Song Yu (Simplified Chinese: 宋玉) was a well-known Chinese poet in the State of Chu during the third century BCE. He is commonly said to be a nephew of Qu Yuan, but no reliable biographical information is available (He is also said to be a student of Qu Yuan). Several poems in the Chu Ci are attributed to him. State of Chu (small seal script, 220 BC) Chu (楚), originally known as Jing (荆) and then Jingchu (荆楚), was an independent state that existed during Chinas Spring and Autumn period and, subsequently, the Warring States period. ... Qu Yuan (Simplified Chinese: 屈原; Traditional Chinese: 屈原; Pinyin: qū yúan) (340 BC - 278 BC) was a Chinese patriotic poet from southern Chu during the Warring States Period. ... Qu Yuan (Simplified Chinese: 屈原; Traditional Chinese: 屈原; Pinyin: qū yúan) (340 BC - 278 BC) was a Chinese patriotic poet from southern Chu during the Warring States Period. ... Portrait of Qu Yuan, the central figure of Chu Ci, by Australian Chinese artist Zhang Cuiying Chu Ci (Simplified Chinese: 楚辞; Traditional Chinese: 楚辞; Pinyin chǔ cí), also known as Songs of the South or Songs of Chu, is an anthology of Chinese poems by Qu Yuan and Song Yu...

Biography

Born in a poor family, he held posts as Attendant of Letters in the court, but never realised his amibition. After Qu Yuan's death, he became the major writers of Cifu (a literary form, sentimental or descriptive composition, often rhymed, especially in the Han Dynasty and Wei Dynasty). Qu Yuan (Simplified Chinese: 屈原; Traditional Chinese: 屈原; Pinyin: qū yúan) (340 BC - 278 BC) was a Chinese patriotic poet from southern Chu during the Warring States Period. ... Han commanderies and kingdoms AD 2. ... The Northern Wei Dynasty (北魏 386-534) is most noted for the unification of northern China in 440, it was also heavily involved in funding the arts and many antiques and art works from this period have survived. ...

Works

According to the section of Literature and Art in History of the Former Han Dynasty (汉书·艺文志), Song Yu has altogether written 16 pieces of work, but only 14 of them have been handed down, such as Jiu Bian (Nine Arguments, 九辩) and Deng Tu Zi Hao Ce Fu (登徒子好色赋). What is more, it is doubted if, with the exception of Jiu Bian, these works are written by Song Yu at all. Nevertheless, as a writer of Cifu, Song Yu is a great successor to Qu Yuan and he has also developed his original style. His name has long been put together with Qu Yuan as "Qu-Song". The Han Dynasty (Traditional Chinese characters: 漢朝, Simplified Chinese characters: 汉朝, pinyin Hàncháo 202 BC - AD 220) followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. ... Qu Yuan (Simplified Chinese: 屈原; Traditional Chinese: 屈原; Pinyin: qū yúan) (340 BC - 278 BC) was a Chinese patriotic poet from southern Chu during the Warring States Period. ... Qu Yuan (Simplified Chinese: 屈原; Traditional Chinese: 屈原; Pinyin: qū yúan) (340 BC - 278 BC) was a Chinese patriotic poet from southern Chu during the Warring States Period. ...