Qu Yuan

Qu Yuan (343–278 BC ) was a Chinese poet and minister who lived during the Warring States period of ancient China. He is principally remembered as the supposed origin of the Dragon Boat Festival. He is also known for his contributions to classical poetry and verses, especially through the poems of the Chu Ci anthology (also known as The Songs of the South or Songs of Chu ): a volume of poems attributed to or considered to be inspired by his verse writing. Together with the Shi Jing, the Chu Ci is one of the two great collections of ancient Chinese verse .