Jiu Ge

Jiu Ge (; Pinyin: Jiǔ Gē; ) is a set of short poems sometimes attributed to Qu Yuan and published in the Chu Ci (楚辭 Songs of Chu, sometimes Songs of the South). It is among the finest examples of shamanic poetry to have been created in ancient China.

The songs were compiled by Qu Yuan. Despite the title, Jiu Ge actually includes eleven articles (or songs): Dong Huang Tai Yi (东皇太一), Yun Zhong Jun (云中君), Xiang Jun (湘君), Xiang Fu Ren (湘夫人), Da Si Ming (大司命), Shao Si Ming (少司命), Dong Jun (东君), He Bo (河伯), Shan Gui (山鬼), Guo Shang (国殇), Li Hun (礼魂). The songs feature mythological content. Jiu Ge is different from Qu Yuan's other works: with the exception of Guo Shang, each of the songs either includes dialogue or is written in prose style, to express love between gods, who are portrayed as having human-like behaviour. It is thought that the songs were influenced by contemporary love songs.

Poems 6 and 7 refer to comets, which the ancient Chinese kept meticulous records...
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