Chinese literature is characterized by a long tradition of realism. The “Book of Poems”, compiled two thousand and five hundred years ago, was the earliest realistic literature of China.
　　 The “Book of Poems” was an anthology of the poems and songs appearing between the early Zhou Dynasty (the eleventh century B.C.) and the middle of the Spring-Autumn Period (the sixth and seventh centuries B.C.); collected around the sixth century B.C. Altogether the anthology contained three hundred and five poems. In the light of the rhythms , the anthology was divided into three sections : the Feng section (the section of ballads) , the “Ya” section (the section of festival songs) , and the “Song” section (the section of praises). The “Feng” poems were the native ballads of the various . states . The “Ya” . poems were music pieces in the territory of the Zhou Kings . The “Song” poems were eulogies to ghosts and deities and to meritorious deeds , often sung along with dances . This book has rich contents and knowledge , and aesthetic values in various aspects .

As Liu Xie said , “Poems express aspirations”, the achievements of the “Book of Poems” lies firstly in voicing the aspirations of the time .
　　 Many works in the “Book of Poems” reflected the actual social trends of that time via the aspirations and sentiments of the writers and the singers . For instance , the stability and peace in politics during the reigns of King Wen of Zhou and the Duke of Zhou were mirrored by the following lines : “Toil without grievance” (in “Zhou Nan”) , and “Joy without indulgence” (in “Fen Feng”.) The stupidity and cruelty of King Li and King Ping of Zhou were mirrored in the poems “Ban” (board) , “Dang” (loose) , and “Shu Li” (part with millet) , which carried the sentiments of anger and grief of the society .
　　In the “Da Ya” sub-section , in the poem “Min Lao” (people hard pressed) , there is the outcry : “ The people are hard pressed . They need some rest”, which was earliest appeal on behalf of the people . In the “Xiao Ya” sub-section , in the poem “ Jie Nan Shan” ( bamboos on the South Hill), the King of Zhou was reproached for trusting mean people : “Not carrying out the state affairs himself causes the people to be hard pressed .” The same poem also questioned the King of Zhou : “State’s in a mess . Why don’t you care”? All these satirical pieces contain political views in order to “warn the hearer (ruler)” . They showed typically the characteristic of the Chinese literature of “complementing the political teachings”.

　　Beside its political purpose , the “Book of Poems” reflected distinctively the joy and anger , happiness and sorrow of the people . For instance , in the poem “Big Rat” in the “Wei Feng” sub-section , the exploiter was compared to a big rat , that was “avaricious and cowardly” . The poet deplored repeatedly that there was no place in the country where the people were well clothed and fed , expressin the people’s aspiration for a good life . In this book there were a fair proportion of love poems . The poem “Zhen Wei” (Zhen River) described the joy of groups of young men and women playing along the river in Spring . The poem “Jing Nu” (quiet girl) described the joy of two lovers at dating , reflecting fully the pleasure and the beauty of nature . In the poems “Chu Qi Dong Men” (going out from the East Gate) and “Da Che” (Big Cart) , the lines about the oath sworn by a couple of lovers , “Living , we stay in different rooms , dead , we share the same grave . Believe me or not ? I swear by the bright sun” , show the faithfulness and resolution of the lovers .