Ch'u Yuan

Ch'u Yuan (c. 343 - c. 289 BC), also Qu Yuan, was a Chinese writer, nobleman and poet who flourished around 300 BC. He is considered the greatest poet of ancient China. He became even minister to King Huai of Chu dynasty, but ultimately banished, to the south of the Yang-tze river. He wandered around writing poetry, and killed himself in exile, by drowning himself in river. He is the attributed author of Li Sao (Encountering Sorrow), although modern scholars have questioned this.

Wisdom & Quotes

• In the life of all men,

Each has his own destiny.
With a steady heart and a broad mind,
Why should I be afraid?
- Embracing the Sand

• Long, long had been my road and far, far was the journey;

I would go up and down to seek my heart's desire.
- Li Sao (Encountering Sorrow)

• The fools enjoy their careless pleasure,

But their way is dark and leads to danger.
- Li Sao (Encountering Sorrow)

• How well I know that loyalty brings disaster.

- Li Sao (Encountering Sorrow)

• The muddy, impure world, so undiscriminating,

Seeks always to hide beauty, out of jealousy.
- Li Sao (Encountering Sorrow)

• For the world is impure and envious of the able,

And eager to hide men's good and make much of their ill.
- Li Sao (Encountering Sorrow)

• Enough! There are no true men in the state: no one to understand me.

Why should I cleave to the city of my birth?
Since none is worthy to work with in making good government,
I will go and join Peng Xian in the place where he abides.
- Li Sao (Encountering Sorrow)

• The whole world is muddy, I alone am clear;

the people are all drunk, I alone am awake.
That is why I was banished.
- The Fisherman

• Never to follow fashion will I stoop,

Then must live lonely still.

Xun zi