Close Reading of the Book of Songs

Name: Close Reading of the Book of Songs
ISBN: 9787532566587

严明Shanghai Classics Publishing House · ChinaAug 2022

3.9

Word count: 141K words
Chapters: 133
ISBN: 9787532566587

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Summary

Few of the poems in the Book of Songs can be dated with certainty. The Hymns and Court Odes were produced relatively early, mostly in the Western Zhou period; apart from the Airs of Bin and part of the 'Two South,' the Airs of the States all date from the early to mid Spring and Autumn period. In character, the Odes and Hymns were essentially songs performed on specific occasions, while most of the Airs are folk songs, with a portion of the Lesser Odes resembling them. The 'folk songs' are ordinary lyric songs that circulated in society, and most of their authors are unknown. Judging by the speakers in the poems, their creators included laborers and soldiers as well as some from the shi (knight-scholar) and junzi (gentleman) classes. Since the poems differ in nature, their contents differ accordingly.

Editor's review

Published by Shanghai Classics Publishing House and compiled by Professor Yan Ming, *Close Readings of the Classic of Poetry* is a scholarly yet accessible introduction that guides contemporary readers to a deeper understanding of the essence of the *Classic of Poetry*. A specialist in classical Chinese literature, Professor Yan brings his considerable scholarly expertise to a systematic and concise reading of the text. This is no mere annotated translation: it concentrates on close reading and the explication of meaning, seeking to recover the spiritual core and artistic appeal of the *Classic of Poetry* as the fountainhead of Chinese literature.

From an editorial perspective, the book's distinctive value lies in its balance of scholarly depth and readability. It avoids cumbersome textual criticism and stays close to the poems themselves, approaching them from language, imagery, emotion and social context to analyze their literary value and cultural significance. The readings of such famous pieces as "Guan Ju" and "Jian Jia," for instance, not only explain the literal sense but probe the emotional tension, the techniques of comparison and evocation (*bi* and *xing*), and their symbolic meaning in traditional culture. This approach helps readers move beyond the surface of words and feel the vitality that has kept the *Classic of Poetry* moving for millennia.

The book is also thoughtfully organized, selecting the most representative pieces and supporting them with clear annotations and continuous exposition to form a step-by-step reading system. It is especially suited to readers who wish to go beyond superficial acquaintance and are willing to spend time savoring the beauty of the *Classic of Poetry* immersively. Through this book, readers gain not only knowledge but also a sensitivity to and appreciation of classical texts—a valuable foundation for understanding the whole tradition of classical Chinese literature.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who wish to read the *Classic of Poetry* systematically and in depth rather than settle for a general acquaintance.
University students of Chinese literature or enthusiasts of classical literature who need a reference work combining scholarship with guided reading.
Readers seeking to appreciate the *Classic of Poetry* from a literary and aesthetic angle and to understand its emotional expression and artistic techniques.
Learners of traditional culture with some grounding in classical Chinese who are willing to engage in dialogue with the spiritual world of the ancients through close reading.

Not a good fit for

Readers who merely want a quick summary of the plots or a plain modern translation for fast reading.
Professional researchers expecting extensive historical criticism, textual collation or other purely academic content.

Reading tips

Read in the order the book is arranged: first go through the selected poems and annotations, then reflect on the interpretive text following each poem.
Reciting the original poems aloud while reading helps you feel the beauty of their sound and rhythm—an indispensable part of understanding the *Classic of Poetry*.
For poems or themes that interest you, extend your reading to traditional commentaries such as the *Mao Preface to the Poetry* and *Collected Commentaries on the Poetry* to broaden your perspective.

About the publisher

Shanghai Classics Publishing House China · Founded in 1956

Shanghai Classics Publishing House is a professional publisher centered on the collation of ancient texts and academic research works. Its publishing areas cover historical readings, classical poetry, folk literature, literary appreciation, canonical works, and Eastern philosophy. Its books include Chen Yinke's A Brief Discussion of the Origins of the Sui and Tang Institutions, Xin Qiji's Chronological Annotated Edition of Jiaxuan's Ci (Simplified Edition), Tang Xianzu's The Peony Pavilion, Liu Xie's The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons, as well as New Annotations to Three Hundred Tang Poems (Collector's Edition), Annotated Edition of Han Changli's Collected Works (Simplified Edition, 3 volumes), and Youyang Zazu. Its authors include Chen Yinke, Xin Qiji, Tang Xianzu, Liu Xie, Deng Guangming, Hengtang Tuishi, Han Yu, and Ma Qichang. In terms of publishing characteristics, the house emphasizes collation, annotation, and compilation of ancient texts alongside academic research works, and continues to issue simplified and collector's editions that balance scholarship and accessibility. Public information about the publisher's fuller publishing profile is limited.

