Yao Nai Classical Prose Commentaries

While teaching in Yangzhou college, Yao Nai edited the book named " compile of works of ancient essays and odes " .In order to make it easier, Yao did some comments on those ancient works in his book. It was no doubt that his comments in the compile embodied Yao's attitude towards literature. In the prologue, he firstly gave out the standards of choosing essays and odes, and then pointed out the techniques of arranging an ancient essay in the comments. His favorite style made the comments more characteristic.The idea embodied in Yao's book was different from that of ancient ones. Yao clssfied essays and odes with standard "aim of use ", paractical and literary one. Also he emphasized the art of literature, and separated the mixed literature and the pure literature gradually. These ideas exceeded Fang Bao and Liu Dakui's.This book, compile of works of ancient essays and odes, had been copied several times since Yao finished it. The influence of this book spread around the country. Since then, more and more people started to learn from Yao. So Tongcheng school became the most important school in Qing dynasty. As a textbook , compile of works of ancient essays and odes, played an important role.