屈原是中國最早的浪漫主義詩人,是楚國大夫。為了抵御強(qiáng)秦,他提議與齊國結(jié)盟。但因奸臣誹謗(slander),他被免職、流放。懷著對國家和人民的滿腔熱忱,他創(chuàng)作了許多詩篇,《離騷》(The Lament)就是其中最著名的一篇。公元前278年,秦國攻克楚國。屈原不愿降秦,跳進(jìn)汨羅江自盡。按照傳統(tǒng),每年五月初五端午節(jié)(the Dragon Boat Festival)時(shí),人們都會(huì)紀(jì)念這位愛國之士。
Qu Yuan, a minister of Kingdom Chu, was the first Romantic poet in China. He suggested an alliance with Kingdom Qi to resist the powerful Kingdom Qin, but slandered by treacherous court officials, he was dismissed and exiled. With full love for his country and people in heart, he composed many famous poems, among which The Lament is the most popular one. In 278 BC, Kingdom Chu was conquered by Kingdom Qin. Unwilling to surrender to the Qin, Qu Yuan took his own life by means of jumping into the Miluo River. As a prime example of patriotism, he is traditionally commemorated on the Dragon Boat Festival on the fifth day of the fifth month of the traditional Chinese calendar.