Qu Yuan, the first patriotic poet of China
Qu Yuan (about 340-278B.C.) was born in Ying Du (Jinan Town in Jingzhou). He was known as the first patriotic poet in Chinese history. People in modern times has honored him as world cultural celebrities.
Qu was the deputy prime minister of Chu and officer in charge of the three estates at the Warring States period. He advocated the enlightenment of legal system and political reform. Later, as the calumny came into the king’s ears, Qu was sent into exile. Qu Yuan wrote "Sorrow after department" Li Sao, a kind of autobiography, which was a new form of poem. Even today, people still think highly of its value of literature and patriotism.
In 278 B.C., while getting to know the news that the country was broken by Bai Qi, general of Qin, Qu committed suicide by jumping into the Miluo River. In 1953, the World Peace Council enlisted Qu Yuan as a world cultural celebrity