This literary term is used in poetry to comment on a ruler’s moral character, policies, decrees, and performance, either in praise or criticism. Confucius was the first to point out that poetry could be used to vent resentment and thus established a basic function of poetry writing by emphasizing the roleThe Book of Songsplayed in voicing grievances. In the Han Dynasty, however, poetry tended to be used as a vehicle for extolling the accomplishments and virtues of rulers. In “Preface toMao’s Version of The Book of Songs” and “Preface toOn the Categories of The Book of Songs”, two influential writings on theory of poetry published during the Han Dynasty, extolment and satirical criticism was regarded as an underlying principle of poetic criticism. This principle was widely employed by poets and writers of later generations as a way of getting involved in politics and making their impact on the society. This constituted a fundamental function and an essential feature of Chinese literature.

Citations

Poems are composed to applaud the rulers to continue to do what is good by extolling their achievements and virtues, and to urge them to change erroneous course by satirizing and criticizing their wrong doings. (Zheng Xuan: Preface toOn the Categories of the Book of Songs)

To Confucian scholars in Han Dynasty , poetry has two basic functions: extolment and satirical criticism. (Cheng Tingzuo:Qingxi Collection)