The full text and introduction of Qu Yuan's "Li Sao"

Qu Yuan (about 340 BC - 278 BC), a great patriotic poet in ancient China. Han nationality, born in Danyang, Chu State (now Zigui, Hubei Province), with the given name Ping and the courtesy name Yuan. During the Warring States Period, he was born into a noble family of the Chu State. He served as Sanlu official and Zuotu, and was also in charge of domestic and foreign affairs. He advocated promoting talents internally, amending laws and regulations, and urging Qi to resist Qin externally. Later, because he was excluded by the nobles, he was exiled to the Yuan and Xiang River basins. In 278 BC, Qin general Bai Qi captured Ying, the capital of Chu state, in one fell swoop. Qu Yuan, who was worried about his country and his people, committed suicide by holding a stone in his arms in the Miluo River near Changsha. The Dragon Boat Festival is said to be the anniversary of his death. He wrote many immortal poems, became the founder of ancient Chinese romantic poetry, and created a new poetry genre, Chu Ci, based on Chu folk songs. His major works include "Li Sao", "Nine Chapters", "Nine Songs", etc. In the poem, he expresses his fervent patriotism and his love for the country of Chu, embodying his unremitting pursuit of ideals and his unrepentant spirit. The "Chu Ci" style he created is unique in the history of Chinese literature, and is known as the "Fengcao" style together with "The Book of Songs", which had a positive impact on the poetry creation of later generations. I am a descendant of Emperor Gaoyang. My great ancestor’s name was Boyong. In the year of Tai Sui Yin, it was the new moon, and it happened to be the day of Gengyin that I was born into the world. Father looked at my newborn posture and gave me a beautiful name from the beginning. He named me Zhengze, and also gave me the nickname Lingjun. 2. I already have so much inner beauty, plus a beautiful appearance. Wearing the herb Jiang Li and the elegant Angelica dahurica, we also braid the autumn orchid to make it more fragrant. Time flies so fast that I seem to be unable to catch up. I am always afraid that the passage of time will not keep me waiting. In the morning, we pick the fragrant magnolias from the hillside, and in the evening, we pick the herbs that have survived the winter. The sun and the moon are flying without stopping, spring has just passed and autumn is ushering in. I think that the flowers, plants and trees will wither, lest the beauty will also reach her twilight years. Why don’t you give up your bad habits while you are still in your prime, and why don’t you change the original political laws? If you want to ride on a horse and gallop, come on, please let me lead the way for you. How perfect the virtues of the three ancient kings were, with many wise ministers gathered around them. People who gather together like Shenjiao, Gui, and Shenjiao are not just connected with the excellent Hui and Zhi? How upright were Yao and Shun? They followed the right path and embarked on a smooth road to governing the country. Jie and Zhou were so arrogant and evil. They could not move forward just because they took the wrong path. Those villains who form cliques and pursue selfish interests are living in peace, making the future of the country dim and dangerous. Am I afraid of disasters? I am afraid that the king's chariot cannot be overturned! I ran back and forth to take care of it, following the footsteps of the former king without any deviation. The king did not understand my fiery heart, but instead listened to the slander and got angry at me. I originally knew that speaking out would bring disaster, but I wanted to endure it but couldn't control it. I point my finger to heaven and let it bear witness for me. The reason I do this is all for the king. Originally, I had planned to get married in the evening, but I didn't expect that I changed my mind halfway. He had made an agreement with me at the beginning, but later he regretted that he had other ideas. I don't take it seriously if you break up or leave me. What's sad is that the king's behavior is dissolute and capricious. 4. I have cultivated many acres of spring orchids and planted many acres of cymbidium. Liuyi and Jieche were cultivated in separate ridges, and Duheng and Zhicao were also interplanted. I hope they have tall branches and luxuriant leaves, and I hope I can have a rich harvest by then. There is no need to be sad when their branches and leaves fall. What is sad is that these herbs have become corrupted and turned into evil weeds. The five villains are striving for power and profit, and they are greedy by nature. They fill their pockets and are still greedy. Be tolerant of yourself but suspicious of others. They are all scheming and jealous, chasing power and wealth. This is not something I am eager to pursue. Old age is slowly coming, and what I am afraid of is that I have not been