A Probe into the Mind of Autumn Melancholy inThe Book of Songs
Abstract
Autumn melancholy is an important theme in Chinese literature. Scholars regard SONG Yu’s
Nine Contemplationsas the origin of autumn poems throughout the ages. However, in the works related to autumn from
The Book of Songs, the connection between autumn and people’s sadness has become more specific. This is mainly manifested in the emergence of autumn emotions due to two aspects: autumn-related matters and the custom of autumn entering households and becoming a part of weddings. The two aspects contribute to the feelings of homesickness and nostalgia during autumn. Autumn elements such as autumn insects, falling leaves, withered grass, returning wild geese, and autumn frost, have begun to take shape as symbols of autumn melancholy. In
Reeds, a poem in
The Book of Songs, the scenery of serene autumn blends with a mind of melancholy and confusion, creating a hazy artistic conception, making it a mature work of autumn melancholy. After
The Book of Songs, the awareness of autumn melancholy has become an important component of the cultural psychology of Chinese people.
