Asian Topics on Asia for Educators || The Book of Songs and China's Literary Tradition

THE BOOK OF SONGS AND
CHINA'S LITERARY TRADITION
Poetry as the Preeminent Literary Form: "Quince"

The Western Zhou dynasty (1050-771 BCE) ruled over several principalities, which fragmented in the eighth century BCE into a number of feudal states. The Zhou dynasty moved its capital east and ruled over the state of Zhou, in the midst of the other states and had only nominal rule over the others. The era of Eastern Zhou dynastic rule is divided into the Spring and Autumn Period (722-481 BCE) — so called because of the annual records compiled in the spring and autumn during these years, and the Warring States era (403-221 BCE). The year 256 BCE marks the end of the Eastern Zhou dynastic rule.

"Quince," from the Book of Songs

She tossed a quince to me —
I repaid with a precious girdle-gem.

But this was no repayment,
It just shows that I'll love her forever.

She tossed a peach to me —
I repaid with a precious greenstone;

But this was no repayment,
It just shows that I'll love her forever.

She tossed a plum to me —
I repaid with a precious stone of ebon;

But this was no repayment,
It just shows that I'll love her forever.

Robert Oxnam :: Poetry, in the Chinese tradition, was the preeminent literary form, understood as central to the expression of human emotions. The earliest works of Chinese literature are lyric poems composed between the years 1000 and 600 before the Common Era, during the first flourishing of the Zhou dynasty.

Three hundred and five of these poems were compiled sometime after the year 600 BCE into a collection known variously as the Book of Songs, the Book of Poetry, or the Classic of Poetry. **

** 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].