Enlightenment: Confucius said, "Students, why don't you learn poetry? Learning poetry can stimulate enthusiasm, improve observation, unite the masses and express dissatisfaction. You can serve your parents near or the king far away; You can also learn more about the names of some birds, animals and plants. "

Original text:? Confucius said, "Why don't you learn poetry? Poetry can be aroused, observed, grouped and resented. Your father is a thing, and your father is a distant thing; Learn more about the names of birds, animals and plants. "

Said by: The Analects of Yang Huo is selected from Chapter 17 of The Analects.

Extend literary appreciation;

Before Confucius' theory of "Prosperity, Outlook on the World and Group Resentment" came into being, some writers expounded the social function of literature in different works.

But they are scattered in some works, fragmentary and relatively simple, lacking systematicness and profundity. Confucius collected the achievements of predecessors, carefully summarized them on the basis of predecessors, and formed a more systematic, comprehensive and profound view of literary function.

It should be pointed out that Confucius' theory of "prosperity, outlook, group and resentment" also has its limitations. The social function of literature he expounded was completely controlled by the thoughts and demands of the ruling class at that time, that is, it served the ruling class.

The theory of "prosperity, outlook, group and resentment" was put forward under the premise of Zhou Dynasty ethics. Men are superior to women, paying equal attention to courtesy and filial piety. The monarch is the minister and the father is the child. "You are the father, and you are far away." This is the embodiment of this ethics.

This is an unfavorable factor for the development of literature. Literary creation should conform to the moral standards stipulated at that time, and literature should undertake political tasks. In the process of literary creation, the author's emotional expression should be restricted by ethical norms.

This is unfavorable to the development of literature, but it is not the mainstream, but extremely secondary, which is caused by the limitations of the times and classes at that time. It will not cover the great influence of the theory of "prosperity, outlook on the world and group resentment" on what happened later.

Confucius' "Xing, Guan, Qun and Yuan" has a great influence on the social function of poetry, and later scholars often express many important opinions from different angles.

References:

Baidu Encyclopedia-The Analects of Confucius and Yang Huo