What is a poem?

"Poetry" was a special form of expression in the diplomatic ceremonies of the Spring and Autumn period. At that time, the real professional experts in diplomacy were the pedlar, who was traditionally a historian and had the duty of collecting poems. The purpose of collecting poetry was to be used in ceremonies at court or other formal occasions.

Poetry was an occupational discipline for the historian, and the practice of "giving poems to express one's thoughts" reflected this cultural context. Poetry was used in rituals and ballads, and was considered to be mystical and revelatory, so that the will or destiny of an individual could be observed through the use of poetry.

Related Notes

Poetry writing was mainly popular during the Spring and Autumn Period, because during the Spring and Autumn Period, when the Zhou Dynasty was in decline, the vassals were under different political regimes, and the strongest powers were in power, and the rites and music came out from the vassals. Although the rites and music were in ruins, the legacy of the Zhou Dynasty rites still existed, and so there were a lot of courtships and banquets, and the frequent hiring, enjoying, and hosting of diplomatic rites provided a place for poems to speak of the will of an individual.

With the separation of poetry and music, the rise of the citation of poetry as a categorical imperative, and the decline of ceremonial rites, the activity of poetic composition lost the soil on which it depended for its survival, and gradually declined.

References: Baidu Encyclopedia - Poetry in the Spirit