Wisdom and Hermeneutics of Poetry in Classical Confucianism

Abstract

Poetry occupied a crucial position in the classical Confucian educational program. Not only did the Shijing 詩經 (Classic of Poetry) constitute one of the fundamental teaching materials in the Six Classics, but poetry also played an important role in the political, diplomatic, and cultural arenas in ancient China. In the cultural and educational context of ancient China, shi詩 (poetry) was closely connected with yue樂 (music) and li 禮 (propriety, rites), as confirmed by what Confucius said, “One gets inspired with poetry, established with propriety, and filled with a sense of completeness by music” (Analects 8.8, my translation and same below). Also, the learning of poetry was necessary for elegant language and public speech, as Confucius was said to have taught Bo Yu伯魚, his son, “One will not know what to say if one does not learn poetry” (Analects 16.13).