Abstract
As an ancient poet once engaged in governmental service, Qu Yuan composes a large part of Chu poetry characterized by the outflow of heart-felt emotions. His personality beauty lies in his persistent devotion, patriotic passion, heroic deed, nostalgic affection, and moral conduct. His poetic output is rounded out by means of grotesque imagery associated with imagined scenes and Shamanistic elements. It is thus distinguished from Confucianism and Daoism with respect to its patriotic rather than poetic sentimentalism.
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Notes
- 1.
Qu Yuan, Li sao [The Lament], lines 97–98.
- 2.
As for Chu ci (楚辞), It is also rendered as “the poetry of the South”, for the Chu State was situated in the South of China in ancient times. Cf. Xu Yuanchong (ed.), Poetry of the South (Changsha: Hunan Press, 1994).
- 3.
Qu Yuan, Lament for the Chu Capital, in Xu Yuanchong (ed.), Poetry of the South, pp. 101–103.
- 4.
The six Confucian classics include The Book of Poetry, The Book of History, The Book of Rites, The Book of Music (identified with the Records of Music by some scholars), The Book of Changes, and The Spring and Autumn Annuals.
- 5.
Li Zehou, The Path of Beauty: A Study of Chinese Aesthetics, p. 66.
- 6.
Qu Yuan, The Lament or Sorrow After Departure, in Xu Yuanchong (ed.), Poetry of the South, p. 9.
- 7.
Wang Yi, Chu ci zhang ju [Analyses of the Chu poetry], cited from Li Zehou, The Path of Beauty: A Study of Chinese Aesthetics, p. 68.
- 8.
Qu Yuan, Li Sao and Other Poems of Qu Yuan (trans. Yang Xianyi and Gladys Yang). Also see Qu Yuan, Sorrow After Departure, in Qu Yuan (ed.), Poetry of the South, pp. 12, 15–17.
- 9.
Li Zehou, The Path of Beauty: A Study of Chinese Aesthetics, p. 67.
- 10.
Qu Yuan, Sorrow After Departure, in Qu Yuan (ed.), Poetry of the South, pp. 27–29.
- 11.
Qu Yuan, Li Sao and Other Poems of Qu Yuan (trans. Tang Xianyi and Gladys Yang). Also see Qu Yuan, Asking Heaven, in Qu Yuan (ed.), Poetry of the South, p. 61.
- 12.
Qu Yuan, Li Sao and Other Poems of Qu Yuan (trans. Tang Xianyi and Gladys Yang). Also see Qu Yuan, Requiem, in Qu Yuan (ed.), Poetry of the South, 187–193.
- 13.
Li Zehou, The Path of Beauty: A Study of Chinese Aesthetics, p. 69.
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Wang, K. (2021). Beyond Poetic Sentimentalism. In: Beauty and Human Existence in Chinese Philosophy. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-1714-0_7
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