The Fruit of Wisdom

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The Fruit of Wisdom

A discussion of Shih Ching or the Book of Odes/ Book of Songs which is one of the most famous collections of ancient Chinese poetry.

1,770 words () | 6 sources | APA | 2001 United States

Paper Summary:

This is an analysis of two poems found in the Book of Odes and the inspiration of nature on the author. This paper compares common themes running throughout the entire book by looking at two inspiration poems. Despite the fact that the style of poetry faded away about as quickly as it was born, much of its value and meaning have lived on to the present day. The Book of Odes is after all the earliest work of Chinese poetry ever discovered and it "represents all we know of early Chinese poetry" in a culture where the oldest is often thought to be the best.

From the Paper:

"Poetry, throughout history, has been one of the most admired artistic forms of inner expression and has inspired readers to search for personal meaning and value within the context of the most beautiful words written by man. It is impossible to fully understand ancient Chinese history without studying its contribution to the art of poetry. Chinese poets are known for their brilliance and Chinese poetry for its unique style, inner meaning and its ability to educate and inspire readers throughout the centuries. One of the most noteworthy pieces of literature is the Shih ching or the Book of Odes, also referred to as the Book of Songs. This collection of approximately 300 poems from the Chou dynasty is a Confucian classic and was traditionally compiled by Confucius himself. Confucius used these 305 poems in order to teach his disciples about the meaning they should be drawing from poetry. Two poems, one about a peach tree, and the other about a pear tree, are just a miniscule fragment of the entire Book of Odes, yet they reveal an ocean of meaning and provide an amazing preview into one of the most incredible volumes in Chinese history."