Asking Heaven
This poem is full of rationally exploring spirit and profound literary thoughts.It is also a remarkable piece of writing in Qu Yuan's works.Asking Heaven is a classic poem full of strong rational exploration spirit and deep literary sentiment，and it is also a peculiar article in Chuci.Not only is the form of artistic expression different from that of Qu Yuan's other works，but more importantly，from the conception of the works to the peculiarity of the author's thoughts shown in his works.The extraordinary contents reveal the author's amazing artistic talent and the poet's extraordinary knowledge and imagination.
I'd like to ask when the ancient times began to exist.
Who was the man stating this to the late generations？
Before the heaven and earth took shapes，
In what way was their existence proved？
Brightness and darkness could not be distinguished in a chaos，
Who could investigate and carefully study the relative reasons？
The air is completely empty but in fact there was really nothing.
Yet relying on what could it be well respected and distinguished.
It's bright in the day time and dark at night.
How could this be arranged so wonderfully？
Yin and Yang joined together and all things were made.
What was the original one and what were the varieties？
It was said that there were nine steps to the vast heaven.
But who was the person to go there and measure them？
This was a project that was so magnificent.
Who built it with so grand a momentum？
Where were the handle and axis of the plough tied？
Where did they extend to the place extremely afar？
Where the eight pillars supported the heaven？
Why the earth got its southeastern part lower？
As for the heaven center and all directions，
What did they rely on so to link together？
Each side crossed and there were so many corners.
Who was the one to make so perfect calculation？
Where did the heaven and the earth intersect？
How the twelve regions were well demarcated？
How to coordinate the celestial body of sun-and-moon？
How could it be to put all stars in such a perfect order？
The sun rises in Yanggu in the morning，
While it sets in Mengsi in the evening.
From daybreak till dusk，
How many miles are there？
What sort of virtues does the moon have？
They made her round again after wane？
There is a rabbit in the abdomen of the moon.
What sort of advantages this has to the moon？
Goddess Nvqi had no husband.
Why could she have nine sons？
Where does the God of Boqiang live？
Where does the lucky air come from？
Close which door to make it dark？
Open which door to get daybreak？
The eastern horizon has not been bright，
Then whereat could the sun hide itself？
If Gun could not be competent to control water，
For what reasons did the people still select him？
Since it was said there was nothing to worry about，
For what reasons not to let him do an experiment？
The sun moves with the help of owl and turtle.
What sort of things could Gun learn from it？
Gun will be successful if he yielded to the people.
But for what reasons King of Yao cruelly tortured him？
Gun was confined in Mount Yushan as a punishment.
Why he still wasn't freed after three years there？
Yu was born ever from the abdomen of Gun.
But why did he have different disposition？
He carried out the cause unfinished by forefathers.
He was finally perfectly fulfilled his fathers'behest.
He could well fulfill his precursor's behest.
But for what he adopted different strategies？
The flood was too deep to see its bottom.
In what way could it be filled nevertheless？
Fertile or barren，soil could be divided in nine grades.
But how could it be to make an obvious demarcation？
How can Ying dragon draw on ground with tail？
How can the sea and the river flow smoothly？
What sort of cause did Gun operate？
But how did Yu make the achievement？
Why did Gonggong burst into anger and simmered with rage？
Why was the southeastern part of the earth inclining for him？
How to arrange the vast areas of the nine regions？
How to dredge the great rivers in the vast valleys？
Water always flows into the east sea which is never filled.
Are there any people who know the real reasons of this？
As for the regions of the four different directions，
Which part is longer and which part is the more？
The earth had a narrow and long terrain from south to north.
But what was the length of the place which was the longest？
As for the Xuanpu fairyland in Mount Kunlun，
Where was the dwelling located in the world？
There were still nine cities more in the mountains.
But how many miles was the height of these cities？
There were four doors and four windows in Mount Kunlun.
Who went out and came in thru these doors and windows？
The two doors in the northwest were open.
What wind went through these two doors？
There was no place the sun could not shine.
Why was candle God's light needed to shine？
The wagon of God Xihe had not set out.
