"A Person of the State" Composed a Poem: Lyrics of Praise and Blame in the "Huayang guo zhi"

Anonymous lyrics of praise and blame are found in Chang Qu¹s (ca. 291-ca. 361) Huayang guo zhi. While it is tempting to read the lyrics as historical expressions of popular sentiments in late Han Sichuan, their contextualization in Chang Qu's narrative effectively obscures their origin. But examining the lyrics as part of Chang's historical record offers insights into the practice of writing local history in early medieval China. In particular, the embedded lyrics support Chang Qu's major arguments for the inclusion of the Sichuan region within the greater Chinese cultural empire.