楚辞

　　  “楚辞”是在《诗经》之后出现的一种新诗体，公元前4世纪诞生在中国南方的楚国。“楚辞”在形成过程中，受到了楚地民歌、音乐及民间文学的影响，带有浓厚的楚国地方色彩。

　  　“楚辞”的代表作家屈原，是中国历史上最受尊敬的伟大诗人之一，每年端午节，中国人都要举行赛龙舟等活动纪念他。20世纪50年代，屈原被推举为世界文化名人，受到了全世界人民的敬仰。他的主要作品有《离骚》、《天问》、《九歌》等。

　　  《离骚》是一篇宏伟壮丽的政治抒情诗。全诗共370多句，2,400多字。诗人用血和泪的文字，讲述了自己的身世、品德和遭遇，倾诉了他对楚国命运的关怀和坚持理想的决心。他在诗中驾起玉龙，乘上彩车，在月神、风神和太阳神的护卫下，神游天上，追求理想，最后不得不离开他深爱的楚国。屈原的爱国热情和不屈精神，激励了一代又一代的作家。

　　  “楚辞”中神话传说的运用，奇特的想象，奔放的情感，华美的词章，展现了独特的浪漫色彩，为中国文学开辟了一条新路。

　　Chu Ci was a new style of poetry to emerge after The Book of Songs. It originated in the State of Chu in southern China in the 4th century BC. In the course of the formation of this genre, it was much influenced by folk songs, music and the folk literature of the State of Chu, and so it was characterized by a strong local color.

　　The best representative poet of Chu Ci was Qu Yuan, who is held in the highest esteem in China. On the Dragon Boat Festival every year, Chinese people hold dragon boat race to commemorate him. In the 1950s, Qu Yuan was recommended and cited as an outstanding cultural figure in the world for all people to respect. His main works include Sorrow After Departure (Li Sao), Asking Heaven (Tian Wen)a, Nine Songs (Jiu Ge)b, etc.

　　Sorrow After Departure (Li Sao) is a colossal political lyric made up of over 370 lines with 2,400 characters. With deep grief, the poet recounts his life, his beliefs and misfortunes, expresses his concern over the fate of the State of Chu and his determination to maintain his lofty aspirations. In this poem, he rode on a jade dragon and a colorful chariot, traveled to Heaven in search of his ideals under the protection of the God of the Moon, the God of Wind and the God of the Sun. Finally he was forced to leave his most beloved State of Chu. Qu Yuan's patriotism and unyielding spirit has encouraged many writers down through the generations.

　　The use of myths and fantasies, the strange twists of imagination, the vigorous surge of feelings and beautiful verses in Chu Ci demonstrate a unique romanticism that has never faded.