宋代楚辭學頗為興盛，如洪興祖《楚辭補註》、朱子《楚辭集註》皆為楚辭學權威著作。高元之身為理學中人，深嗜《楚辭》，著有《變離騷》九篇，身後由友人周大受梓行。此書流傳不廣，至明代前期已不顯於世，明中葉後遂亡。本文根據現存的文獻資料，對高元之生平、著作、文學思想作一考述，進而論斷葉盛《水東日記》所收〈高元之先生變離騷序〉乃高氏自序，並試探《變離騷》之創作背景、刊印情況、內容大旨。本文認為，高元之文學思想先後受江西詩派、江湖詩派影響。在楚辭學方面，他注意調和屈騷與儒家的矛盾，將之納入儒家思想的框架。《變離騷》著成之時，朱子《楚辭集註》尚未刊行，故《變離騷》內容不受朱註影響，高氏自序的觀點可以代表洪《補》成書後，朱註付梓前這數十年間宋人楚辭學的情況。

During the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), the studies of Chu Ci were prevalent. For instance, Hong Xingzu’s (1090-1155) Chu Ci Bu Zhu and Zhu Xi’s (1130-1200) Chu Ci Ji Zhu are still regarded authoritative work of the studies of Chu Ci today. Gao Yuanzhi (1142-1197) was a neo-Confucian and an admirer of Qu Yuan. He took the works in Chu Ci as models and composed nine pieces, which were compiled and named Bian Li Sao (the Variations of Li Sao). Since the late Ming dynasty, Bian Li Sao has been extant no more. This article investigates Gao’s lifespan, the books he authored and his literary thoughts, and studies Bian Li Sao’s composition background, publication condition and content. Gao’s literary thoughts were influenced by Jiangxi Sect and Jianghu Sect. In order to prepare a place for Chu Ci in the Confucian framework Gao endeavoured to eliminate the conflicts between Chu Ci and Confucianism in his arguments. Bian Li Sao demonstrates the some more characteristics of the studies of Chu Ci in the Southern Song Dynasty.