版权信息
前言
一、国风
1 关雎
2 葛覃
3 卷耳
4 桃夭
5 兔罝
6 芣苡
7 汉广
8 汝坟
9 鹊巢
10 行露
11 摽有梅
12 小星
13 江有汜
14 野有死麕
15 柏舟
16 绿衣
17 燕燕
18 日月
19 终风
20 击鼓
21 凯风
22 谷风
23 式微式微，式微！胡不归①？
24 简兮
25 泉水
26 北门
27 北风
28 静女
29 新台
30 柏舟
31 君子偕老
32 桑中
33 定之方中
34 蝃蝀
35 相鼠
36 载驰
37 硕人
38 氓
39 竹竿
40 河广
41 伯兮
42 有狐
43 木瓜
44 黍离
45 君子于役
46 中谷有蓷
47 葛藟
48 采葛
49 大车
50 丘中有麻
51 将仲子
52 叔于田
53 遵大路
54 女曰鸡鸣
55 有女同车
56 山有扶苏
57 狡童
58 褰裳
59 丰
60 东门之墠
61 风雨
62 子衿
63 扬之水
64 出其东门
65 野有蔓草
66 溱洧
67 东方之日
68 东方未明
69 南山
70 甫田
71 葛屦
72 汾沮洳
73 园有桃
74 陟岵
75 伐檀
76 硕鼠
77 蟋蟀
78 椒聊
79 绸缪
80 杕杜
81 鸨羽
82 有杕之杜
83 葛生
84 车邻
85 驷驖
86 小戎
87 蒹葭
88 终南
89 黄鸟
90 晨风
91 无衣
92 宛丘
93 东门之枌
94 衡门
95 东门之池
96 东门之杨
97 防有鹊巢
98 月出
99 泽陂
100 羔裘
101 素冠
102 匪风
103 蜉蝣
104 候人彼候人兮，何戈与祋①。
105 鸤鸠
106 七月
107 鸱鸮
108 东山
109 伐柯
二、雅·小雅
小雅
大雅
三、颂
159 清庙
160 丰年
161 有瞽
162 潜
163 敬之
164 小毖
165 良耜
166 駉
167 有駜
168 泮水
169 那
170 烈祖
171 玄鸟
172 长发
173 殷武
主要参考书
附录

FAQ

Does this book include all 305 poems of the *Classic of Poetry*?

This is a book of "close readings" and does not include every poem; it selects representative works of high intellectual and artistic quality for in-depth interpretation.

How much classical Chinese do I need to understand it?

The annotations are detailed and the interpretation clear and accessible; readers with high-school-level or above classical Chinese reading ability can read it smoothly, making it an excellent guided introduction.

How does this book differ from other annotated editions of the *Classic of Poetry*?

Its distinguishing feature is its emphasis on "close reading" and aesthetic interpretation, focusing on literary and intellectual exploration rather than mere exegesis and annotation, and giving more attention to guiding readers to feel the poetic heart.

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About the author

严明 Author · Chinese · 1956

Yan Ming was born in Suzhou, Jiangsu, in August 1956. He is a professor and doctoral supervisor at the School of Humanities, Shanghai Normal University, and chief expert of the National Social Science Fund major project "History of East Asian Han Poetry (Multi-volume)." His research focuses on Ming and Qing poetry and East Asian Han poetics. He has published more than twenty monographs, including Chinese Poetics and Ming-Qing Poetry Talks and Studies in East Asian Han Poetry, and over one hundred articles; nine of his works are included in this library. These works span literary appreciation, cultural essays, photography, and social-science topics, ranging from a close reading of the Classic of Poetry to thematic scholarly collections on East Asian Han poetry, as well as cross-disciplinary subjects such as educational linguistics and legal regulation of the media industry. His writing balances scholarly rigor with readability, serving both specialist research and general readers.