able to establish a good reputation. In the morning I drank the dew of magnolia flowers, and in the evening I drank the fallen petals of autumn chrysanthemums. As long as my sentiment is really beautiful and single-minded, why should I lament even if I am hungry and haggard for a long time. The roots of fragrant trees were collected and tied with Angelica dahurica, and the flower centers of Xue Li were connected together. Pick up the fungus cinnamon and braid it with the hucao, twist it into a long rope and hang it at the bottom. I imitate the sages of the previous generation and do not dress up in worldly manners. Although it is not in line with today's wishes, I am willing to follow the norms left by Peng Xian. Liu sighed deeply and wiped his tears. I was sad that my life was so difficult. Just because I love virtue and restrain myself by it, I was scolded in the morning and dismissed from office in the evening. This is not only because I use cymbidium as an ornament, but also because I picked the angelica dahurica and carefully compiled the poem. As long as it's something I love sincerely, I won't regret it even if I die for it many times. I only hate you, the king, for being too dissolute and unable to understand the true feelings of this humble concubine. The women were jealous of my beauty and spread rumors that I was good at fornication. Secular people will be opportunistic and change the measures in violation of the rules. Abandoning the right path and pursuing the evil path. Fighting for accommodation and seeking accommodation is considered to be in line with the norm. I am depressed and distressed, and I am deeply saddened that I am the only one who suffers from poverty and ill-fate at this time. I would rather die immediately and be separated from my soul than show the ugly appearance of the villain! Eagles and ferocious eagles do not keep company with sparrows. This has been the case since ancient times. How can the square and the round be tolerated together? How can people with different interests be at peace with each other? The soul is aggrieved and the spirit is suppressed. I must endure the accusation and bear the insult. Stick to your innocence and die for the straight path. This is praised and commended by the sages of previous generations. 7. I regret that I did not carefully examine the path I chose. If I hesitate, I will return. I turned the car around and went back to the original road before I got too far on the lost track. I let my horse wander by the waterside with orchid grass, and then ran to the hill with pepper trees to rest and linger.

If you fail to get close to the king, you will be blamed, so you have to go back and cultivate your virtues to fulfill your long-cherished wish. The tops were made from water chestnut leaves and lotus leaves, and the bottoms were made from lotus petals. It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand me, as long as my heart is truly pure and noble. Make my corolla high, make my girdle long. Fragrance and dirt are mixed together, but my pure white quality has not been affected. Suddenly I look back and look far away, I will travel far away. The clothes are rich and colorful, and the fragrance is more and more fragrant. People are born with their own talents. I am the only one who loves virtue and takes it for granted. Even if I am shattered to pieces, I will not change my original intention. Could it be that I will give up my long-standing ambition because of the lesson I have received? The eighth girl gasped and said she was in a hurry, and warned me over and over again: "Bo Gun was upright and did not care about himself, and finally died in the wilderness of Yushan. Why do you always talk about everything and like nobleness? Why do you insist on the good things?" The house is filled with ordinary flowers and plants, but you don’t want to be different. You can’t explain people’s misunderstandings from house to house. Who will care about our true intentions? There are groups of people, why do you insist on being alone and not listening to my advice? "Jiu I followed the example of the sages of the previous generations without any deviation, but it is regrettable that I still feel angry in my heart. Crossing the Yuan River of the Xiangjiang River, I traveled far away to find Yu Shun and tell me my true feelings: "Xia Qi took the "Nine Bian" and "Nine Songs" from the sky, and he indulged himself in the pursuit of pleasure. He didn't see the danger and didn't consider the consequences. As a result, his five sons were in civil strife. Han Yun, the retainer, became greedy for his wife. Han Yun's son was violent and indulged in drinking, and he couldn't control himself. He was enjoying himself every day, and his head was filled with dust. The behavior was contrary to common sense, and finally suffered disaster. Shang Zhou chopped people into meat paste, so the Yin Dynasty could not last long. Shang Tang