Introduction.
The Book of Poetry and the Classic of Mountains and Seas are two classics of ancient Chinese literature, which represent the different cultural traditions of the Central Plains and the Southwest China respectively, and reflect the cultural characteristics of different regions, eras and nations. The Book of Songs is the earliest collection of poetry in China, containing 305 poems from the Western Zhou Dynasty to the Spring and Autumn Period, divided into four parts: "National Style", "Xiaoya", "Daya" and "Song", which mainly expresses the political, social, economic, religious, moral, and love contents of the Zhou Dynasty and its vassal states, and shows the civilization achievements and spiritual pursuit of the Chinese nation. "The Classic of Mountains and Seas" is China's earliest geographical chronicle**, which includes the myths and legends, geographical features, national customs, rare beasts and other contents from the Warring States Period to the Han Dynasty, and is divided into three parts: "The Classic of Mountains", "The Book of the Sea" and "The Book of the Great Wilderness".
The purpose of this paper is to reveal the diversity and unity of ancient Chinese culture by comparing and analyzing the cultural similarities and differences and interactions between the myths, landscapes, characters, and values in the two works. The research method of this paper is based on texts, combining the knowledge of history, geography, folklore, philosophy and other related disciplines, and using the theories and methods of comparative literature to conduct in-depth cultural interpretation and evaluation. The main point of this paper is that although the Book of Songs and the Classic of Mountains and Seas have different cultural backgrounds and forms of expression, they are both important parts of ancient Chinese culture, and there are differences and antagonisms between them, as well as similarities and integrations, which together constitute the richness and diversity of ancient Chinese culture.
Body. Part 1: Comparing the myths in the Book of Songs and the Classic of Mountains and Seas.
Mythology is the earliest form of human literature, it is the product of human cognition and imagination of nature and society, and it reflects human cosmology, outlook on life and aesthetics. Both the Book of Songs and the Book of Mountains and Seas contain a large number of myths and stories, and they have the following similarities and differences:
Similarities: They are all formed and circulated in the form of oral legends, with a strong breath of life and folk color, reflecting the historical memory and cultural psychology of different ethnic groups.
All of them explain natural phenomena and social events in a mythological way, reflecting the awe and worship of nature and society by human beings, as well as the yearning and pursuit of ideals and happiness.
They all express profound thoughts and emotions in a symbolic and metaphorical way, using rich imagination and creativity, showing unique artistic charm and aesthetic value.
Differences: The myths and stories in the Book of Songs are mainly in the ancestor worship and sacrificial ceremonies of the Zhou Dynasty, as well as the folk beliefs of the surrounding vassal states, their types mainly include ancestral myths, creation myths, character myths, animal myths, etc., their themes are mainly to praise the orthodoxy and prosperity of the Zhou Dynasty, as well as to express the admiration and love for kings, ancestors, heroes, and lovers, their forms are mainly poetry, with the beauty of rhyme and rhythm, and their functions are mainly to maintain and promote the politics, morality, and morality of the Zhou Dynasty. culture and ritual systems, as well as conveying and educating people's thoughts and feelings.
The myths and stories in the Classic of Mountains and Seas are mainly based on the original beliefs and myths and legends in the Sichuan Basin and its surrounding areas, as well as the thoughts and practices of the Yin and Yang family and Fangshi in the Warring States Period, their types mainly include geographical myths, disaster myths, character myths, animal myths, etc., their themes are mainly to depict the mysterious world of the Sichuan Basin and its surrounding areas, as well as to express the exploration and understanding of nature and society, their forms are mainly prose, with the characteristics of narrative and description, Their function is mainly to record and disseminate information about the geographical features, ethnic customs, rare and exotic animals of the Sichuan Basin and its surrounding areas, as well as to reflect and satisfy people's curiosity and imagination.
It can be seen that although the myths and stories in the Book of Songs and the Classic of Mountains and Seas are important parts of ancient Chinese culture, the different cosmology, outlook on life and aesthetics they reflect reflect the different cultural traditions and characteristics of the Central Plains and the Southwest region.
Part 2: Comparing the landscapes in the Book of Songs and the Classic of Mountains and Seas.
