The musical compositions,such as the Airs of the States,Hymns,and Eulogies,included in the Classic of Poetry,had long served as key resources for the education in rites and music originating from the Zhou Dynasty,although these songs were produced in the reverse chronological order of their inclusion in the Classic of Poetry.They played a significant role in promoting virtue.During the Western Zhou period,"poetry"was already intertwined with rites and music,supporting the concept of virtue,which,at that time,was still closely linked to utilitarian aims such as invoking divine favor and seeking eternal life.With Confucius,however,rites and music evolved to be grounded in"benevolence,"aligned with Confucian Tao,where"benevolence means humanity,and the unity of this is Tao."The Classic of Poetry thus assumes an educational function,guiding individuals to cultivate themselves through Tao and benevolence.As one of the"Six Classics,"the Classic of Poetry encapsulates a new interpretation of Confucian life,promoting moral governance and guiding both rulers and people.While the Classic of Poetry may have been spread across various schools during the early Han Dynasty,all these schools ultimately aligned with Confucian ideals of moral governance and virtuous action.Therefore,it is unnecessary to trace the spread of Confucianism into these schools;instead,the focus should be on the history of its transmission,shaped both by textual tradition and archaeological findings.
Confuciusthe Classic of PoetryAirs of the StatesHymnsEulogies
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