Why did ruo mu trees bloom can shine？
Where was the winter always warm？
Where was the summer always cool？
Where did the rocks form forests？
Where wild beasts spoke like men？
Where were there dragons without horns？
Who were happy to carry bears to travel？
No one expected the male viper had nine heads，
Coming and going very rapidly where was it born？
Where can we find an ever-lasting country？
Where can we hope to find the macrobiosis？
What sort of things can replace an everlasting country？
What kind of unique skills the long-lived persons enjoy？
Duckweed spread with leaves ramifying in nine twigs.
In what kind of place the hemp blossoms comes out？
It was said that a snake could swallow an elephant.
But one might wonder how big this snake would be.
The water of Heishui and Mount Xuanzhi，
And Mount Sanwei，where are they？
With a prolong life a person can never die.
But at what time the life is to be finished？
Where does the oddly shaped ling fish live？
And where does the strange bird qi dui live？
How could Houyi shoot down the sun？
And how did the owl remove its feather？
Great Yu did his utmost to accomplish holy merits.
He went to many a province to pay inspection visits.
Where could he get the girl of Tushan？
Then the couple got married in Taisang.
The daughter of Tu Shan got matched with him.
They worried they might have no descendants.
But why did he have a desire different from others？
He pursued only the feeling of satisfaction only a morning.
Replacing Boyi，Qi became the emperor.
At last he suffered from disaster anyway.
Why Qi suffered this sort of distresses and worries？
But he could escape although he was put into jail？
Houyi's subordinates laid down arms and surrendered.
But no wound and damage could be seen in Qi's body.
Sparing no effort in the performance of their duty，
They were dutiful and industrious，safe and sound.
Why Boyi finally caused his happiness finished？
But great Yu could have prosperous successors？
Xia Qi was eager to have an audience with the emperor.
He could get the music of The Nine Debates and The Nine Songs.
Why did a dutiful son kill and dismember his mother？
She had remains scattering over the vast wild fields.
God sent Yiyi to befall in the world，
He was to change politics preventing disaster.
Because of what did the River God get shot？
Why he had his wife robbed away by force？
Yiyi well pulled his treasured bow.
He used it to chase and shoot a boar.
Yiyi gave fat meat to Emperor of Heaven as sacrifices.
Why Emperor of Heaven did not think it as his kindness？
Hanzhuo married Houyi's imperial concubine Chunhu.
Then they two conspired to make Yiyi meet his death.
Yi could shoot thru seven layers of leather.
But why he was murdered by a joint plot？
The road was hard and dangerous to the west.
But how to go through layers of layers of rock？
Gun turned himself into a yellow bear.
But how could the wizard revive him？
Black millet was already sown in the field.
Water beach with reed had been reclaimed.
Gun was driven out as being considered as a villain.
In fact he was not really filled with any crimes at all.
The Moon Goddess made clothes with white rainbow.
For what reason did she dress herself up so gloriously？
She searched and found the undead medicines.
But she failed to preserve it for a long time.
Heaven had regulations of Yin and Yang.
If without Yang air would die soon.
The big golden crow was stout and strong.
But why could it be dismembered and die？
Rain master Pingyi called and it began to rain.
How did he give the rain a thriving momentum？
Having a teachable and submissive quality，
How did Wind God with deer body respond？
Carrying Holy Mount the turtle waved all fours.
And how could Holy Mount keep standing still？
Giant Longbo gave up boat and took a land route.
How could he angle the holy turtle out of the sea？
Ao was living in his own home at the time.
What did he ask for from his sister-in-law？
Why did Shaokang drive the sleuth hound？
He caught the chance to get it beheaded？
Nvqi was sewing clothes for Ao.
She slept in the same room of Ao.
Why was Nvqi wrongly beheaded？
Why did Nvqi suffer from disaster？
Ao pretended to be Tianlie and led his troops.
And how did he make his army more powerful？
He could attack Zhenxun and overturn their boats.
