Selected Book of Songs and Poetic Paintings

Author: China International Publishing Group
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-03-03
Features: The Book of Songs is a collection of Chinese poetry, compiled around the mid-Spring and Autumn period, approximately the 6th century BC, roughly contemporary with the Homeric Epics of ancient Greece. Initially known as Shijing (the Book of Poetry), Shijing Sanbai (Three Hundred Poems), or Sanbupian (Three Hundred Pieces), it was revered as a Confucian classic during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC–AD 25) and became one of the "Six Classics" alongside The Book of Documents, The Book of Rites, The Book of Music, The Book of Changes, and The Spring and Autumn Annals. The Book of Songs is a collection of Chinese poetry, divided into three parts: Feng, Ya, and Song, comprising a total of 160 poems. The works are primarily lyrical poems, supplemented by narrative poems, satirical poems, and folk songs. They employ the artistic techniques of fu, bi, and xing, achieving remarkable artistic excellence and exerting a profound influence on later literary creation. This book selects 51 poems from The Book of Songs, all of which are representative works. Accompanied by Pinyin annotations and English translations, it allows poetry enthusiasts from China and abroad to appreciate its charm. The illustrations chosen for this book are mostly masterpieces by renowned painters from various dynasties, rare artistic treasures that greatly aid in understanding the content of The Book of Songs and appreciating its artistic essence.