The study of Shih ching traditionally had revolved around the canonization or the dismissal of the Preface. Chu Hsi's dismissal of the Preface in Shi chi-chuan was upheld until mid-Ming-a scholarly practice altered only by the appearance of Chu Mou-wei's ”Shih ku”. Besides rehabilitating the first line of the Preface as the basis of explicating the meanings of the poems, Chu Mou-wei and his ”Shih ku” can also be credited with the following intellectual achievements: (1) After promoting the significance of the Preface, Chu went on to provide important new readings of more than a hundred poems-some perhaps inspired by Sung scholarship; (2) Chu made numerous textual rectifications of the titles and lines of the Shih ching poems and elaborated on or criticized the views of the Preface as he saw fit; (3) Chu did not hesitate to criticize the predominant Sung views on sensuality, eroticism, and musicality in various poems; (4) Chu also came up with his own ideas about the functions of poetry. In sum, ”Shih ku” is a bridge between Sung interpretation and Ch'ing philology, marking the shift of research paradigms.