端午节 | 如何向外国朋友介绍屈原?
(图片来自:环球网)
01 生平简介
秭归凤凰山上新建的屈原祠 (摄影:宋金戈)
Qu Yuan (born 340 B.C.—died 278 B.C.), one of the greatest officers, was born into a noble family in the State of Chu during the Warring States Period (475 B.C.-221 B.C.). While still in his 20s he was appointed a trusted, favored counselor of his kinsman Huaiwang, the ruler of Chu. Qu Yuan’s poetry showed imagination and innovation, effulgent the light of romantic, honoring legends through Chinese history.
屈原出生于楚国归乡乐平里(今湖北省宜昌市秭归县屈原镇屈原村)。在乐平里,至今留存着屈原相关遗迹,如响鼓溪、照面井、读书洞、颂桔坡、玉米三丘等。秭归人民先后在屈原故里修建了屈原庙、屈原祠等,世代纪念这位伟大的先祖。
02 内外兼修
According to "Historical Records: Biography of Qu Yuan", he became a minister and assisted King Huai of the Chu State in reform, and vigorously advocated to fight against inner and foreign affairs.
He was quite active in politics for instance drafting out rules and laws, conducting political reform, joining the expedition of the six states to fight against the State of Qin, and going to the State of Qi two times on diplomatic missions.
The Emperor of the Chu wanted to gain more lands from the state of the Qin. The state of Qin prime minister Jin Shang lied to the Chu Emperor about the intentions of Qu Yuan. Making Qu Yuan’s peers give up their trust in him and forcing Qu Yuan out of his position as a minister.
Although Qu yuan was pushed away from his homeland, his heart was still connected to state affairs.
He affectionately wrote in the “Lament for the Chu Capital”.
A bird flies nowhere but home-bound; Oh!
A dying fox turns its head to its mound.
Guiltless but banished, I take flight; Oh!
How can I forget your day and night?
On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in the year of 278 B.C., upon learning that the capital of his country was occupied by the State of Qin, Qu chose to drown himself in the Miluo River.
03 泽被后世
秭归龙舟竞渡 (摄影:郑家裕)
When they heard of his death, the local people rowed out on the river to search for his body but found nothing. In order to preserve his body, people paddled boats up and down the river. They also threw lumps of rice into the river to feed the fish, so that they would not eat at Qu’s body. Gradually, the fifth day of the fifth lunar month has developed in commemoration of the great patriot Qu Yuan.
Qu Yuan was a great patriotic poet in Chinese history and the forerunner of Chinese romantic literature. He was the founder of Chu Ci, the most prominent expressions in his works would be fragment herbs and beautiful lady. Qu Yuan was hailed as a poetry and prose ancestor in China. The 25 verses of his poems were passed down including such as “Li Sao: Suffering Throes”, “Sylva of Nine Pieces”, “Sky-Vaulting Queries” and “Nine Songs” during his life.
Later generations often likened the glory and the continuation of his noble spirit to the sunshine and the earth. In 1953, the World Peace Council listed Qu Yuan as one of the world's four cultural celebrities.
In 2009, UNESCO added the Dragon Boat Festival to the Intangible Cultural Heritage list, making it the first Chinese festival to receive the honor.
2019屈原故里端午文化节开幕式现场
(摄影:郑家裕)
04 经典诗句
《离骚》
路漫漫其修远兮,
吾将上下而求索。
Although the road is endless and far away,
I still want to pursue truth in this world.
长太息以掩涕兮,
哀民生之多艰。
Long did I sigh and wipe away my tears,
To see my people bowed by griefs and fears.
亦余心之所善兮,
虽九死其犹未悔。
Since my heart did love such purity,
I'd not regret a thousand deaths to die.
惟草木之零落兮,
恐美人之迟暮。
The fallen flowers lay scattered on the ground,
The dusk might fall before my dream was found.
《天问》
遂古之初,谁传道之?
Who could tell us at last,
When did begin the past?
上下未形,何由考之?
How could anyone know,
The formless high and low?