Landscape is an important element in literary works, it is not only an objective description of the natural world, but also a subjective expression of the humanistic spirit, which reflects different regional cultures, national psychology and emotional attitudes. Both the Book of Songs and the Classic of Mountains and Seas contain a large number of landscape descriptions, which have the following similarities and differences:
Commonality: They all depict various scenes in the natural world in a realistic way, such as mountains, rivers, plants and trees, flowers and fruits, birds and beasts, the sun and the moon, wind and rain, etc., reflecting the observation and understanding of the natural world, as well as the appreciation and praise of natural beauty.
They all express various emotions of the humanistic spirit in the form of sustenance, such as sorrow, joy, resentment, love, longing, prayer, etc., reflecting the attention and expression of the humanistic spirit, as well as the pursuit and creation of humanistic beauty.
Differences: The scenery description in the Book of Poetry is mainly based on the Central Plains as the background, such as the Yellow River, Weishui, Qishan, Mount Tai, Luoshui, Mianshan, etc., which are characterized by the use of plain, simple and fresh language, depicting the vast, fertile, stable and prosperous scene of the Central Plains, reflecting the spirit of self-confidence, pride, self-improvement and self-reliance of the Central Plains culture. The description of the scenery in the Book of Songs is often closely combined with characters, events, and emotions, forming a kind of scenic humanistic poetry, such as "National Style, Wei Feng, Shuoren", "National Style, Zheng Feng, Cai Ge", "Xiao Ya, Gu Feng", "Daya, Wen Wang", etc., all of which use the landscape as the carrier to express thoughts and feelings about society, politics, morality, love, etc.
The scenery description in the "Classic of Mountains and Seas" is mainly based on the Sichuan Basin and its surrounding areas as the background, such as Minshan, Nuji Mountain, Duguangzhiye, Xihai, Great Wilderness, Kyushu, etc., they are characterized by the use of strange, mysterious, fantastical language, depicting the sublime, precipitous, magical, changeable scene of the Sichuan Basin and its surrounding areas, reflecting the spirit of awe, curiosity, exploration and innovation of southwest culture. The description of the scenery in the "Classic of Mountains and Seas" is often set against each other with myths, legends, monsters, and aliens, forming a kind of mythical geographical monsters, such as "The Classic of Mountains, the Nine Classics of the Middle Times", "The Classic of the Sea, the Classic of the West Sea", "The Classic of the Great Wilderness, the Classic of the North", etc., all of which are based on the scenery as the carrier, showing the imagination and understanding of nature, gods, strangeness, and the unknown.
Part 3: Comparing the characters in the Book of Songs and the Book of Mountains and Seas
The characters in the Book of Poetry and the Classic of Mountains and Seas are an important part of the two works, and they are also important aspects that reflect the cultural characteristics of the two works. By comparing and analyzing the characters in the two works, we can find their similarities and differences, as well as the different social life, national character and value orientation they show.
The characters in the Book of Songs are mainly historical figures and literary figures. Historical figures refer to those who are recorded in history books, or whose identities and deeds can be verified. Literary characters are those who appear in poetry, but whose true identity and deeds cannot be determined. The characters in the Book of Songs mostly appear in the first person or third person, expressing their thoughts and feelings, life circumstances, social relations, etc. The characters in the Book of Songs have distinctive characteristics of the times and nationalities, reflecting the political, economic, cultural, customs, morality and other aspects of the Zhou society, showing the fine qualities of the Zhou people's diligence, bravery, loyalty, benevolence, respect, wisdom, etc., and also revealing the contradictions, sufferings, wishes, aspirations and other psychological states of the Zhou people.
