are Qu Yuan and Song Yu. Qu Yuan (approximately 340 BC - 277 BC), whose name was Ping and whose courtesy name was Yuan, was born in Zi County, Chu State (now Zi County, Hubei Province) during the Warring States Period. He was a nobleman of the same surname in Chu State. He was highly trusted by King Huai of Chu when he was young. The official is Zuotu, and he is the core figure in Chu's internal affairs and diplomacy. Later, because of Shangguan's slander in front of King Huai, he was transferred to Sanlu, responsible for the sacrifices in the ancestral temple and the education of noble children. Later, the Chu State fell into trouble because it was successively besieged by Qin, Qi, Han, and Wei. Seeing that his once prosperous country had declined and decayed, Qu Yuan was filled with grief and anger. He drowned himself in the Miluo River with stones in his arms. Legend has it that that day was the fifth day of the fifth lunar month.
Qu Yuan was an outstanding politician. In terms of foreign policy, Qu Yuan advocated uniting Qi to confront the powerful Qin, which was very far-sighted; in terms of domestic affairs, Qu Yuan advocated "amending laws", "promoting talents and empowering", and implementing "beautiful policies" to make the country prosperous and strong. He had great political ambitions. There is a certain idealistic attitude.
At the same time, Qu Yuan was also the first great patriotic poet in the history of Chinese literature. Qu Yuan's works include "Li Sao", "Nine Songs", "Tianwen", "Nine Chapters", etc.