Exoteric Commentary on Han Poetry

"e;Han Shi Wai Zhuan"e; is the work of Han Ying, the founder of the Han Dynasty's Han Shi school, and it is also the only remaining "e;Book of Songs"e; academic work of the Han Dynasty's modern literary school. The book consists of ten volumes and 308 chapters, selecting more than 300 anecdotes and ancient sayings from scriptures, various philosophers, and historical books. It records more than 200 historical figures from ancient times to the early Western Han Dynasty, as well as texts on state governance, moral cultivation, systems, rituals and music education, nature, and folk customs. After the narration, it often cites chapters of the "e;Book of Songs"e; at the end to summarize and echo the previous text. Although "e;Han Shi Wai Zhuan"e; is a classic work, it is not so much a miscellaneous discussion and deduction of the meaning of the "e;Book of Songs"e; as it is the use of the "e;Poetry"e;. The verses of the "e;Book of Songs"e; cited are corroborations of the ancient events and sayings in the "e;Canon"e;. Wang Shizhen commented, "e;Han Shi Wai Zhuan"e; is a miscellaneous record of the master's lingering words and the sayings of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, mostly citing "e;Poetry"e; to prove things, rather than citing things to clarify "e;Poetry"e;, which is an appropriate evaluation of it.