“Pre-Yuefu”Poems in the Pre-Qin Dynasty

Pre-Yuefurefers to Yuefu poems in Pre-Qin dynasty before Han Emperor Wudi established Yuefuto collect folk songs and ballads.The existing 163 Pre-Yuefupoems,classified by their titles and musical features,fall into three categories: qin tunes(tunes created for a certain musical instrument);ancient songs;comprehensive ones.The authorship forPre-Yuefuconsists of officials and ordinary people.Among whom,Confucius’s 16Pre-Yuefupoems make him second only to QU Yuan(the greatest poet in late Warring States Period but a household name for his patriotism throughout Chinese history) in terms of number in Pre-Qin literary history.Pre-Yuefuvaries in themes but lacks romantic subject.