"Preface to Mao's Poems" is the first monograph on Chinese poetry theory. It summarizes several important Confucian understandings of poetry since the Pre-Qin Dynasty. It can be said to be a summary of Confucian poetic theory from the Pre-Qin Dynasty to the Western Han Dynasty. The main points are as follows:
First of all, "Preface to Mao's Poems" reveals the artistic essence of the unity of poetry's lyricism and ambition. Secondly, "Preface to Poetry" is based on a Confucian perspective, paying special attention to the social role of poetry with politics and religion as its core. Thirdly, the "six meanings" proposed in the preface have rich theoretical connotations. In short, "Preface to the Poems" is not only a summary, but also has a profound impact on the subsequent development of literary concepts.
Although this influence is complex, with both positive and negative aspects, it nevertheless constitutes an important part of the Confucian poetic tradition.