But by what sort of ways could he achieve success？
Xia Jie dispatched troops to attack Mount Mengshan，
But what sort of good things could he ever obtain？
Why Moxi could act very self-indulgently？
For what reasons did Shang Tang kill her？
Shun was very much worried about his marriage.
But for what did his father let him keep single？
The two imperial concubines already married Shun.
But Emperor Yao didn't tell anything to Shun's father？(https://www.daowen.com)
From the very beginning of the development，
Whoever was able to presuppose the future？
It was extra luxurious the Jade Tower had ten stories.
But who could see clear about this at the beginning？
Fuxi ascended the throng and became a king.
Whoever supported him as a leader anyway？
Nvwa had her body changed three times a day.
Whose wisdom helped her to make success？
Emperor Shun very friendly yielded to his brother.
But this very brother still did harm to him anyway.
Nevertheless，he became a pig-like or dog-like person.
Why he could prevent dangers from coming anyway？
In the ancient times of Gugong Danfu，
Wu State was for its long-term existence.
They came to the foot of Mount Nanyue，
And decided to found state there for long.
Who could ever think about the real reason for that？
It was that two brothers gave up positions to brother.
Varied delicious food was presented.
Shang Tang accepted it very happily.
Why Yiyin was granted to attack Jie？
It made Jie go to his grave at the end.
Shang Tang paid inspection visits everywhere.
By chance he met wise and able minister Yiyin.
Xia Jie was punished in Mingtiao.
Why did common people exclaim？
Jiandi lived in the nine-storeys Yaotai.
But how could Emperor Ku admire her？
The black crow flied over to send its eggs.
But how could she get pregnant anyway？
Wang Hai took over the goodness of his father.
He took his father as an example of kindness.
Why did he suffer from the misery caused by Youyi？
What he could only do was to graze sheep or cows.
Wang Hai picked up his shield and danced.
How could they get the woman hooked on them？
The woman of Youyi had a nice full figure.
How could she keep such an appearance？
There was a herd in the state of Youyi.
Where did he stealthily meet the lady？
Wang Hai was killed and the lady didn't go out.
But in what way could she survive at last？
Wangheng took over the nice virtue from Wangji.
Where his brother's sheep and cows could be found？
Where could he make a good preparation？
He was unwilling to return back for nothing.
The ancestors of the footprint must be carefully sought.
Youyi's whole state suffered from a dangerous turmoil.
Why did all kinds of birds love to gather in the bushes？
The father and son were indulged in sensual pleasures.
The young brother also did the same with them.
Elder brother Wanghai was also suffered disaster.
Wanghai was really a person both deceitful and designing.
Why could his later generations be prosperous endlessly？
Chengtang went to the east for tour of inspection.
He reached many places as remote as in Youshen.
He begged the mean person Yiyin.
He got a virtuous and pretty wife.
Shen's lady gathered mulberry leaves at Yi River.
The little baby Yiyin was found in mulberry tree.
The emperor of Youshen got a bad idea.
He should have taken Yiyin as a bridal gift？
Tang came back from the prison Chongquan.
What sort of crimes had he ever committed？
It was hard to bear the insult so attacked Jie.
Who was the one to have stirred up trouble？
Dukes and princes formed an alliance in the morning of Jiazi.
Why could all members keep their own promises？
Elite troops were magnificent and mighty as eagles.
Who made them gather together with one heart？
Wu Wang dismembered Zhou and beheaded him.
But Zhougong Jidan strongly disagreed with him.
Zhougong helped Wu Wang to have destroyed Shang.
For what he hove a sigh after founding Zhou Dynasty？
God gave the land under heaven to Yin Dynasty.
But how to deal with the throne of Zhou Wang？
Yin Dynasty rose up but it was to be destroyed.
Whoever knew where its crimes lied on anyway？
Feudal princes actively gathered troops for wars.
But how did Wu Wang enhance troop morale？
Troops advanced together to hit enemy's two wings.
But how could he command the military strength？
Zhao Wang called chariots together for a travel.
He arrived at southern area and stayed in Chu.
What benefit did he obtain？
Did he only get white pheasant？
Wu Wang spurred his horse in a hurry.