and Xia Yu were serious and respectful. The wise kings of the Zhou Dynasty paid attention to the cautious and appropriate way of governing the country. . Recommend virtuous people and delegate authority to capable people. There is no bias in observing laws. The emperor is fair and selfless to people and helps those who are virtuous. Think about future generations and observe people's fundamental intentions in living in the world. Is there any unjust thing that can be done? Feeling. I cut the tenons without measuring the holes, and the sages of the previous generation died tragically because of this." I sobbed and felt troubled, feeling sad that I was not born at the right time. I brought some soft grass to wipe my tears. The hot tears still wet my clothes. Shipu spread his clothes and knelt down to tell these words. I felt suddenly enlightened and found the right path. Riding the jade dragon and riding the phoenix chariot, I immediately rode the wind towards the journey to the sky. We set off from Jiuyi Mountain in the early morning and arrived at Xianpu on Kunlun Mountain in the evening. I wanted to take a short rest in front of the fairy gate, but it was almost dusk when the sun set quickly. I order the driver of the sun to stop and not move forward, looking at Mount Huanxi and not to get close to your destination. The future is long and far away, and I still have to go to the world to find the right path. In the morning I drank my horse by the salty pond, and tied the horse to the hibiscus where the sun was rising. At dusk, break a tree like a tree to stop the sun from setting, and let me wander freely and calmly. Let the Moon God driver lead the way in front, and let the Wind God follow Chi Xiang behind. The phoenixes and phoenixes guarded and cleared the way for me, but the Thunder Lord told me that I had not prepared my luggage yet. I make the phoenix chariot soar and fly, running around day and night. The whirlwind gathered and moved closer to me, leading Yunxia to meet the escort. The colorful clouds gather and disperse, and the colors fly up and down. I asked the Heavenly Emperor's gatekeeper to open the door for me, but he looked at me coldly and leaned against the door. The twilight is dim and the light of the sky is about to end. I have been weaving orchids for a long time. The world is turbid and there is no distinction between beauty and ugliness. Jealousy only blocks good people. On the early morning of November 1, I crossed the white water and boarded the Langfeng horse to stop. Suddenly looking back, I couldn't help but shed tears as we exchanged words, lamenting that there were no beauties to be found on that high mountain. I hurriedly came to the fairy palace in the East again, picked off jade branches and added decorations to my ornaments. While the flowers of the jade tree have not yet withered, find a beautiful woman from the lower world to throw the gift to you. I command Fenglong to ride up the colorful clouds and search for where Concubine Mi lives. I took off my jade pendant and wanted to make a contract with her. I ordered Jian Xiu to be the matchmaker to find out the reason. Her attitude changed and she seemed to be far away from each other, and suddenly she got into a fight and never gave up. She stayed at Qiongshi ah at night and washed and combed her hair by the basin in the morning. Relying on her beauty, she was arrogant and indulged in playing and traveling all day long. She is indeed beautiful but has no etiquette. I will leave her and pursue another pursuit. I have observed the far away places, traveled all over the sky and returned to the earth to search. Looking at the tall jade platform from a distance, I saw Jian Di, a beauty from the Wu family, who was particularly enchanting. I asked the dove to act as a matchmaker for me, but it actually told me that she was not good. The male dove screamed and flew off to say yes, but I thought it was too frivolous. I was hesitant and full of doubts, but I thought it would be bad to go by myself. Fenghuang has received a betrothal gift to act as matchmaker for the emperor. I'm afraid he has married Jian Di before me. I want to go far away but have nowhere to go, so let me wander around freely. While Shaokang hadn't gotten married yet, he still had two girls from the Yu family. The reason is insufficient and the matchmaker is clumsy. I'm afraid it's all in vain to argue that the marriage is not settled. The world is turbid and you are jealous of the virtuous. You always like to cover up people's beauty and publicize their evil deeds. The beauty's boudoir is far-reaching and difficult to penetrate, but the king cannot wake up and have a bright mind. I am filled with so much emotion that I cannot express it. How could I endure such a miserable situation for the rest of my life! Twelve, I found thatch and bamboo pieces for fortune-telling, and asked the spirit atmosphere to predict my fortune.

