Cult Ov 2 Fin Exam 2024

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Please write here a textbook chapter about a Chinese cultural phenomenon until June 15 and start writing now, with unlimited revisions possible until June 15. When you find your topic listed here it means it has been approved by the teacher. It can be either in traditional culture or today. It cannot be a topic already published in the textbook.

Please do not forget to put it into context and relation in the beginning, e.g. where it emerged and how it spread, if it is unique to Chinese or Asian cultures, if it is well-known or exotic, when it occured and how it developed throughout history.

Please write 1000 English words, and on top of it write Terms and Expressions, Questions, References. The References should contain also paper books or papers and also at least one Western source. You also need to provide a Chinese version of the text and questions.

Li Sijin |Literature:Qu Yuan

Introduction

Qu Yuan is a famous great patriotic poet in Chinese history, the founder of Chinese romantic literature, and the founder and representative writer of "Chu Ci". 2,300 years ago, the great patriotic poet Qu Yuan threw himself into the Miluo River. The spirit of Qu Yuan has been continuously interpreted since the Han Dynasty, showing distinctive characteristics of the times in each era; The activities and festivals commemorating Qu Yuan have become important cultural traditions of the Chinese nation, and people have increased their sense of belonging and identity through commemorating Qu Yuan. The spirit of Qu Yuan has been widely disseminated and recognized abroad, and the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival has been included in the "Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage".

Main Part

In 340 B.C., Qu Yuan was born in the state of Chu. When he was young, he received a good education and had a big ambition. After entering politics, he advocated for "good governance", advocating for internal governance with clear laws and external alliances to resist the state of Qin. Later, he was marginalized by the aristocracy and exiled to the region of the Yuan and Xiang rivers. However, like a warrior, he steadfastly upheld his ideals, practiced the ways of a nobleman, never allowing worldly corruption to tarnish his lofty and noble character. In 278 BC, when there was no way to serve the country , Qu Yuan committed suicide in the Miluo River in complete despair. The poet has become Qu Yuan's primary label throughout the ages. From his life and works, people have summarized and continuously expounded the "Qu Yuan spirit", and with the changes of the times, it has been constantly endowed with new connotations of the times. 1.Qu Yuan's virtue Qu Yuan used his own name to reflect the moral standards he pursued. According to the opening of "Li Sao," "My father gave me the name 'Zheng Ze,' and called me 'Ling Jun'." "Zheng Ze" signifies integrity and righteousness, adhering strictly to principles of conduct: "Ling Jun" denotes intelligence, wisdom, fairness, and justice. In the "Song of the Orange Tree," he further exemplifies his character by the steadfastness of the orange tree: for the sake of his noble ideals, he would never compromise, even unto death. Qu Yuan's eternal aspiration lies in his literary works and political ambitions, all of which stand on the side of the people. His greatness lies in his unwavering compassion for the country and its people, and his profound love for his homeland. The reason his deeds and works are intertwined with the daily lives of the people and have become a significant commemoration of a traditional festival is because his words and actions overflow with boundless love for the motherland, the people, and the native culture. Deeply embedded within them lies the enduring strength of national spirit and culture. "No one in the country knows me, why cling to the old capital?" Qu Yuan once pondered the question of "why not leave the country," but ultimately, he did not embark on distant travels, which truly reflects his steadfastness to his spiritual and cultural heritage. 2.Qu Yuan's political advocacy and contributions Qu Yuan was a great politician. On the one hand, he set up the ideal and ambition of "good governance" very early, and the political goal for which he fought for all his life. He advocated internal governance with clear laws and the reform of politics. At this time, Qu Yuan, who was honest, upright and selfless, was supported by King, and the six reform measures he carried out made the state of Chu stronger and stronger. On the other hand, Qu Yuan advocated external alliances to resist the state of Qin. His foreign policy made the state of Chu once present a situation of national wealth and strong army. 3.Qu Yuan's poems Poet is Qu Yuan's primary label throughout the ages. Qu Yuan integrated his life with his homeland, and his specific works are full of deep feelings for his country, which are worthy of praise and learning for future generations. He recounted in "Li Sao": "Long did I sigh and wipe away my tears, to see my people bowed by griefs and fears." The poet expressed deep sympathy for the difficult life of the people. And this kind of love and sorrow intertwined also made Qu Yuan refuse to leave his hometown until he died. His feelings for the country and the people also erupted uncontrollably in a series of poetic works such as "Jiu Ge" and "Jiu Zhang". Therefore, Qu Yuan's poetry has incomparable cultural value. 4.The embodiment of Qu Yuan's spirit in modern times Today, during the Dragon Boat Festival, various regions across China highlight the theme of honoring Qu Yuan, praising his upright path and his spirit of patriotism and love for the people. Through storytelling about the festival and Qu Yuan, reciting poetry, and participating in dragon boat races, they lead the public in learning about traditional culture and nurturing patriotic sentiments.Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, he has praised his honest and noble personality on different occasions, andhas repeatedly quoted famous sentences from Qu Yuan's poems to expound his thoughts.Today, as we commemorate Qu Yuan, we honor the traditional Chinese scholar's spirit of confronting life and death, boldly striking at the unknown, represented by Qu Yuan's "Questions to Heaven" spirit. In his epic poem "Questions to Heaven," Qu Yuan delves from the separation of heaven and earth, the changes of yin and yang, to natural phenomena like the sun, moon, and stars, directly questioning mythological legends and historical tales of sages and villains, prosperity and decline. Through his inquiries, he expresses his cosmological, historical, and political views. Not confined by doctrines but driven by reality, daring to question and critique, such exploratory spirit is truly admirable.This shows the Chinese's critical spirit of existing traditional concepts and the spirit of exploring scientific truth. Today, we commemorate Qu Yuan to honor the loyal and unswerving patriotic spirit of Qu Yuan. Qu Yuan's name has become an important label for patriotism. The greatest charm of Qu Yuan's personality lies in the spiritual core with the spirit of patriotism as the core, which allowed him to transcend the value pursuit of scholars at that time to abandon the country and pursue profits, closely link personal ideals with the destiny of the nation, and strive to unite and struggle for the realization of the people's yearning for a better life. Today, we commemorate Qu Yuan to honor the perseverance and struggle spirit of Qu Yuan. Qu Yuan has been worried the Chu State all his life, whether he is in the imperial court or not, he does not forget to think about the country and the people.Unwilling to take a detour, nor willing to compromise, he finally proved his loyalty with his life, and he never regretted it.

Conclusion

"Qu Yuan," as a spiritual symbol, plays an extraordinary role in the construction of the Chinese national community consciousness, spanning from the past to the present and even into the future. Without a great sage like Qu Yuan, the entire Chinese scholarly community would inevitably lack a certain spiritual strength, and Chinese history would lose many tragic hues.