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.
"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 (in Chinese): .
"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 (in Chinese):
The titles of the poems in Chinese are as follows. English translations of titles follow David Hawkes:
"Tian Wen" (), also known as Questions to Heaven, addressed to Tian (or "Heaven"), 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 (in Chinese): . One piece.
"Jiu Zhang" () consists of nine pieces of poetry, one of which is the "Lament for Ying" ("Ai Ying"). Ying was the name of one of the traditional capital cities of Qu Yuan's homeland of Chu (eventually, Ying and Chu even became synonymous). 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 â hence the "Lament". Text in Chinese: .
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.
"Yuan You" () One piece.
"Bu Ju" () . One piece, mixed poetry and prose.
"Yu Fu" (). Text source (Chinese): . One piece, mixed poetry and prose.
"Nine Changes" (, or "Nine Disputations", or "Nine Arguments"). Attributed to Song Yu. Chinese source: . Number of individual pieces uncertain. No separate titles.
"Summons of the Soul" (). Text source (in Chinese): . One piece.
"The Great Summons" (). Text source (in Chinese): . One piece.
"Sorrow for Troth Betrayed" (). Text source (in Chinese): . One piece, with luan.
"Summons for a Recluse" (). Textsource (in Chinese): . One piece.
"Seven Remonstrances" (). Text source (in Chinese): . Seven pieces, plus luan.
"Alas That My Lot Was Not Cast" (). Chinese text source: . One piece.
"Nine Regrets" (). Attributed to Wang Bao, who flourished during the reign of Emperor Xuan of Han. Source text (in Chinese): . Consists of nine sections, plus a luan (envoi).
"Nine Laments" (). (æ is a variant for Ã¥ÂÂ). Written by Liu Xiang (77-6 BCE). Text (in Chinese): . Nine pieces, each one including a final "Lament", entitled 'Embittered Thoughts':
"Nine Longings" (). By Wang Yi, a Han dynasty librarian and compiler and annotator of the Chu Ci. Chinese text source: . Nine pieces, plus a luan: