In the Yang Huo chapter of the Analects, Confucius says that the Book of Songs can stir feeling, aid observation, bring people together and give voice to discontent. He is urging his students to study the poems. The passage goes on to speak of serving parents and rulers and recognising the names of birds, animals and plants. These are several uses of poetry in that world, not four modern writing techniques.
The possibility of voicing discontent is especially easy to lose. It is not an invitation to complain about everything; poetry could make dissatisfaction expressible among people. Today we can take from this the thought that expression need not consist only of praise. We should not, however, equate the ancient idea directly with unlimited modern freedom of speech.
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