President Xi Jinping has on many important occasions stressed carrying forward the national ethos of patriotism, tireless struggle and ceaseless pursuit to forge a powerful force for creating an even better tomorrow for the Chinese nation as a whole.
The Chinese people on Saturday mark the Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Duanwu Festival, a day dedicated to commemorating ancient China's patriotic poet Qu Yuan (about 340-278 BC), whose legacy of patriotism and perseverance has influenced the country and its people for thousands of years.
Qu was a loyal statesman and a patriotic poet in Chu, a major state in the Warring States Period (475-221 BC). He was unjustly exiled by the king of Chu, who disregarded Qu's policy advice. Heartbroken by the news of rivaling forces seizing Chu's capital, Qu eventually chose to end his life, by plunging himself into the river of Miluo clutching a heavy stone in what is now central China's Hunan Province.
Legend has it that upon learning of Qu's death, locals took to boats on the river to search for his body, dropping rice dumplings called zongzi into the water to prevent him from being eaten by fish. This is why the Chinese people hold dragon boat races and make zongzi to eat during the festival.
Throughout his lifetime, Qu wrote a great number of poems expressing his love and concern for his country and people. Perhaps his most famous line is "Long as the way is, I will keep on searching high and low," which embodies the poet's ceaseless spirit of exploration.
The famous verse has been recited by generations of the Chinese people, including President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission.
In 2016, Xi quoted the line in his address at a ceremony marking the 95th founding anniversary of the CPC, calling on all Party members to preserve the Party's tradition of struggle and have the courage to change and innovate in the continuing test of history.
"'Long as the way is, I will keep on searching high and low.' The entire CPC must stay true to its cause and continue marching forward. We must maintain our modesty and prudence and avoid arrogance and impetuosity," he said.
This is an example of the president's quoting of Qu's impassioned verses, which have inspired the entire Party and Chinese people of all ethnic groups to put the ancient poet's legacy into action and brave challenges through reform and innovation.
Attending a seminar on Oct 15, 2014, Xi quoted Qu Yuan as saying, "I sigh and cry, how hard life is for my countrymen", to hearten those from the field of art and literature to create more works that deeply reflect the people's aspirations.
Addressing an academician conference on May 28, 2018, Xi also quoted Qu Yuan as saying, "I would die for the ideal I hold dear to my heart", to encourage those from the field of science and technology to crack hard nuts, pursue excellence, and win final victory.
Speaking at a commemoration event on September 3, 2014, he cited Qu's lines to praise the Chinese people for their solidarity, courage and determination to face death head-on in the fight against Japanese aggression during World War II and beyond.
"Without an ethos, a person cannot stand firm, nor can a country be strong. Only when the ethos is deeply rooted can a nation stand tall and stand firm at the forefront in the great current of history," Xi said at a meeting on September 8, 2020, that commended role models in the country's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
In today's China, the spirit of patriotism, concern for the people, adherence to truth, and unyielding will embodied in Qu Yuan's career has traveled through the long river of history and inspired generations of the Chinese people to move forward.
Xi stresses carrying forward national ethos
Xi stresses carrying forward national ethos
