Gentlemen’s Cultural Intentions

The Poem is the immortal canon of the Chinese Nation. It is an ancient literaryclassic and a lofty cultural scripture as well. But Poem Prefaces which shaped thePoem to be a cultural classic were criticized. So, the history of the book of songs lookslike a history of existence and abolishment about Poem Prefaces. The great disparitybetween during life and after death, induced us to rethink how shall we face the Poemand its prefaces. Xu Fu-guan hammered in giving prominence to Han Confucianism’scultural intentions in his later year. It has the significance of enlightenment on thereconsideration of the Poem’s value.In my close reading of Poem Prefaces，this article will center on two questions:why Han Confucianism read the Poem as scripture and what influence does thePoem’s canonization make. Then, during tracing language situation, exploringConfucian scholar’s intention, explaining interpretation’s thread and discoveringcultural meaning, we can reconsider the tendency in the history of the book of songs.The dispute of the history of the book of songs focus on that the Poem is aliterary classic, which neglect the fact that the Poem mainly is Confucian classic. So,the Chapter1will show the course of the Poem’s canonization. The Poem’s multipleidentities as canon is not only a historical achievement of the Poem’s function historyand interpretation history, but also a cultural groundwork of the Poem’s multipleinfluence history.The fact that the Poem mainly is Confucian classic is full of Han Confucianism’sintentions. In Han dynasty, all neglected matters are yet to be dealt with. Sointelligentsia need to note the Poem to unification the though and to civilize people.For this intention, the Poem become our canon, China has poetic cultural character.The interpretation of reading the Poem as scripture isn’t the only example. Biblealso experiences the same course from secular classic to Scriptures. And itscanonization also uses allegory as reading poem as scripture. From the case study onGuan Ju and Song of Solomon, we can find a universal rule about the naissance ofCanon.A canon acceptance history which is numerous sounds clamor is an event inideological history. Behind the ideological history, there is much significance aboutlife, aesthetic and poetics. Carding the Poem m’s influence history, we can understandthe Poem’s multiple identities as canon better and Gentlemen’s intentions and theircultural expectance.