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魂魄毅兮为鬼雄

魂魄毅兮為鬼雄
húnpò yì xī wéi guǐ xióng
quotation

Meanings

  1. 1 the souls of the resolute become heroes among the ghosts
  2. 2 (fig.) fallen warriors continue their heroism in the underworld
  3. 3 (lit.) soul-spirit resolute-ah become ghost hero

Examples

身既死兮神以灵，魂魄毅兮为鬼雄，屈原悼国殇令人动容。
Shēn jì sǐ xī shén yǐ líng, húnpòyìxīwéiguǐxióng, Qūyuán dào guó shāng lìngrén dòngróng.
'The body is dead yet the spirit is numinous; the resolute soul becomes a hero among ghosts' — Qu Yuan's dirge for the fallen moves every reader.
烈士纪念碑上刻着魂魄毅兮为鬼雄。
Lièshì jìniànbēi shàng kè zhe húnpòyìxīwéiguǐxióng.
On the martyrs' monument is carved: 'the resolute soul becomes a hero among ghosts.'

Tips

history
From 屈原《九歌·国殇》(Qu Yuan, 'Nine Songs — For Those Fallen for the Kingdom,' Warring States, 4th–3rd c. BCE), the shaman-hymn mourning Chu soldiers killed in battle: 诚既勇兮又以武，终刚强兮不可凌。身既死兮神以灵，子魂魄兮为鬼雄 (Truly brave and martial, firm to the end, beyond humiliation. The body dead, the spirit lives on — your soul, resolute, becomes a hero among ghosts). The line 生当作人杰，死亦为鬼雄 by 李清照 (Li Qingzhao) is its famous Song-dynasty echo.
usage
兮 (xī) is the signature Chuci exclamatory particle (≈ 'ah / oh'), found almost only in 《楚辞》. Often quoted in modern form 为鬼雄 (to become a hero even in death). Variant also written 子魂魄兮为鬼雄.

Stroke Order

魂 hún
魄 pò
毅 yì
兮 xī
为 wéi
鬼 guǐ
雄 xióng