Chiu Yuan (屈原, ca. 340 BC - 278 BC) was a patriotic minister of the southern State called Chu (楚) during the Warring States Period (戰國時代). Though being full of political ideals and loyal to the king, he was slandered by other jealous ministers, and finally banished by the king. In his exile, he wrote some of the greatest poetry in Chinese literature to express his sorrows and unchanged love for his state. In 278 BC, learning of the capture of the state capital, he chose to drown himself in the river to keep his clean soul and body from being corrupted by the dark era.