Chinese  poetry, the Shih Ching (Classic  of Poetry)

　　   and the Ch'u Tz'u (Elegies  of Ch'u  or Song  of the

　　   South).  Geographically  considered, they  represent

　　   respectively  the northern  and southern  strains of

　　   early  Chinese  civilization, the first centered  in

　　   the  vicinity  of the  Yellow  River  (Shandong  and

　　   Hopei) and the second  in the Yangtze  river  valley

　　   (Hunan  and  Hupeh) .Culturally,  these  anthologies

　　   contain   the  twofold  root  of  Chinese   literary

　　   tradition,　　 whose　　 offshoots　　 developed　　 as

　　   manifestations   of　　 two　　 essentially　　 diverse

　　   approaches  to life, two unique ways of being in the

　　   world.

　　　　  The Shih Ching anthology consists of folk songs,

　　   court compositions, and ritual hymns. The preface to

　　   the text succinctly  conveys the reigning perception

　　   of  poetry's   origins   within   individual   human

　　   experience,  as   well   as   its   social-political

　　   functions:

　　　　  Poetry  is where  the intent  of the  heart/mind

　　　　  (hsin) goes.  What  in the  heart  is intent  is

　　　　  poetry when emitted in words.  An emotion  moves

　　　　  within and takes form in words.  If words do not

　　　　  suffice, then  one sighs;  if sighing  does  not

　　　　  suffice, then one prolongs  it [the emotion]  in

　　　　  song;   if  prolonging  through  song  does  not

　　　　  suffice,then  one unconsciously  dances  it with

　　　　  hands and feet.  Emotions are emitted in sounds,

　　　　  and when sounds  form a pattern, they are called

　　　　  tones.  The tones of a well-governed  world  are

　　　　  peaceful   and  lead   to  joy,  its  government

　　　　  harmonious;  the tones  of a chaotic  world  are

　　　　  resentful  and  angry, its government  perverse;

　　　　  the tones  of a defeated  state are mournful  to

　　　　  induce  longing, its people in difficulty.  Thus

　　　　  in regulating success and failure, moving heaven

　　　　  and  earth, and  causing  spirits  and  gods  to

　　　　  respond, nothing comes closer than poetry. (15)

　　　　  In  contrast,  the  Ch'u   Tz'u   represents   a

　　   collection  of poems composed in the southern  state