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Qu Yuan. Photo outsourced from

Top 10 Astonishing Facts about Qu Yuan

Qu Yuan was a Chinese poet and politician. He was born in Chu state. He started doing poetry during the warring state period.

He was talented in politics and literature. He gave up his life for his motherland after being ignored by the rulers.

Through his masterpieces like the Chu Chi anthology, he promoted patriotism and contributed significantly to classical poetry and verse.

1. Qu Yuan was from a noble family

He was born around 340 BC to a noble family, the Chu royal clan. He was a gifted scholar of politics and literature. This made him attain a high position in court.

He was born during the warring period between seven states.

2. He was the first prominent Chinese poet

Qu Yuan statue-

`Qu Yuan wrote most of the famous poetry in Chinese literacy history. He expressed his love for his kingdom and concerns about his future through his poems.

One of his most famous works is Li Sao which means encountering sorrow. He wrote Li Sao’s poem in despair after he was banished to Changsha, lamenting the corruption in his state.

He initiated the style of Sao, which was characterized by features length, flexible form of having auxiliary word pronounced as xi in the finish line. This style gave a poem a more flowing rhythm and greater latitude of expression. Sao’s style was very innovative at the time.

3. He was banished from his state

During the ruling time of king Huai, Qu Yuan served as the left minister in the state of chu. While serving, he was against the corruption in the state, court intrigues and corrupt officials disliked his integrity, honesty and wisdom.

Some corrupt officials convinced king Huai; that Qu was the corrupt one. The king exiled him from the state.

In 278 BC king of Chu was captured the capital Ying taken by general Bai Qi of the Qin state.

When Yuan received this news, he composed a poem, “lamentation of Ying”, lamenting the corruption. Later, holding a stone, he committed suicide as a protest against the corrupt era.

4. He was China’s first patriotic poet

Qu Yuan’s patriotism and loyalty were expressed in his poems. The poems incorporated Confucian political ideas and have served as a model of Chinese intellectual up to date.

His patriotism was expressed in the Ai Ying, which means Lament of Ying. He wrote this poem when the Qin state captured the Chu state.

Through his poetry, he expressed his deep concerns, pity for the people of chu, worry about the fate of his state and anger against Chu’s ruler, who allowed his tragedy to befall his people.

5. He was a politician

Qu Yuan. Photo outsourced from

During the warring state period, seven states, namely; Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao, Wei and Qin state. Qu Yuan was from the Chu state and was trusted by the King of Chu.

He performed many duties in assisting the king in governing the state. Meanwhile, the Qin state underwent reformation, gained strength, and started invading other states.

During the invasion period of the Qin state, he suggested to the king to form an alliance with the Qin state to form strong resistance.

Some of the corrupt ministers saw they would lose their power and privileges. They made false accusations against him, making King Haui believe them.

The king exiled Qu Yuan from the state. Unfortunately, the Qin state captured the king and detained him until he died.

After King Huai died, his son succeeded him. The son also disregarded Qu Yuan’s advice and exiled him to a far place. Sadly, the Qin state captured the Chu state during the son’s ruling.

6. Qu Yuan had a good reputation

Qu Yuan was highly respected during his time, and this passed even after he died. He is not only appreciated in China but the wider world.

On March fifth 1953, a remembrance ceremony was held in China in honour of him and in September World Peace Council held a meeting to remember him.

The World Peace council urged people in the world to learn from him. Finally, he was listed as one of the world’s four literary celebrities for the year.

7. The traditional Chinese dragon boat festival is held to remember him

A display for the dragon boat festival. Photo Outsourced from

When Qu Yuan was exiled from the Chu state for suggesting reforms to defeat the Qin state to King Huai, some ministers accused him falsely, and he was exiled.

In 278 BC capital of Chu was captured. When Qu yuan received the news, he was filled with sorrow about the future of his people. He threw himself in the Miluo River on the lunar May fifth and died.

The locals who saw him throw himself into the river padded with boats to rescue him from being fed by fishes and water creatures. They provided the water creatures with Zongzi, but Qu Yuan didn’t survive.

Since the incident, people remember him every year on the lunar May fifth by holding dragon boat racing and eating Zongzi. This incident was the origin of dragon boat festivals.

8. Qu Yuan is regarded as the first author of the verse in China

Li sao illustré. Photo outsourced from

He was the originator and author of verse; he had his name associated with his work. He invented the Sao style of verse, named after his poem work Li Sao.

The Sao style adopted verses with varying lengths. His verses were imaginative and original. They had a significant influence on early Chinese poetry.

9. Qu Yuan was the founder of romanticism in Chinese literature

Some Qu Yuan famous poems, like Li Sao, expressed sorrow for being exiled and the king not taking his advice, which put the people of the Chu state in danger. 

Qu Yuan romanticism masterpieces influenced some of the greatest romanticism poets in the Tang Dynasty between 618 to 907 AD, such as Li Bai and Du Fu.

10. He contributed significantly to Chinese literature poetry

Qu Yuan was one of the greatest poets of ancient China. He wrote original and imaginative poems which greatly influenced early Chinese poetry.

His contribution helped other poets to master their poetry journey quickly. He introduced his style, which many poets adopted during his time.