Xing-yi shi (poetry on military or political expeditions) is one of the literary subjects in the Book of Songs. As compared to poetry of boudoir repining (Gui-yuan shi), both complement each other and present the difficulties of the people in the Book of Songs era when confronted with the situation of military or political obligations and separation. The Han interpreters of the Confucian Classics, who lived in a time not too distant from the pre- Qin period, expressed high sensitivity and empathetic feelings towards the characters in their interpretations of Xing-yi shi. Although they identified with the poetry's sentiments, these Han interpreters inevitably have to confront the subtle yet acute issues of ethics and contradictions involved in the public and private domains of one's country and family. Through the analysis of Xing-yi poetry in the Book of Songs, this research paper attempts to understand how people of the Han period perceive the subject matter and grasp the philosophical, emotional and spiritual facets the Han scholar-officials employed in their contemplation of life's adversities.