What are the characteristics of pre-Qin literature?

If the development of China literature is compared to a long river, then the literature in this period is in the origin stage; If China literature is compared to a tall building, then the literature of this period is its cornerstone. Therefore, understanding and studying the literature of this period is of special significance for understanding the formation of the fine tradition of China literature, the historical origin of aesthetic consciousness, and the occurrence and development of the national form and style of China literature.

In addition to primitive ballads, ancient oral literature also contains myths and legends. Ancient myths are rich and colorful, but they have not been systematically and completely preserved because they have been lost for a long time. Now see some sporadic fragments, mostly from the rumors of later generations. The myths scattered in the Classic of Mountains and Seas, Huainanzi and other ancient books are famous, such as Jingwei's reclamation, Kuafu's daytime transformation, Goddess's mending the sky, controlling the water in Yi, shooting the sun in Hou Yi, Huangdi's killing Chiyou, Star-Heaven Fighting Emperor, Feather Republic of China and so on. As a primitive social ideology, myth vividly reflects the social life and spiritual world of ancient human beings through imagination and fantasy in an unconscious artistic way, and has immortal cognitive value. Myth is also an artistic treasure of human childhood that will never return. It shows high aesthetic value with its own magnificence and infinite charm.

Myth is the source of China's romantic literature. With fiery passion and magical fantasy, it shows the primitive people's desire to know and transform nature, pursue the ideal of a better life and praise heroism and optimism.