Why did he want to travel everywhere？
He went everywhere under the heaven.
What sort of requests did he ever have？
The couple of sorcerers supported hand in hand.
Why did they walk around in the street and called？
Whoever was killed by You Wang？
And where did Baosi come from？
Destiny always played fast and loose.
Who was punished or was guarded？
Qi Huangong united feudal princes nine times.
But he was put in trouble and died at last.
Whoever spoiled that Shang Zhou Wang？
So he became extravagant and dissipated.
Why did Zhou Wang hate loyal ministers？
But he was willing to listen to the villains.
What was wrong with Pigan.
Why was he attacked like that？
Leikai was good at flattering.
He was granted grand award.
Virtuous ministers had same moral characters.
But for what were their outcomes so different？
Meibo was tortured and chopped into flesh paste.
Jizi retired from the world and pretended to be mad.
Houji was the first son of the first wife.
But why did Emperor Ku hate and kill him？
Houji was thrown onto the cold ice.
Why did birds cover him with wings？
For what he held bow and arrows when he grew up？
He was talent as a field commander with special skills.
His birth already shocked Heaven.
Why was his offspring prosperous？
Xibo was already nearly ninety years old.
But he still abided by order to keep grazing.
How to dismantle the temples of Qi？
How to abide by destiny to possess Yin？
His ancestors moved to Mount Qishan with treasures.
How to make people have something to rely on？
Zhou was decluded by Daji.
Whoever dared to remonstrate？
Emperor gave Xibo the flesh paste of his son.
Xibo was sorrowful and sacrificed to heaven.
Zhou Wang was already punished by Heaven.
But why could Yin still hardly be saved anyway？
Taigong Lvwang sold meat in shop.
Why could Jichang make out worthy？
On hearing the sound of knife-waving，
Why was Wen Wang extremely happy？
Wu Wang attacked Zhou and ruined Shang.
But for what reason did he feel depressed？
Taking the spirit tablet of Wen Wang to fight，
For what did he feel burdened with worries？
The prince Shensheng hanged himself，
But for what reason did he do like this？
It had frightened heaven and moved earth.
But was there any one fearing and shrinking？
God had already issued many orders.
Why were the bad ones not punished？
Zhou already ruled the land under heaven.
For what was he replaced by Zhou people？
He used Yiyin as a small official at the beginning.
Later he let him remove evils as a prime minister.
He assisted Shang Tang in governing the state.
Why did he get the ancestral temple after death？
Meritorious Helv was the grandson of Shoumeng
He suffered the torment of dispersion in childhood.
Why was he was very valiant at the noon of life？
Why was he well-known with a good reputation？
Pengzu cooked soup with pheasant.
Why did Emperor Yao love to taste it？
He was very much delighted to enjoy longevity.
But why did he hate that it could not be very long？
The royal court of Zhou ruled the people publicly.
For what reason was Li Wang bristled with anger？
The lives of bees and moths were humble.
Why self-defense forces could be strong？
Warned by woman Boyi and Shuqi picked no wei，
But why did the white deer nurse them with her milk？
They went northward and came to Huishui River.
What pleasure there would be for staying here？
Jinggong had a very ferocious dog.
What did the young brother think？
He wanted to change a dog with a hundred wagons.
But this deal failed so he lost his official's salary.
Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed just at dusk.
What did he worry about if one wanted to return？
Dignity of the country disappeared.
What could be prayed for from God？
One hid himself in a cave.
What did he want to say？
Since Chu wanted to send army for war，
How to prolong the country's destiny？
If king regretted and corrected mistakes，
What kind of things could I talk about？
Helv the King of Wu fought against Chu.
We were already defeated by him.
Zi Wen's mother had illicit sexual intercourse.
But why did this evil woman become dominant？
A miracle should come out nevertheless.
Why did she give birth to virtuous Lingyin？
I once talked with virtuous Duao.
I said Chu would decline very soon.
I'd like to ask：why could this man kill the emperor？
And why could he become the emperor by himself？
He left behind a good reputation of loyalty forever.
His fairness would be widely praised age after age.