shī jīng: 诗经 - Classic of Poetry, Book of Odes

Keywords: Shijing, Shi Jing, Classic of Poetry, Book of Odes, ancient Chinese poetry, Confucian classics, Zhou Dynasty, oldest Chinese poetry, what is the shijing, Chinese literature, Four Books and Five Classics.

Summary: The 诗经 (Shījīng), translated as the Classic of Poetry or Book of Odes, is the oldest existing collection of Chinese poetry and a cornerstone of Chinese literature. Comprising 305 poems from the Western Zhou to the Spring and Autumn period (c. 11th to 7th centuries BCE), this foundational Confucian classic offers an unparalleled window into ancient Chinese life, with verses ranging from rustic folk songs about love and labor to formal court odes and sacred hymns. For any learner of Chinese, understanding the Shijing is key to grasping the roots of Chinese culture, philosophy, and artistic expression.

Pinyin (with tone marks): shī jīng

Part of Speech: Proper Noun

HSK Level: N/A

Concise Definition: The *Classic of Poetry*, the oldest anthology of Chinese poems and one of the “Five Classics” of Confucianism.

In a Nutshell: Think of the 诗经 (Shījīng) not as a book by a single author, but as China's earliest “greatest hits” collection of songs and poems. It captures the real voices of people from over 3,000 years ago—farmers singing about courtship, soldiers complaining about war, and nobles performing solemn rituals. It's considered the wellspring of the entire Chinese poetic tradition, valued for both its beautiful language and its insights into morality and human nature.

诗 (shī): This character means “poem” or “poetry.” It is composed of the “speech” radical `言 (yán)` on the left and `寺 (sì)` on the right, which provides the sound. You can think of it as carefully organized, rhythmic speech.

经 (jīng): This character means “classic text,” “scripture,” or “canon.” Its original form depicted the vertical warp threads on a loom, which are the foundation of a cloth. By extension, a `经` is a foundational, organizing text for a culture or philosophy.

Together, 诗经 (Shījīng) literally means “The Classic of Poetry,” signaling its status not just as a collection of poems, but as a canonical work of profound cultural and moral importance.

The 诗经 (Shījīng) is one of the “Five Classics” (五经 - Wǔjīng), the core texts of Confucian philosophy. Confucius (孔子 - Kǒngzǐ) himself is said to have edited the collection and deeply admired it, famously stating that its poems teach one to be “expressive but not excessive, and gentle but not weak.” He believed studying the Shijing was essential for moral cultivation and understanding how to govern and interact with others properly.

The values embedded in the Shijing include a deep respect for nature, the importance of community and family, a sense of duty, and the belief that genuine personal feelings are a vital part of a balanced and moral life.

While not read casually by most people, the Shijing's influence is everywhere in modern China.

In Education: It is a mandatory subject for all students majoring in Chinese literature and history. Its themes and style are analyzed extensively.

In Language: Countless common idioms (成语 - chéngyǔ) originate from the Shijing. For example, `一日不见，如隔三秋 (yī rì bù jiàn, rú gé sān qiū)`, meaning “one day without seeing you feels like three autumns (years),” comes from a poem in the collection.

In Naming: Many parents turn to the Shijing for beautiful and meaningful names for their children. For instance, the name of the famous scientist 屠呦呦 (Tú Yōuyōu), a Nobel laureate, comes from the line “呦呦鹿鸣，食野之苹” (yōuyōu lù míng, shí yě zhī píng) - “The deer cry 'youyou' while eating the wild artemisia.”

In Formal Speeches: Political leaders and academics often quote the Shijing to add weight, historical depth, and cultural authority to their words.

Anthology, Not Epic: A common mistake for beginners is to think of the Shijing as a single, long narrative poem like Homer's *Iliad*. It is an anthology of 305 separate, and often unrelated, poems and songs.

Folk Songs vs. Court Odes: Don't assume all the poems are lofty and philosophical. A large portion of the collection (the “Airs of the States” or 风) consists of simple, beautiful, and sometimes surprisingly frank folk songs about love, work, and daily struggles.

Incorrect Usage: As a proper noun for a specific book, you would say `读诗经 (dú Shījīng)` meaning “to read the Classic of Poetry.” You would not use a measure word like `一个 (yí ge)`, as in `读一个诗经`, which would be incorrect.

五经 (Wǔjīng) - The Five Classics. The Shijing is one of the five core texts of the Confucian canon, along with the Book of Documents, Book of Rites, Book of Changes (I Ching), and the Spring and Autumn Annals.

孔子 (Kǒngzǐ) - Confucius. The philosopher who canonized the Shijing and established its central role in Chinese education and moral philosophy.

楚辞 (Chǔ Cí) - The Songs of Chu. The other major anthology of ancient Chinese poetry. It has a more romantic, mystical, and individualistic style, providing a fascinating contrast to the Shijing.

风雅颂 (Fēng Yǎ Sòng) - The three sections of the Shijing. `风 (fēng)` are the folk songs; `雅 (yǎ)` are the courtly odes; `颂 (sòng)` are the temple hymns.

关雎 (Guān Jū) - The first and one of the most famous poems in the Shijing, celebrated for its depiction of a gentleman's pure and respectful courtship of a virtuous lady.

唐诗 (Tángshī) - Tang Poetry. The poetry of the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD) is considered a golden age, and it built directly upon the foundation, themes, and four-character line structure pioneered in the Shijing.

四书 (Sìshū) - The Four Books. Another set of core Confucian texts (Great Learning, Doctrine of the Mean, Analects, Mencius) that are often studied alongside the Five Classics.