The characters in the Classic of Mountains and Seas are mainly mythological and legendary characters. Mythological characters refer to those characters who appear in myths and legends and have supernatural abilities and characteristics, such as Pangu, Nuwa, Fuxi, Shennong, Yellow Emperor, Yandi, Gonggong, Zhurong, Houyi, Chang'e, Kuafu, Chiyou, Yinglong, Xingtian, Queen Mother of the West, Dijun, etc. Legendary characters refer to those who appear in folklore and have a certain historical background and national color, such as Dayu, Taihao, Zhuan, Shaohao, Changyi, Hallyu, Prince Changqin, Pingping, Nulu, etc. The characters in the "Classic of Mountains and Seas" mostly appear in the third person, describing their image characteristics, behaviors, mythological stories, etc. The characters in the Classic of Mountains and Seas have a strong sense of imagination and mystery, reflecting the understanding and exploration of the natural and social world of ancient humans, showing the creativity, curiosity, and desire for knowledge of ancient human beings, and also expressing the emotional attitudes of ancient human beings such as fear, awe, appreciation, and desire.
The characters in the Book of Songs and the Book of Mountains and Seas have the following similarities and differences:
From the perspective of the characters, both works are based on the history and culture of ancient China, drawing on ancient historical materials, legends, myths, etc., to create a series of characters. However, the characters in the Book of Songs reflect more of the historical reality of the Zhou Dynasty, while the characters in the Book of Mountains and Seas reflect more of the mythological imagination of antiquity.
From the perspective of the types of characters, both works cover different character categories such as gods, humans, demons, and beasts, reflecting the diverse understanding of the natural and social worlds of ancient humans. However, the characters in the Book of Songs are mainly human, while the characters in the Classic of Mountains and Seas are mainly gods, the former is closer to human life, and the latter is more beyond human common sense.
From the perspective of the themes of the characters, both works express various themes of ancient humans, such as love, war, politics, morality, faith, sacrifice, etc., reflecting the diverse needs of ancient humans. However, the characters in the Book of Songs show more of the social life of the Zhou people, while the characters in the Book of Mountains and Seas show more of the mythical world of the ancients, the former is closer to the reality of mankind, and the latter is more of a representation of human ideals.
In terms of the form of the characters, both works take the form of poetry and prose, depicting the images and stories of the characters, embodying the artistic expression of ancient humans. However, the characters in the Book of Songs are more in the form of poetry, while the characters in the Book of Mountains and Seas are more in the form of prose, the former paying more attention to the emotions and beauty of the characters, and the latter paying more attention to the information and strangeness of the characters.
From the perspective of the function of the characters, both works have certain functions, such as edification, entertainment, enlightenment, symbolism, etc., which embody the cultural functions of ancient humans. However, the characters in the Book of Songs have more functions of edification and entertainment, while the characters in the Book of Mountains and Seas have more functions of inspiration and symbolism, the former is more suitable for human education and appreciation, and the latter is more suitable for human exploration and thinking.
To sum up, the characters in the Book of Songs and the Classic of Mountains and Seas have both similarities and differences, and they are both important parts of ancient Chinese culture and an important form of expression of ancient Chinese culture. By comparing and analyzing the characters in the two works, we can gain an in-depth understanding of the history and culture of ancient China, and also expand our cultural vision and cultural imagination.
Conclusion
This paper compares and analyzes the myths, landscapes, and characters in the Book of Songs and the Classic of Mountains and Seas, and summarizes the cultural similarities, differences, and interactions between the two works. The main findings of this paper are as follows:
The Book of Songs and the Classic of Mountains and Seas are both important representatives of ancient Chinese culture, which reflect the cultural characteristics of different regions, eras and nations, and also reflect the diversity and inclusiveness of ancient Chinese culture.
The myths in the Book of Songs and the Classic of Mountains and Seas have both similarities and differences, they are both ancient human beings' understanding and exploration of the natural and social worlds, and they are also the expression of ancient human creativity, curiosity, desire for knowledge, fear, awe, appreciation, desire and other spiritual qualities and emotional attitudes. The myths in the Book of Songs reflect more of the historical reality of the Zhou Dynasty, while the myths in the Book of Mountains and Seas reflect more of the mythological imagination of antiquity. The myths in the Book of Songs are closer to human life, while the myths in the Book of Mountains and Seas are more beyond human common sense. The myths in the Book of Songs focus more on human emotions and beauty, while the myths in the Book of Mountains and Seas focus more on human information and strangeness. The myths in the Book of Songs have more of the functions of edification and entertainment, while the myths in the Book of Mountains and Seas have more of the functions of revelation and symbolism. The cosmology, outlook on life and aesthetics reflected in the myths in the Book of Songs are closer to the reality of human beings, while the cosmology, outlook on life and aesthetics reflected in the myths in the Classic of Mountains and Seas show the ideals of human beings.
