Spirit of the Nation; Stories of Patriots Through the Ages

Author: Lin Chengyi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: The fifth day of the fifth lunar month is known as the "Dragon Boat Festival." During this time, people in China traditionally make zongzi (sticky rice dumplings). In some southern regions, dragon boat races are held. This custom is associated with the story of Qu Yuan, a great patriotic poet of China.
Qu Yuan (c. 340–278 BC), named Ping, was born in what is now Zigui, Hubei. He was intelligent and eager to learn from a young age, becoming well-versed in political theories and the affairs of various states. By the age of 20, he joined the Chu court and served as the "Zu Tu" (second only to the prime minister).
A patriotic Qu Yuan hoped to realize his vision of political reform by assisting King Huai of Chu. He proposed appointing capable officials, clarifying laws, forming alliances with the state of Qi in the east, and resisting the powerful state of Qin in the west to strengthen Chu and achieve national unity. At that time, there were seven major feudal states known as the "Seven States of the Warring States Period." However, the conservative faction in Chu's ruling group was powerful, and the state was politically corrupt, weakening from strength.
Qu Yuan's reformist ideas initially gained the support of the indecisive King Huai of Chu. However, the decadent aristocratic officials envied and opposed Qu Yuan's rise and his political, plotting to sow discord and slander him. One day, an opportunity arose. The conservative official Shang Guan Da, taking advantage of Qu Yuan's absence, falsely accused him to the king: "Your Majesty, you asked Qu Yuan to draft national laws, which everyone knows. But after each law is announced, Qu Yuan claims credit for it, saying that without him, no one in Chu could function. He completely ignores you—don't you find that infuriating?"
At the same time, Huai's son, Zi Lan, also spoke ill of Qu Yuan in front of the king. The foolish and gullible King Huai, hearing this, wavered in his support of the reform movement. Qu Yuan argued logically, but Huai not only refused to listen but also grew angry and alienated him. Soon after, Qu Yuan's position was demoted from Zu Tu to San Chang Da Fu, overseeing trivial matters. Despite this, Qu Yuan remained concerned about Chu's future and did not abandon his political ideals.
After Qu Yuan's dismissal, the corrupt faction in Chu gained power. Seeing an opportunity, the state of Qin sent its prime minister, Zhang Yi, with treasures and wealth to bribe Shang Guan Da, Zi Lan, and the king's favorite concubine. Zhang Yi advised Huai: "Qin's enemy is Qi. If Chu breaks ties with Qi, the Qin king will reward Your Majesty with 600 li of land." Qu Yuan recognized this as Qin's plot to undermine the alliance between Chu and Qi. Though no longer in office, he bravely stood up to warn Huai against being deceived.
However, the profit-driven Huai ignored the warning and easily declared the severance of ties with Qi, sending envoys to Qin to accept the promised land. When Chu and Qi broke ties, Zhang Yi reneged on his promise, denying the land grant. Enraged, Huai immediately launched an attack on Qin, only to suffer two defeats. Not only did he fail to gain the land, but he also lost Hanyang, a former Chu territory.
Regretting his actions, Huai reinstated Qu Yuan and sent him as an envoy to Qi to negotiate the restoration of the Chu-Qi alliance. Fearing Qin's retaliation, Qin then proposed