Book of Songs Annotations - (Full 2 Volumes)

Author: Cheng Junying
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1991-10-01
Features: The Book of Songs is the earliest comprehensive collection of poetry in the history of Chinese literature, divided into three major categories: Feng, Ya, and Song, with a total of 305 poems. Historically, it is also known as "Three Hundred Poems." This collection includes works from the Zhou Dynasty. The categorization of Feng, Ya, and Song in The Book of Songs is based on the origin of the poems and their musical tunes. Feng refers to folk songs with local characteristics, sung to lively melodies, reflecting daily life. The verses are rich in rhythm, with short and abrupt tones, repetitive stanzas, and an intimate, moving quality. Ya is further divided into "Great Ya" and "Small Ya," including political satirical poems, epic poems, sacrificial poems, and celebratory poems. The content of Song mostly praises the virtues of rulers and former kings, though most lack distinct features. The Book of Songs has made significant contributions to the development of Chinese poetry. It is a comprehensive collection of poetry from the Zhou Dynasty and became the source of classical Chinese poetry. Renowned literary figures and poets from various eras, though differing in style and artistic forms, have all drawn endless inspiration from The Book of Songs. Qu Yuan of the Chu State inherited the realistic tradition of Feng and Ya in The Book of Songs while incorporating the forms of Chu folk songs and the romanticism of the Chu culture, composing the immortal The Songs of Chu. Since then, all forms of poetry have flourished in this rich soil. As a comprehensive collection of Chinese poetry, The Book of Songs has been commented on by scholars throughout the ages, but most have studied it as a Confucian classic. The author of this book approaches The Book of Songs from the perspective of restoring its original essence, appreciating it as a literary and artistic work. In the "Introduction" for each poem, there is an artistic analysis, and after the notes for each chapter, there is an added "Rhyme Reading" section to help readers pronounce the poems correctly. This book offers both a unique perspective on the study of The Book of Songs and a comprehensive compilation of the insights of scholars from past generations.