General Discussion of the Book of Songs
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Summary
What the ancients knew intimately by mouth and ear was only the Poems; there was nowhere they were not cited, no occasion on which they were not sung. Because they entrust feeling to objects and express emotion in a veiled, restrained way, their wording and meaning are less obvious than those of other classics; hence the classical masters often produced strained and far-fetched interpretations. Han scholars took as their aim mastering the classics for practical use. In the teaching of the Three Hundred Poems, what the Confucian scholars worked at with utmost effort was how to make the Son of Heaven, empresses and consorts, and feudal lords follow the rules; thus they single-mindedly established their theories around exhortation and reproof, and when a theory did not fit, they pinned the persons and events onto a shadowy realm, believing it without doubt, as if they had personally encountered them.
Editor's review
A distinctive feature of A General Discourse on the Shijing is its cautious reflection on traditional ways of interpreting the Poems. Starting from the actual context in which the ancients knew the Poems intimately by mouth and ear, Yao Jiheng points out that the Shijing entrusts feeling to objects and expresses emotion in veiled, restrained language, and precisely for this reason the classical masters' explanations easily slid into strained and far-fetched theories; he further criticizes Han scholars for taking mastering the classics for practical use as their aim, attaching exhortation-and-reproof theories to specific persons and events, even fabricating them out of thin air. This stance gives the book a strong sense of textual criticism and critique; one can feel a scholarly attitude that does not readily trust old theories and demands a return to the text itself. For readers already acquainted with the Mao Commentary, Zheng Xuan's Notes, or Zhu Xi's Collected Commentary on the Shijing, this book offers another perspective: not rushing to match each poem to a particular Son of Heaven or empress, but first asking whether the old theory has grounds. Suitable for close reading by Shijing researchers and readers of the history of classical criticism, and as a methodological reference for advanced undergraduates.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Students and scholars in Shijing studies who need to understand the Qing dynasty's doubt-the-old and authenticate-the-false approach.
- Readers who have already read traditional commentaries and wish to compare different hermeneutic stances.
- Researchers in the history of classical criticism and academic history concerned with reflection on methods of interpreting the Poems.
- Advanced liberal arts undergraduates using it as supplementary reading on classical research methodology.
Not a good fit for
- Complete beginners who do not yet have knowledge of the Shijing original text and basic commentary.
- Readers who want only beautiful poetic appreciation and do not wish to engage with academic analysis.
- Beginners who need a complete vernacular translation and word-by-word explanation.
Reading tips
- First become familiar with several famous pieces of the Shijing, then read this book's analysis of old theories; this makes it easier to start.
- Read Yao Jiheng's criticisms alongside the Mao Commentary and the Collected Commentary to compare the bases of their arguments.
- While reading, note how he judges an old theory to be "groundless," and summarize his method of authentication.
- No need to read through at once; select pieces to read as you progress through the original text.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 诗经通论序
- 诗经通论卷前
- 诗经通论卷一
- 诗经通论卷二
- 诗经通论卷三
- 诗经通论卷四
- 诗经通论卷五
- 诗经通论卷六
- 诗经通论卷七
- 诗经通论卷八
- 诗经通论卷九
- 诗经通论卷十
- 诗经通论卷十一
- 诗经通论卷十二
- 诗经通论卷十三
- 诗经通论卷十四
- 诗经通论卷十五
- 诗经通论卷十六
- 诗经通论卷十七
- 诗经通论卷十八
FAQ
Can I read A General Discourse on the Shijing without having read the Mao Commentary and Zheng Xuan's Notes?
You can read it, but your understanding will suffer. Many discussions in this book are directed at traditional old theories; if you are not familiar with the basic views of the Mao Commentary, Zheng Xuan's Notes, or Zhu Xi's Collected Commentary on the Shijing, it is not easy to see what Yao Jiheng's criticisms are aimed at. It is advisable at least to learn the rudiments of the main Shijing commentary systems before approaching this book.
What are the main features of A General Discourse on the Shijing?
As seen in the book's opening, Yao Jiheng values the Shijing's character of entrusting feeling to objects and expressing emotion in veiled language, is wary of the classical masters' strained and far-fetched explanations, and criticizes the Han scholars' tendency to overemphasize exhortation and reproof and to pin down specific persons and events. Its feature lies not in offering a new set of one-to-one explanations for everything, but in maintaining a skeptical, evidence-demanding critical attitude toward old theories.
Is this book suitable as an introduction to the Shijing?
Not recommended as an introductory book. It is more a commentary with a scholarly, analytical character, requiring readers to have experience reading the Shijing original and a general knowledge of traditional commentary. Beginners should first use modern annotated editions to clarify words and piece meanings, then read this book, so as to appreciate the value of its criticism of old theories.
In what order should one read A General Discourse on the Shijing?
You can read selected pieces in the order of the original Shijing, or first pick pieces you are familiar with to see how Yao Jiheng analyzes old theories. For each piece, first recall the Mao Commentary or Zhu Xi's view, then read this book's criticism, and finally return to the original to judge whether it holds. This is more effective than plowing through page by page.
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About the author
姚际恒
Author
Yao Jiheng was a Qing-dynasty scholar. Public information about his life and official career is limited, and his name is known to later generations mainly through several surviving works. Four of his works are included here: Gujin Weishu Kao (A Study of Ancient and Modern Forged Books), Shijing Tonglun (A General Discussion of the Classic of Poetry), Chunqiu Tonglun (A General Discussion of the Spring and Autumn Annals), and Haogutang Shumu (Catalogue of the Haogu Hall). In subject matter he worked across classical scholarship, bibliography, and textual authentication: Gujin Weishu Kao examines the authenticity of transmitted texts one by one, the two Tonglun works show his approach to interpreting the classics, and Haogutang Shumu records his book collecting and cataloguing. His writing is marked by solid textual research and cautious judgment, often offering independent views within plain exposition, and has had a certain influence on the study of textual authentication and the classics. He is commonly grouped under categories such as philosophical reading, Eastern philosophy, and literary appreciation.
