Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract/Objectives

The Classic of Poetry (Shijing) is the oldest collection of poetry in China. From the "Airs of the States" (Guofeng), which represent fifteen different regions and reflect diverse local customs, we can hear the most authentic voices of the common people. From the Greater Odes, Lesser Odes, and Hymns, we can listen to the noble compositions performed at court banquets and ancestral sacrifices. Like a cup of fine tea steeped in the long passage of time, The Classic of Poetry emanates a mellow fragrance that is truly worth savoring. We will discover, with pleasant surprise, that across a three-thousand-year river of time, we can still understand and resonate deeply with the intricate emotions and inner thoughts of our ancestors. We will find that amidst the bustle of the secular world, the transmission of emotion transcends the barriers of time and space, allowing hearts to truly connect. This is a course dedicated to "reading poetry" together. We welcome everyone to bring an open heart and join us in listening to the most pure and vivid spiritual movements of our ancestors. The course focuses on three key areas: 1. Thematic Appreciation: Guiding students through thematic units to appreciate and savor The Classic of Poetry, experiencing its imagery and connecting with its poetic sentiment, meaning, and atmosphere. 2. Literary Techniques: Supplementing the study with ancient and modern folk songs and related literary works to gain familiarity with the literary techniques and artistic characteristics of the collection. 3. Reflections on Love and Life: While the diverse origins of the authors mean the course could cover many aspects, we have tailored the latter half of the curriculum for specific reasons: the constraints of teaching time; the profound impact of the marital bond (the foundation of the "Five Relationships") on family and state; and the fact that our students are in the prime of their youth. Therefore, the second half of the course will focus on "Love Poems." Beyond mere appreciation, we aim to explore "Love and Life through The Classic of Poetry," reflecting on contemporary life and contemplating issues such as love, marriage, gender, family, society, and politics.

Results/Contributions

At the conclusion of the semester, the course includes a Poetry Presentation and Sharing Session.

(1) Mode of Creation:

Each student is asked to select a musical melody that he or she finds particularly meaningful or memorable, and to compose new lyrics in Chinese to accompany the chosen tune. Each presentation is approximately 5.5 minutes in length. The thematic focus of the poetic composition is open-ended and may engage topics such as family relationships, romantic love, friendship, academic life, everyday experience, personal memories, processes of growth, aspirations and dreams, or contemporary social conditions.

(2) Pedagogical Objectives:

Through the practice of poetic composition, students participate in a form of experiential learning that emphasizes “learning by doing and doing by learning.” This assignment is designed to cultivate sensitivity to the expressive potential generated by the integration of language and music, while simultaneously encouraging students to reflect upon the compositional techniques and contextual meanings of The Book of Songs as well as of rhymed and lyric traditions from both ancient and modern, Chinese and non-Chinese literary cultures. Through the act of poetic creation, students are further guided to recognize that the complex emotions, inner reflections, and expressive voices of the ancient authors preserved in The Book of Songs remain intelligible across a temporal distance of more than two millennia, continuing to evoke deep resonance in the present. Such recognition underscores the capacity of emotional expression to transcend temporal and spatial boundaries, allowing for forms of empathetic connection across historical contexts.

Keywords

The content of the Book of Songs (Airs, Odes, Hymns); the language art and writing techniques of the Book of Songs; songs of life; landscapes of love.

References

1. https://eeclass.nthu.edu.tw/dashboard

NTHU eeclass digital learning platform

Media Information

Contact Information

王月秀
yuehhsiu711@gmail.com