Academic changes in the study of the Book of Songs in the early 20th century from the perspective of archaeology

Abstract

In the early 20th century, China's socio-political environment underwent drastic changes, profoundly impacting academic research. As a crucial part of traditional Chinese culture and literature, the study of the "Book of Poetry" experienced remarkable academic transformations during this period. This paper aims to explore the major scholarly changes in the study of the "Book of Poetry" in the first three decades of the 20th century and their embodiment in the characteristics of the literature. Firstly, it comprehends the political and cultural background of Chinese academic research during this period, including the transformation of academic institutions and methodologies, particularly the impact of the Eastward Progression of Western Studies on traditional classical literature. Secondly, by analyzing the evolution of academic research methods and theoretical perspectives, as well as the differentiation and fusion between different schools of thought, the paper reveals the dynamic changes in the study of the "Book of Poetry" and classics. Next, it systematically classifies and analyzes significant academic literature of the period, including academic papers, monographs, and commentaries, discussing in detail the linguistic styles, content themes, and academic values of the literature. The study indicates that the academic changes in the study of the "Book of Poetry" and classics in the early 20th century are mainly reflected in the modernization of research methods, the diversification of theoretical frameworks, and the plurality of academic views, all of which are fully represented in the contemporary academic literature. Finally, the paper analyzes the interrelationship between academic changes and the characteristics of the literature through specific examples, highlighting that these changes not only promoted the development of the "Book of Poetry" and classics studies but also laid the foundation for subsequent academic research. This research not only provides a new perspective for understanding the academic history of the "Book of Poetry" study at the beginning of the 20th century but also reveals the complex interactions between the characteristics of the literature and academic changes, offering valuable insights for future studies.