I asked: "The beauty of both sides must be combined. It depends on who is truly beautiful and seeks this combination? I think the world is so vast. Is it true that beautiful women only exist here?" Lingfen replied: "You can work hard and go far." Don't hesitate to go, who would give up on you? There is no grass in the world, why do you have to miss your former home? The world is dim and people are dizzy, who will distinguish whether we are good or bad? Likes and dislikes are different, but the hobbies of these villains are extremely strange. Every household wears smelly moxa on their waists, but they say that fragrant orchids are not allowed to be worn. You can't tell the difference between good and bad when you look at the plants. How can you be right? Is the price of beautiful jade appropriate? I stuffed my purse with dung, but said that the heavy peppercorns are not fragrant at all. "Thirteenth, I want to listen to the auspicious divination of spiritual energy, but I am undecided. I heard that Wu Xian was going to bring down the spirit in the evening, so I brought some pepper polished rice to greet the spirit. All the gods came together, covering the sky and the sun, and the gods of Jiuyi Mountain came to greet them one after another. The splendid and dazzling divine light is displayed. Tell me the typical stories of the encounters between sages. He said: "Search hard even to heaven and earth, to find like-minded heroes. Shang Tang and Xia Yu seriously sought comrades. They were coordinated by Yi Yin and Gaotao. As long as you really like virtue in your heart, why bother using it? The matchmaker came to introduce him? Fu said that he was building a wall in Fu Yan, and Yin Gaozong chose him without hesitation. Jiang Taigong was just a butcher who was sharpening his knife to slaughter cattle. He met King Wen of Zhou and climbed up the ladder. Singing by the horns, Duke Huan of Qi heard it and asked him to assist the court while he was still young, and the time was not over yet. What I was afraid of was that the cuckoos and birds were singing first, and all kinds of flowers and plants were coming. Then the fragrance faded away. "Fourteen, my jade is so extraordinary, but everyone has covered it up." This group of cliquey and selfish people is not trustworthy. I am afraid they will be destroyed out of jealousy. Times and customs are chaotic and ever-changing. How can I stay here for a long time? Orchids and gallops have become less fragrant, and acorus and tonka have become like thatch. Why did the vanilla in the past turn into white mugwort and smelly moxa now? Is there any other reason for this? It's just because I don't cherish beauty and I'm hurt. I thought Orchid was reliable, but I didn't know it had no substance and only appearance. It abandoned its beauty trade and followed the world, and managed to get into the ranks of "all the fragrances". Zanthoxylum bungeanum became overbearing, flattering and arrogant, and Guanzi wanted to pass it off as spice and mix it into the sachet. Since you are working hard just for advancement, how can you value your own integrity? Originally, the secular world has the tendency to drift with the tide. Who can remain unchanged and block the secular trend? Looking at Zanthoxylum bungeanum and Orchid is nothing more than that, not to mention Jieche, Jiangli and the like are ordinary! Only my jewelry is always valuable, but its beauty has been despised and ended up like this. But its rich aroma will not fade away, and its inherent fragrance has not been eliminated so far. Let the sound of the jade jade coordinate with the pace to amuse myself, and I wander around in pursuit of beautiful women. While my ornaments are in their full glory, I will look up and down in all directions. The fifteenth spirit atmosphere has told me auspicious divination. If I choose an auspicious day, I will travel far and wide. Break off the twigs of the jade tree to make dishes, and select jade scraps as dry food. Mount a flying dragon for me, and make a vehicle of jade and ivory. How can people who are separated from each other get together? I will fly far away and distance myself automatically. I changed my way in Kunlun Mountains, and traveled far and wide. The flying cloud flags cover the sky and the sun, and the jade bells of the dragon chariot jingle. We set off from Tianhe Ferry in the early morning, and at dusk we reached the far west in the sky. The phoenix spreads its wings and connects the cloud flags. They fly high and rhythmically. Suddenly I passed by the quicksand in the west and wandered along the Chishui River. Command the dragon to serve as a bridge at the ferry, and order Shaohao to ferry me to the other side. The journey is long and difficult, so many cars are flying to guard my car. After passing Buzhou Mountain, turn left and designate Xihai as the place where everyone gathers. I gathered thousands of vehicles, aligned their wheels, and drove forward together. The Eight Dragons drive in a meandering way, the cloud flags on the car fluttering and curling. After making up my mind to stop the car, my mind wandered all over the sky. Play "Nine Songs" and dance "Shao", and take this time to have fun for a while. Ascending into the sky and entering the realm of light, I suddenly looked down and saw my hometown. The servant is sad and the horse is nostalgic. He turns around and looks back and never goes forward. End of sixteen: Forget it! There are no wise men in Chu country who don’t know my heart, so why should I miss my old capital? Since I cannot implement American politics with them, I will follow Peng Xian to his residence.