屈原

Qu Yuan is one of the most important poets in the history of Chinese literature, though public sources offer limited detail about his life, and neither his dates nor his nationality are clearly recorded. Judging from the works handed down under his name, he drew on the language and mythology of the Chu region and pioneered a lyrical, imaginative style known as sao poetry. The library holds 10 of his works, including the signature pieces Li Sao and Jiu Ge, as well as several editions of Chu Ci: an unannotated version, a general collection, a fully annotated, translated and phonetic edition, and a vernacular metrical rendering. These works span ancient poetry, folk literature, Eastern philosophy and culture; they are intense in feeling and rich in wondrous imagery, often using fragrant herbs and beautiful figures to express inner concerns. Qu Yuan exerted a profound influence on later poetry, and his works remain essential texts for studying pre-Qin literature and thought.