The war poems in The Book of Songs mainly reflect the war strategy of the Zhou Dynasty. Since the rise of the Zhou Dynasty, there have been frequent frictions with neighboring northern nomads. At the end of the Zhou Dynasty, the northwest Rongdi invaded frequently, the south rebelled from time to time, and the Shandong governors also made insurrections from time to time, which posed an extremely serious threat to the central dynasty. Although literature, martial arts, success, and prosperity shocked Rong Di, and the Duke of Zhou rebelled, cut Rong, and revived it, it was still attacked and killed by the dog Rong at the foot of Mount Li. The powerful vassal States always coveted the rich land in the capital area and the authority to dominate the world. It can be seen that the serious border invasion and endless conquest became the important social themes of the Zhou Dynasty, and the war was naturally reflected in the poems in detail and vividly.
First of all, let's look at some articles in the poems "Da Ya Chang Wu", "Da Ya Jianghan", "Da Ya Huang Yi" and "Ode". Most of these poems praise the martial arts of the ruling class and upper-level generals. With impassioned words, the "big teeth and long arms" boasted of Julian Waghann's powerful military strength and high morale, and its momentum was breathtaking. "Daya Jianghan" boasts the brilliance of Chen with generous pen and ink, which is almost melodramatic. This "main melody" style is reflected in many similar chapters, mostly praising the martial arts of kings, governors and generals. It is true that this kind of poetry is more out of political needs, or by officials, or polished by historians and musicians. It can be found that war is an opportunity for the ruling class to establish glory and achievements. Poetry that records and reflects the war will definitely highlight the strength of national strength, the glory of victory, the majesty of Julian Waghann and the broadness of martial arts, and form an official perspective to examine the war. War poetry from this perspective presents magnificent and vigorous art.
On the other hand, some poems preserved in Guofeng, such as Guifeng Drumming, Feng Wang Yangzhishui, Qin Rong, Guifeng Dongshan, Guifeng Broken Axe, etc. There is a strong sense of parting and boredom between the lines. Take "Taifeng Drumming" as an example. The background of this poem is that Song, Chen, Cai and Wei jointly crusaded against Zheng, which lasted for four years. The struggle for power and interests between the ruling classes brought disaster to the soldiers who participated in the war: "If you don't go home, you will worry." In the face of the war imposed by the country on foot soldiers, "you live in a lonely place." Lost his horse? "The soldiers are in a bad mood, because the war for which they shed their blood is meaningless in the hearts of the people. War-weariness and fear of death are not due to cowardice, but to the concern for family and wife in the hearts of soldiers, and this tenderness is even more gentle and sad when he will die for an unjust war at any time. " Life and death are generous, and Zi Cheng says. The poem "Hold your hand and grow old with your son", which has been circulated throughout the ages, is now mostly used for wedding wishes, full of joy and warmth. However, when soldiers facing despair and unpredictable life and death think of the scene of their wedding in the desolate suburbs and the vows of eternal love between them and their lovers, how painful and sad they are! "In picked wide xi, not I live in xi. Sorry, I don't believe it. " This almost hysterical wail is heartbreaking and tears are streaming down her face. This kind of poem represents the voices of lower-level soldiers and ordinary people. For them, glory and victory are meaningless in war, but death and displacement can bring fatal blows and incurable pain. This kind of war poems, which originated from the folk, mostly express bitter lovesickness, bitterness, resentment and endless disappointment and sadness. This is a folk standpoint to examine the war, and it presents a sad mood with its sincere, profound and touching feelings.
It is not difficult to understand that the victory of the war is at the expense of countless soldiers, and most of the ordinary soldiers come from ordinary people, and the ordinary people's experience of the war is undoubtedly bitter. Whether it is a just enemy or an unjust war, the war will always bring the people the broken family, the separation of relatives and the death of life. As the ruling class, their eyes are authority and glory, as well as merits and interests. "Once a great event is achieved, all bones will wither." Kings and generals pay more attention to the immortal legacy brought by great achievements, and the souls of countless fallen soldiers are only the ladder of their success. The difference and opposition between these two perspectives can be seen. Moreover, this opposition is permanent, not only in the Book of Songs, but also in the war-related literary works of past dynasties. During the prosperous Tang Dynasty, the dream of returning to China was strong and martial. Although there are poems such as Cen Can's "The doctor in the western suburbs of the Northern Court is waiting to seal the army", there are also Du Fu's tearful "Military Vehicle Shop" and "The blood in the border court is like a sea, and there is still a battle in the heart of Emperor Wu", which may be the most perfect interpretation of these two perspectives.
War poems from the official perspective are difficult to arouse emotional waves in readers' hearts, while those from the folk position are simple and sincere, which can better reflect the true face of ancient wars and let readers appreciate the dangers and cruelty of wars. In this position, the themes of war-weariness and homesickness, defending the people and homesickness also profoundly influenced the creation of war poems and frontier poems in later generations. Comparing and examining the war poems in The Book of Songs and the poems about battles in later generations from these two different angles, I believe there will be different feelings and tastes.