RELATED TOPIC:
The Book of Songs and China's Literary Tradition

RELATED TOPIC:
The Han Dynasty Codification

RELATED TOPIC:
"The Great Preface" and Five Notions about Poetry

RELATED TOPIC:
Individual Voices in the Book of Songs

Robert Oxnam :: The Book of Songs** is also a source of legends about the origins of the Zhou people and the agricultural nature of Chinese society. It describes the birth of the god of millet, known as Houji, the legendary founder of the Zhou clan. Here we see the centrality of agriculture to the people of ancient China and the importance of ritual as a way of maintaining harmony and peace.

** The Book of Songs is also known as the Book of Poetry, the Classic of Poetry, and sometimes the Book of Odes. These are all possible translations of the Chinese title, Shi jing [Shih-ching in Wade-Giles romanization].