撰稿|翻译：中国网湖北郭凝诗
Author | Translator: Guo Ningshi from ChinaInternet Information Center，Hubei Business Division
审 阅：张硕，湖北省社科院楚文化研究所原所长、研究员，湖北省中华文化促进会副主席，湖北省荆楚文化研究会副会长
Reviewed by: Zhang Shuo, former director and researcher of the Chu Culture Research Institute of the Hubei Academy of Social Sciences,Vice President of Chinese Culture Promotion Society，Vice Chairman of the Hubei Jingchu Culture Research Association
英文审读：张玉杨，田媛源
English proofreading: Zhang Yuyang，Tian Yuanyuan
禹划九州，始有荆州。
Yu divided the nine states, and Jingzhou began to exist.
荆州市位于湖北省中南部，地处江汉平原腹地，国土面积1.41万平方公里，总人口637万，下辖荆州区、沙市区、江陵县、松滋市、公安县、石首市、监利市、洪湖市8个县市区和荆州经开区、纪南文旅区、荆州高新区3个功能区。2022年，全市实现地区生产总值3008.61亿元、同比增长5.1%，总量居全省第4位。
Jingzhou City is located in the central southern part of Hubei Province, in the hinterland of the Jianghan Plain, with a land area of 14100 square kilometers and a total population of 6.37 million. It has jurisdiction over 8 counties and cities, including Jingzhou District, Shashi District, Jiangling County, Songzi City, Gong'an County, Shishou City, Jianli City, and Honghu City, as well as three functional zones: Jingzhou Economic Development Zone, Jinan Cultural and Tourism Zone, and Jingzhou High tech Zone. In 2022, the city achieved a regional GDP of 300.861 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.1%, ranking fourth in the province in total.
荆州是国务院首批公布的全国历史文化名城，是楚文化的发祥地，拥有5000年建城史、500年建都史。楚文王元年（公元前689年）楚国迁都于郢（今荆州区纪南城），此后20位楚王定都荆州长达411年。楚先民“筚路蓝缕、以启山林”，以荆州为中心成就了春秋五霸、战国七雄的历史功业，创造了堪与古希腊雅典文化相媲美独具特色、璀璨辉煌的楚文化。
Jingzhou is one of the first national historical and cultural cities announced by the State Council, and is the birthplace of Chu culture. It has a history of 5000 years of city building and 500 years of capital building. In the first year of King Wen of Chu (689 BC), the state of Chu moved its capital to Ying (now Jinancheng, Jingzhou District), and after that, 20 Chu kings established their capital in Jingzhou for 411 years. The ancestors of Chu achieved the historical achievements of the Five Heroes of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Seven Heroes of the Warring States period with Jingzhou as the center, and created a unique and brilliant Chu culture that is comparable to ancient Greek Athenian culture.
楚文化，因楚国而得名，是形成于周代的一种地域文化。所谓的楚文化，是在楚国存在时期内，由楚人在楚地所创造的具有自身特征的一切物质文化和精神文化。她初成于江汉地区。楚人放眼天下、励精图治的精神，形成了外求诸人而博采众长，内求于己而独创一格的视野；形成了海纳百川、有容乃大的开放性文化和包容精神。
Chu culture, named after the state of Chu, is a regional culture formed during the Zhou Dynasty. The so-called Chu culture refers to all material and spiritual cultures with their own characteristics created by the Chu people in the Chu region during the existence of the Chu state. She first emerged in the Jianghan region. The Chu people have a spirit of looking at the world and striving for governance, forming a unique vision of seeking from others and drawing on their strengths, while seeking from themselves and creating a unique style; Formed an open culture and inclusive spirit that embraces all rivers and is inclusive.
说到楚文化的形成，不得不提到楚国的建立与阶级构成。
When it comes to the formation of Chu culture, it is necessary to mention the establishment and class composition of the Chu state.
楚国从周成王时受封，到公元前223年灭于秦，立国前后达八百余年（约1040—223BC）；楚人包括楚王室与上层统治集团和下层百姓。上层楚人源于北方华夏分支，所以其典型内核应是以中原文化为主体的；下层百姓主要是当地土著，也就是当地土著文化。楚文化是在原有中原文化的基础上，芈姓楚人文化逐渐地方化，地方土著文化逐渐中原化，两者互相靠拢，不断接近的过程中形成的。所以楚文化既有北方中原文化的特征，也有楚地土著文化的特征，是一种基于两种文化又同时区别于两种文化的独特的“楚文化”。
The state of Chu was enfeoffed during the reign of King Cheng of Zhou and was destroyed by Qin in 223 BC. It lasted for over 800 years before and after its establishment (approximately 1040-223BC); The Chu people include the Chu royal family, upper ruling groups, and lowerclass people. The lowerclass Chu people originated from the northern Huaxia branch, so their typical core should be centered around the Central Plains culture; The lower class people are mainly local indigenous people, which is the local indigenous culture. Chu culture is formed on the basis of the original Central Plains culture, with the gradual localization of the Mi surname Chu culture and the gradual Central Plains localization of the local indigenous culture. The two are closely related and constantly approaching each other. Therefore, Chu culture has the characteristics of both the northern central plains culture and the indigenous culture of Chu, which is a unique"Chu culture" based on The Two Cultures and different from The Two Cultures at the same time.
在楚国政权建立之后，以中原文明为主体的同时，楚文化还受到了南方蛮夷文明的深远影响。在理性光辉的照耀下又逐渐呈现出非理性的神秘主义和浪漫色彩。而这两种元素在文学领域则深深地体现在屈原所著的《离骚》和《楚辞》中。
After the establishment of the Chu regime, with the Central Plains civilization as the main body, Chu culture was also deeply influenced by the barbarian civilization in the south. Irrational mysticism and romance gradually emerged under the light of rational brilliance. And these two elements are deeply reflected in the literary field in Qu Yuan's works"Li Sao" and"Chu Ci".
楚先民以荆州为中心，创造了内可与黄河流域中原文化相辉映、外可与同时期古希腊雅典文化相媲美的楚文化。楚文化是荆州乃至整个湖北省最珍贵的历史文化遗产，是最有价值、最有时代感、最具核心竞争力和世界影响力的历史文化资源。
The ancestors of Chu, centered around Jingzhou, created a Chu culture that could be compared to the Central Plains culture of the Yellow River Basin and the ancient Greek Athenian culture of the same period. Chu culture is the most precious historical and cultural heritage in Jingzhou and even the entire Hubei Province. It is the most valuable, contemporary, core competitive, and globally influential historical and cultural resource.
党的二十大报告指出，要“推进文化自信自强，铸就社会主义文化新辉煌”。举办首届楚文化节弘扬楚文化，是增强文化自觉、坚定文化自信、传承弘扬荆楚文化的重要行动；是集中展示荆州形象，促进对外开放交流合作的重要平台，将更好地为荆州建设江汉平原高质量发展示范区赋能添彩。
The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China pointed out that we should"promote cultural confidence and self-improvement, and create new brilliance in socialist culture". Holding the first Chu Culture Festival to promote Chu culture is an important action to enhance cultural awareness, strengthen cultural confidence, and inherit and promote Jingchu culture; It is an important platform for showcasing the image of Jingzhou and promoting open exchange and cooperation with the outside world, which will better empower and add color to the construction of Jingzhou as a high-quality development demonstration zone in the Jianghan Plain.
楚文化“新画卷”，正在这片大地徐徐展开。
The"new scroll" of Chu culture is slowly unfolding on this land.
（资料来源：荆州市人民政府网、荆州日报等）
(Source:Jingzhou Municipal People's Government, Jingzhou Daily, etc.)