Why are the Book of Songs and the Songs of Chu the two sources of Chinese literature? (Ask for a detailed answer)

Answer 1

The Book of Songs and the Songs of Chu were both classic works in the history of Chinese literature and were hailed as the source of Chinese literature. Each of them represented different literary schools and periods with unique artistic charm and cultural implications.

The Book of Songs was the earliest collection of poems in ancient China. It included 403 poems from the Zhou Dynasty (11th century B.C. to the 6th century B.C.). The Book of Songs was rich in content, covering love, war, nature, religion and other aspects, reflecting the social style and cultural characteristics of the Zhou Dynasty. The Book of Songs has various forms, such as poetry, Fu, prose, etc. There are also five-character, seven-character, and regular poems.

The Songs of Chu is the earliest collection of romantic poems in the history of Chinese literature. It was produced during the Warring States Period (770 - 221 B.C.) and is the representative of Chu literature. The characteristics of Chu Ci are gorgeous diction, strong emotion, rich imagination, good at using metaphor, symbol, exaggeration and other rhetorical devices, with a distinct personality and style. The representative works of Chu Ci include Li Sao and Qu Yuan Biography.

The Book of Songs and the Songs of Chu were both important parts of Chinese literature. They represented different literary schools and periods, and had a profound influence on later literature. As the source of Chinese literature, they are not only the important wealth in the treasure house of Chinese literature, but also an important part of Chinese culture.