The Collected Works of Qu Yuan with Annotations (Volume 1 and 2)

Author: Jin Kai Cheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1996-08-01
Features: In the "Thoughts" chapter of "Nine Declarations," Qu Yuan wrote, "I weave my subtle emotions into words, presenting them to the beautiful ones." This indicates that some of his works were originally intended for "presenting poems to express intentions," not limited to personal emotional expression. The "Records of the Grand Historian" states that Qu Yuan "sought to preserve the lord and revitalize the state, desiring to repeatedly express this in every chapter." It then adds, "Zi Lan, the Minister of State, was greatly angered upon hearing this." This fact also demonstrates that Qu Yuan's works often contained controversial remarks, yet they were not kept secret at the time but rather circulated in society. The "Biography of Qu Yuan" further states: "After Qu Yuan's death, there were figures in Chu such as Song Zhu, Tang Le, and Jing Chai, who were fond of poetry and renowned for their compositions. However, they all drew inspiration from Qu Yuan's composed and measured language, yet none dared to speak directly and honestly." This further proves the social nature of the dissemination of Qu Yuan's works. It can be imagined that Qu Yuan's influence on the people of Chu was significant. As for Chu poets like Song Yu, Tang Le, and Jing Chai, since they "all drew inspiration from Qu Yuan's composed and measured language," they naturally devoted themselves to collecting, organizing, preserving, and practicing Qu Yuan's works. Additionally, it should be fully considered that Qu Yuan's works may have been passed down through folk channels to later generations.