This is a list of the sections and individual pieces contained within the ancient poetry anthology Chu Ci, also known as Songs of the South or Songs of Chu, which is an anthology of Classical Chinese poetry verse traditionally attributed to Qu Yuan and Song Yu from the Warring States period, though about half of the poems seem to have been composed several centuries later, during the Han dynasty.[1] The traditional version of the Chu Ci contains 17 major sections, and was edited by Wang Yi, a 2nd-century AD librarian who served under Emperor Shun of Han. The Chu Ci and the Shi Jing together constitute the chief sources of pre-Qin dynasty Chinese verse.
See main article: Li Sao. "Li Sao" is one of the most famous of the works contained in the Chu Ci: it mainly is upon a theme of seemingly autobiographical material about the relationship between Qu Yuan and the leadership of the Chu kingdom. Although often interpreted as a political allegory, other aspects of this rather long poem seem to refer to religious and mythological themes derived from the culture of the Chu area.[2] Source text of Li Sao (in Chinese): 離騷. One piece.
See main article: Jiu Ge. "Jiu Ge", despite the "Nine" in the title, the "Jiu Ge" actually includes eleven discrete parts or songs. These seem to represent some shamanistic dramatic practices of the Yangzi River valley area and other areas involving the invocation of divine beings and seeking their blessings by means of a process of courtship.[3] Text (in Chinese): 九歌
The titles of the poems in Chinese are as follows. English translations of titles follow David Hawkes:
| Standard order | English translation | Transcription (based on Pinyin) | Traditional Chinese | Simplified Chinese | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Great Unity, God of the Eastern Sky | "Dong Huang Tai Yi" | 東皇太一 | 东皇太一 | |
| 2 | The Lord within the Clouds | "Yun Zhong Jun" | 雲中君 | 云中君 | |
| 3 | The Goddess of the Xiang | "Xiang Jun" | 湘君 | 湘君 | |
| 4 | The Lady of the Xiang | "Xiang Fu Ren" | 湘夫人 | 湘夫人 | |
| 5 | The Greater Master of Fate | "Da Si Ming" | 大司命 | 大司命 | |
| 6 | The Lesser Master of Fate | "Shao Si Ming" | 少司命 | 少司命 | |
| 7 | The Lord of the East | "Dong Jun" | 東君 | 东君 | |
| 8 | The River Earl | "He Bo" | 河伯 | 河伯 | |
| 9 | The Mountain Spirit | "Shan Gui" | 山鬼 | 山鬼 | |
| 10 | Hymn to the Fallen | "Guo Shang" | 國殤 | 国殇 | |
| 11 | Honouring the Dead | "Li Hun" | 禮魂 | 礼魂 |
See main article: Heavenly Questions. "Tian Wen", also known as Questions to Heaven, addressed to Tian (or "Heaven"), consists of series of questions, 172 in all, in verse format.[4] The series of questions asked involves Chinese mythology and ancient Chinese religious beliefs. The answers are not explicated. Text (in Chinese): 天問. One piece.
See main article: Jiu Zhang. "Jiu Zhang" consists of nine pieces of poetry, one of which is the "Lament for Ying" ("Ai Ying"). Ying was the name of one of the traditional capital cities of Qu Yuan's homeland of Chu (eventually, Ying and Chu even became synonymous). However, both the city of Ying and the entire state of Chu itself experienced doom due to the expansion of the state of Qin, which ended up consolidating China at the expense of the other former independent states: including Qu Yuan's home state — hence the "Lament". Text in Chinese: 九章.
| Standard order | English translation | Transcription (based on Pinyin) | Traditional Chinese | Simplified Chinese | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grieving I Make My Plaint | Xi Song | 惜誦 | 惜诵 | |
| 2 | Crossing the River | She Jiang | 涉江 | 涉江 | |
| 3 | Ai Ying | 哀郢 | 哀郢 | ||
| 4 | The Outpouring of Sad Thoughts | Chou Si | 抽思 | 抽思 | |
| 5 | Embracing Sand | Huai Sha | 懷沙 | 怀沙 | |
| 6 | Thinking of a Fair One | Si Meiren | 思美人 | 思美人 | |
| 7 | Alas for the Days Gone By | Xi Wangri | 昔往日 | 昔往日 | |
| 8 | Ju Song | 橘頌 | 橘颂 | ||
| 9 | Grieving at the Eddying Wind | Bei Hui Feng | 悲回風 | 悲回风 |
Note that poem numbers 1, 6, 7, and 9 actually lack titles in the original text; rather, they are named for the sake of convenience after the first few words with which these poems begin.[5] English titles based on David Hawkes' translations.
See main article: Yuan You. "Yuan You" 遠遊 One piece.
See main article: Bu Ju. "Bu Ju"卜居. One piece, mixed poetry and prose.
See main article: Yu Fu. "Yu Fu" . Text source (Chinese): 漁父. One piece, mixed poetry and prose.
See main article: Nine Changes. "Nine Changes" (or "Nine Disputations", or "Nine Arguments"). Attributed to Song Yu. Chinese source: 九辯. Number of individual pieces uncertain. No separate titles.
See main article: Zhao Hun. "Summons of the Soul" . Text source (in Chinese): 招魂. One piece.
See main article: The Great Summons. "The Great Summons" . Text source (in Chinese): 大招. One piece.
See main article: Sorrow for Troth Betrayed. "Sorrow for Troth Betrayed" . Text source (in Chinese): 惜誓. One piece, with luan.
"Summons for a Recluse" . Textsource (in Chinese): 招隱士. One piece.
"Seven Remonstrances" . Text source (in Chinese): 七諫. Seven pieces, plus luan.
See main article: Alas That My Lot Was Not Cast. "Alas That My Lot Was Not Cast" . Chinese text source: 哀時命. One piece.
See main article: Nine Regrets. "Nine Regrets" . Attributed to Wang Bao, who flourished during the reign of Emperor Xuan of Han. Source text (in Chinese): 九懷. Consists of nine sections, plus a luan (envoi).
See main article: Nine Laments. "Nine Laments" . (歎 is a variant for 嘆). Written by Liu Xiang (77-6 BCE). Text (in Chinese): 九歎. Nine pieces, each one including a final "Lament", entitled 'Embittered Thoughts':
See main article: Nine Longings. "Nine Longings" . By Wang Yi, a Han dynasty librarian and compiler and annotator of the Chu Ci. Chinese text source: 九思. Nine pieces, plus a luan: