The phrase "poetry expresses ambition" comes from "Shangshu. Yao Canon": "Poetry expresses ambition, songs express eternal words, sounds depend on eternity, and rhythms are harmonious." "Meaning: Poems are used to express people's will, and songs are the language of chanting poems in a long-drawn tone. The pitch of the voice follows the language of chanting in a long-drawn tone, and rhymes are used to harmonize the sounds.
"Poetic Expression of Zhi" is the earliest record and expression of literary concepts in existing ancient books. Therefore, Mr. Zhu Ziqing praised it as the "founding program" of Chinese poetry theory in all dynasties and had a long-term influence on subsequent literary theories. It briefly explains the nature of poetry to express the author's thoughts and feelings. "Word" means speaking, expressing; "Zhi" means people's inner aspirations and thoughts, which are thoughts and feelings. It reveals that poetry is not about recording events or discussing things, but about expressing them. The emphasis is on the expression of inner will. The concept of "poetry expresses one's will" shows that the ancients had a relatively clear understanding of the essential characteristics of poetry as literature and art.
The theory of "poetry expresses one's will" has had a great influence. "Zuo Zhuan" in the "Twenty-Seventh Year of Duke Xiang" records that "poetry expresses ambition", "Zhuangzi. Tianxia Chapter" says: "Poetry expresses Taoism", and "Xunzi Ru Xiao Chapter" says: "Poetry expresses ambition." "Ye", it can be seen that "poetry expresses ambition" has become a quite common understanding during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. Confucius summarizes the ideological content of "The Book of Songs" with "Innocence", emphasizing that the thoughts and feelings of poetry must be elegant and upright, highlighting the role of "poetry expressing ambition" from It has the function of influencing people ideologically and emotionally and regulating people morally; later interpreters advocated "maintaining one's temperament" and "pursuing purity and ending with etiquette", and even advocated "gentleness and honesty" in Confucian poetry. This series The concept of "ambition" is limited to being in line with elegance and integrity. The thoughts and feelings expressed by poets in poems cannot go against "etiquette", cannot violate feudal ethics, and cannot be detrimental to the interests of the ruling class. This has a great influence on the literary creation of later generations for thousands of years. It has a great influence on ancient literary theory and criticism.
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