Ch`u Yuan

Fourth Century, B.C.

A loyal minister to the feudal Prince of Ch`u, towards the close

of the Chou dynasty. His master having, through disregard of his counsel,

been captured by the Ch`in State, Ch`u Yuan sank into disfavour with his sons,

and retired to the hills, where he wrote his famous `Li Sao',

of which the following is one of the songs. He eventually drowned himself

in the river Mi-Lo, and in spite of the search made for his body,

it was never found. The Dragon-boat Festival, held on the fifth day

of the fifth moon, was founded in his honour.

A Lute of Jade : Selections from the Classical Poets of China · 第 24 / 127 题