Li Sao

Li Sao (Chinese: 離騷; Pinyin: Lí Sāo) is a Chinese poem dating from the Warring States Period, largely written by Qu Yuan (340 BC - 278 BC) of the Kingdom of Chu. One of the most famous poems of pre-Qin China, it is a representative work of the Chu Ci (literally "Poetry of Chu") form of poetry.

Title

The title's meaning has been debated about even in historical times. Sima Qian interprets the title as "Woes of Departure" i.e. Qu Yuan's exile, while Ban Gu interprets it as "Encountering Trouble". Sima Qian's interpretation is the more adopted one, though recent scholars also theorise that 離騷 is simply a different way of writing 劳商; the latter is a generic name for a Chu song. In English the title is often translated as either The Lament or Encountering Trouble. ^[1]

Description

The poem has a total of 373 lines^[2], and about 2400 characters, which makes it one of the longest poems dating from Ancient China. It is in the fu style.^[3] While the precise date of composition is unknown it is one of Qu Yuan's later works, written after his exile by King Huai of Chu (楚懷王).

As a representative work of Chu poetry it makes use of a wide range of metaphors derived from the culture of Chu, including shamanistic elements such as divination and the presence of spirits, as well as references in ancient history and legendary figures. Because of these influences the poem is seen as an initiator of a Romantic tradition of poetry in China. ^[4]

The poem's main themes include Qu Yuan's falling victim to intrigues in the court of Chu, and subsequent exile; his desire to remain pure and untainted by the corruption that was rife in the court; and also his lamentation at the gradual decline of the once-powerful state of Chu. At the very end he, resigned, states his resolve to die.

Notes

1. ^ http://baike.baidu.com/view/30575.htm
2. ^ Davis,xlvii
3. ^ Davis,xlvii
4. ^ http://www.chinese-family.com/newshtml/news_373.html

References

• Davis, A. R. (Albert Richard), Editor and Introduction,(1970), The Penguin Book of Chinese Verse. (Baltimore: Penguin Books).
• Hinton, David (2008). Classical Chinese Poetry: An Anthology. New York: Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux. ISBN 0374105367 / ISBN 9780374105365.
• Yip, Wai-lim (1997). Chinese Poetry: An Anthology of Major Modes and Genres . (Durham and London: Duke University Press). ISBN 0-8223-1946-2

External links

• Yang Hsien-yi and Gladys Yang, verse: full text, an English translation