The Development of the Threnodic Genres in Early China

The grand funerary tradition of ancient China has long been evidenced by textual as well as archaeological sources. The “Three Ritual Classics”, the Book of Rites《禮記》, Rites of Zhou《周禮》 and the Etiquette and Rites《儀禮》 all contain detailed instructions for interment and mourning practices, many of which endure in one form or another even today. This study focuses on the literary manifestations of these practices, namely the threnodic (or quasi-threnodic) genres, their ancient roots, and changes to these forms which occurred from the Han 漢 dynasty through the Liang 梁 (206 B.C.E. – 587 C.E.). It is simply an overview, intended to serve as a mirror of the larger developments which occurred in Chinese literary thought and expression throughout these early periods.