Classic of Poetry

Confucius, a Chinese leader, teacher, and philosopher in 500 B.C.E, was a big believer in Chinese literature and poetry. He compiled works for the Classic of Poetry based on the poem’s ability to promote moral virtue and provide social order (Puchner 756). Besides teaching repetition, rhythm, and rhetorical patterns, the poetry also provided a model for proper behavior, taught historical events, gave voice to writers, and kept bad rulers in check. The collection became an important part of Chinese history: “Because of the collection’s canonical status, centuries of commentary and interpretation have accrued around it, adding to its meaning and significance and endowing the simple scenes in the poems with moral and political purpose” (756). The common man was able to learn allegorical meanings, figurative language, and moral and political significance.

In addition, the poems commented on proper social conduct,

I dread others will talk much;

Zhongzi may be in my thoughts,

But when people talk too much-

That too may be held in dread. (“Zhongzi, Please” lns. 21-24)

A lover desires intimacy with a woman, yet she is afraid what others will say, especially her parents’ and brothers’, so she turns the lover away. This poem taught correct female behavior: not to give into temptation.

            Some poems also gave important planting and historical advice:

And how goes this rite we have? –

at times, we hull, at times we scoop,

at times we winnow, at times we stomp,

we hear it slosh, as we wash it,

we hear it puff as we steam it. (“She Bore the Folk” 56-60)

The poem “lists the order of the ritual acts that the Zhou people perform to celebrate the harvest and commemorate their ancestor” (Puchner 758).

Although the Classic of Poetry offered rhetoric, moral, and virtuous lessons to readers, it is also important to note that many of these social ideals are not relevant today. The poetry fits the place (China) and the time period (1000-600 B.C.E.), but the messages (acceptable female behavior and men are allowed to have several wives) may not be the best lessons to teach to students of today.

Works Cited

Puchner, Martin, Gen ed. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Shorter Third ed. Vol. 1. New York: W.W. Norton, 2013. Print.

 “She Bore the Folk.” Trans. Stephen Owen. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Ed. Martin Puchner et al. Shorter 3rd ed. Vol. 1. New York: W.W. Norton, 2013. 764-766. Print.

 “Zhongzi, Please.” Trans. Stephen Owen. The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Ed. Martin Puchner et al. Shorter 3rd ed. Vol. 1. New York: W.W. Norton, 2013. 762-763. Print.