Quyuan

Born in the state of Chu during China’s Warring States period, Qu Yuan is remembered as one of the earliest great Chinese poets whose name is firmly tied to his work. Ancient sources and later tradition present him as both a writer and a court official, admired for his loyalty to Chu and his concern for good government.

He is especially associated with the Chu Ci (Songs of Chu), a collection whose rich imagery, emotion, and mythic tone had a lasting influence on Chinese poetry. Qu Yuan is often linked most closely with the poem Li Sao (The Lament), which helped make him a lasting symbol of integrity, grief, and devotion to principle.

Stories about his final years tell of exile, political disappointment, and a death by drowning after the fall of Chu’s capital. Whether every detail is historical or partly legendary, his memory became deeply woven into Chinese culture, and he is widely connected with the origins of Dragon Boat Festival commemorations.