The scenery in the Book of Songs and the Classic of Mountains and Seas has both similarities and differences, both of which are the observation and depiction of the natural environment by ancient human beings, as well as the expression of the regional culture, national psychology and emotional attitude of ancient human beings. The scenery in the Book of Songs and the Classic of Mountains and Seas covers natural elements such as mountains and rivers, plants and trees, birds and beasts, and celestial phenomena, and also uses rhetorical techniques such as metaphors, personifications, and symbols, but the scenery in the Book of Songs reflects more of the social life of the Zhou people, while the scenery in the Classic of Mountains and Seas reflects more of the mythological world of the ancients. The scenery in the Book of Songs is closer to the reality of human beings, while the scenery in the Book of Mountains and Seas shows the ideals of human beings. The scenery in the Book of Songs pays more attention to human emotions and beauty, while the scenery in the Book of Mountains and Seas pays more attention to human information and singularity. The scenery in the Book of Songs has more of the function of edification and entertainment, while the scenery in the Book of Mountains and Seas has more of the function of revelation and symbolism. The regional culture, national psychology and emotional attitudes expressed by the landscapes in the Book of Songs are closer to the reality of human beings, while the regional culture, national psychology and emotional attitudes expressed by the landscapes in the Classic of Mountains and Seas show the ideals of human beings.
The characters in the Book of Poetry and the Book of Mountains and Seas have both similarities and differences, they are the display of the social life, national character and value orientation of ancient human beings, and they are also the expression of ancient human thoughts, feelings, living conditions and social relations. The characters in the Book of Songs and the Book of Mountains and Seas cover different character categories such as gods, humans, demons, and beasts, reflecting the diverse understanding of the natural and social world of ancient human beings, but the characters in the Book of Songs are mainly humans, while the characters in the Classic of Mountains and Seas are mainly gods, the former is closer to human life, and the latter is more beyond the common sense of human beings. The characters in the Book of Songs and the Book of Mountains and Seas both express various themes of ancient human beings, such as love, war, politics, morality, faith, sacrifice, etc., reflecting the diverse needs of ancient human beings, but the characters in the Book of Songs show more of the social life of the Zhou people, while the characters in the Book of Mountains and Seas show more of the mythological world of the ancients, the former is closer to the reality of human beings, and the latter is more of a human ideal. The characters in the Book of Songs and the Classic of Mountains and Seas both use the form of poetry and prose, depicting the images and stories of the characters, reflecting the artistic expression of ancient humans, but the characters in the Book of Songs use more of the form of poetry, while the characters in the Book of Mountains and Seas use more of the form of prose, the former pays more attention to the emotions and beauty of the characters, and the latter pays more attention to the information and strangeness of the characters. The characters in the Book of Songs and the Classic of Mountains and Seas have certain functions, such as edification, entertainment, enlightenment, symbolism, etc., reflecting the cultural functions of ancient human beings, but the characters in the Book of Songs have more functions of education and entertainment, while the characters in the Classic of Mountains and Seas have more functions of inspiration and symbolism, the former is more suitable for human education and appreciation, and the latter is more suitable for human exploration and thinking.
The significance and value of this paper lies in the fact that from the perspective of culture, it makes a comparative analysis of the two classic works of ancient Chinese literature, the Book of Songs and the Classic of Mountains and Seas, reveals their cultural connotations and differences, and also shows their cultural exchanges and cultural influences. The shortcomings of this article are that it only compares from the aspects of mythology, landscape, characters, etc., and does not touch on other aspects, such as language, style, structure, circulation, etc., nor does it go deep into the causes and processes of their cultural formation and cultural change. The further research direction of this paper is to conduct a more comprehensive and in-depth comparative study of the Book of Songs and the Classic of Mountains and Seas from more perspectives and levels, and to compare the Book of Songs and the Classic of Mountains and Seas with other cultures and literatures, in order to obtain more cultural enlightenment and cultural wisdom.
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