List of Chu Ci contents
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. 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.
"Encountering Sorrow"
"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. Source text of Li Sao :. One piece."Nine Songs"
"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. Text :The titles of the poems in Chinese are as follows. English translations of titles follow David Hawkes:
| Standard order | English translation | Transcription | 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 |
"Heavenly Questions"
"Tian Wen", also known as Questions to Heaven, addressed to Tian, consists of series of questions, 172 in all, in verse format. The series of questions asked involves Chinese mythology and ancient Chinese religious beliefs. The answers are not explicated. Text :. One piece."Nine Pieces"
"Jiu Zhang" consists of nine pieces of poetry, one of which is the "Lament for Ying". Ying was the name of one of the traditional capital cities of Qu Yuan's homeland of Chu. 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:.| Standard order | English translation | Transcription | 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 | A Lament for Ying | 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 | In Praise of the Orange-Tree | 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. English titles based on David Hawkes' translations.
"Far-off Journey"
"Yuan You" One piece."Divination"
"Bu Ju". One piece, mixed poetry and prose.
"The Fisherman"
"Yu Fu". Text source :. One piece, mixed poetry and prose."Nine Changes"
"Nine Changes". Attributed to Song Yu. Chinese source:. Number of individual pieces uncertain. No separate titles."Summons of the Soul"
"Summons of the Soul". Text source :. One piece."The Great Summons"
"The Great Summons". Text source :. One piece."Sorrow for Troth Betrayed"
"Sorrow for Troth Betrayed". Text source :. One piece, with luan."Summons for a Recluse"
"Summons for a Recluse". Textsource :. One piece."Seven Remonstrances"
"Seven Remonstrances". Text source :. Seven pieces, plus luan.- I When First Exiled
- II Drowning in the River
- III Disgust with the World
- IV Embittered Thoughts
- V Oppressed by Grief
- VI Mourning my Lot
- VII Reckless Remonstrance
- VIII Luan
"Alas That My Lot Was Not Cast"
"Nine Regrets"
"Nine Regrets". Attributed to Wang Bao, who flourished during the reign of Emperor Xuan of Han. Source text :. Consists of nine sections, plus a luan.- I Release from Worldly Contrivings
- II A Road to Beyond
- III Dangerous Heights
- IV A Light on the World
- V Honouring the Good
- VI Stored Blossoms
- VII Thoughts on Loyalty Bent
- VIII Raising Barriers
- IX Quenching the Light
- X Luan
"Nine Laments"
- 1. 'Encountering Troubles'
- 2. 'Leaving the World'
- 3. 'Embittered Thoughts'
- 4. 'Going Far Away'
- 5. 'Lament for the Worthy'
- 6. 'Saddened by Sufferings'
- 7. 'Grieved by this Fate'
- 8. 'Sighing for Olden Times'
- 9. 'The Far-off Journey'
"Nine Longings"
- I Meeting with Reproach
- II Resentment against the Ruler
- III Impatience with the World
- IV Pity for the Ruler
- V Running into Danger
- VI Grieving over Disorder
- VII Distressed by These Times
- VIII Lament for the Year
- IX Maintaining Resolution
- X Luan