1. I cannot change my mind and follow the world, so I will be miserable and end up poor. ——"Nine Chapters: Crossing the River", Qu Yuan, pre-Qin Dynasty.
Translation: I cannot change my heart to follow the world, even if it means I will be poor all my life.
2. I never knew that the road was straight and straight. The south pointed to the moon and stars. ——"Nine Chapters: Thoughts", Qu Yuan, pre-Qin Dynasty.
Translation: I don’t care whether it’s a detour or a shortcut, I just want to go south wearing the sun, moon and stars.
3. Take a long breath to cover your tears, mourning the hardships of the people's lives. ——"Li Sao", Qu Yuan, pre-Qin Dynasty.
Translation: I wiped away my bitter tears and sighed, lamenting that the passage of life is full of hardships.
4. Live as long as the heaven and earth, and shine as brightly as the sun and the moon. ——"Nine Chapters: Crossing the River", Qu Yuan, pre-Qin Dynasty.
Translation: The lifespan is as long as the heaven and the earth, and the brilliance is as bright as the sun and the moon.
5. Times are so colorful and ever-changing, how can we stay here? ——"Li Sao", Qu Yuan, pre-Qin Dynasty.
Translation: The current situation is chaotic, turbulent, and changing rapidly, how can I stay (here) for a long time?
6. I make the phoenix fly, and continue For day and night. ——"Li Sao", Qu Yuan, pre-Qin Dynasty.
Translation: I let the bird fly high and keep flying every day.
7. Riding on a horse to gallop, come to me to take the lead. ——"Li Sao", Qu Yuan, pre-Qin Dynasty.
Translation: You should ride on a horse and run, and I will guide you and lead the way.
Extended information:
The Dragon Boat Festival is one of our important traditional festivals.
Zongzi leaves are fragrant along the Miluo River, and Chu people are hurt during the Dragon Boat Festival. Quzi was driven away by King Huai and died, leaving Li Sao alone with a broken heart. King Huai of Chu was bewitched and wanted to go on an appointment to meet King Qin. Qu Yuan tried hard to persuade King Huai of Chu not to be fooled. However, King Huai of Chu did not listen to the advice of Qu Yuan and others and insisted on meeting with King Zhaoxiang of Qin. As a result, he was detained and imprisoned by the State of Qin.
The poor and hateful King Huai of Chu never had the chance to return to Chu State, and later died of illness in Xianyang of Qin State. Qu Yuan was ostracized and dismissed from his post as Sanlv official and was exiled to the south of the Yangtze River. Qu Yuan wrote "Li Sao" to express his ambition, and then he sank into the Miluo River. Legend has it that in order to protect Qu Yuan's body, the people of Chu made many rice dumplings and threw them into the water to feed the fish. This custom has been preserved.