Living in the latter part of the Warring States Period (476 BC - 221  BC), Qu Yuan was the earliest great patriotic poet as well as a great  statesman, ideologist, diplomat and reformer in ancient China. He has  the reputation of being one of the world four great cultural  celebrities. The traditional Chinese Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated to commemorate him. His patriotic influence has left its mark on many subsequent generations in China and beyond.
Political Career
The  Warring States Period covers a period during which the seven individual  kingdoms, Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao, Wei and Qin - contended with each  other for hegemony. Qu Yuan, who lived in the Chu State, was trusted by  King Huai and did much to assist the King in governing the state.  Following reformation in the Qin state, the Qin gained in strength and  invaded the other six states. he suggested an alliance with Qi in order  to resist Qin. However, this was rejected by some of the ministers as  they could see that they would lose some of their power and privileges.  They made false accusations against him that were believed by King Huai.  The misguided monarch became alienated from his valued advisor and sent  him into exile as a consequence.
In the years that followed,  Huai, lacking the wise counsel of Qu Yuan, was deceived by the Qin into  thinking that they could live together in peace. However, King Huai was  subsequently detained by the Qin State for years until his eventual  death. King Huai was succeeded to the throne by his son who was even  more fatuous than his father. He disregarded Qu Yuan's advice not to  surrender to the Qin. Qu Yuan was exiled to an even further away than  before.
In 278 BC, upon learning that the Chu State had been  defeated by the Qin, Qu Yuan, in great despair and distress, ended his  life by drowning in the Miluo River in the northeastern part of Hunan  Province. 
As a Poet
Not  only was he a true patriot, he is famed for leaving many immortal poems  for us. During the days of his exile, Qu Yuan wrote many famous poems.  In them, his love for his country and its people are revealed naturally.  Among his greatest works are Li Sao (The Lament), Tian Wen (Asking Questions of Heaven), Jiu Ge (Nine Songs), and Huai Sha (Embracing the Sand).
Of these, Li Sao was the representative work of Qu Yuan and the longest lyric of  romanticism concerning politics in the history of ancient Chinese  literature. Tian Wen is characterized by 172 questions put to  heaven. The questions concern aspects of astronomy, geography,  literature, philosophy and other fields.
Reputation 
Qu  Yuan was respected not only by the people during his own time but also  after, and not only by people in China but also in the wider world. On  March, 5th, 1953, great commemorative activities were held in China in  honor of him. In September, the World Peace Council held a meeting to  remember him and urged people around the world learn from him. He was  also listed as one of the world's four literary celebrities for that  year.
Nowadays, the Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on the  fifth day of the fifth lunar month annually to commemorate Qu Yuan. And  other countries like Korea, Japan, Burma, Vietnam, and Malaysia etc. now  celebrate this festival. HIs masterpiece Li Sao has been translated into many languages and his portrait displayed in libraries in many countries.