Abstract:School songs are the origin of modern Chinese lyrics, but should not be regarded as the origin of Chinese new poetry. Although vernacular lyrics, vernacular poetry, and vernacular new poetry all employ vernacular, the contexts and connotations of “vernacular” are different. The use of vernacular in the lyrics of school songs may not necessarily be the result of the introduction to western melodies. The division of poetry and music brings about differences in the categories and functions of modern lyrics and new poetry, which should not be confused with each other. The educational nature of school songs largely leads to the non-poetic nature of its lyrics. The inheritance and differentiation of singing and reading in the late Qing Poetry Revolution opened up two distinct paths for modern lyrics and new poetry. The reading of lyrics cannot be compared with the reading of poetry. The separation of modern Chinese poetry and songs began with the differentiation between school songs and the New Poetry.
童龙超. 现代歌词与新诗的不同起源——对新诗“学堂乐歌起源论”的反思[J]. 华中师范大学学报(人文社会科学版), 2025, 64(1): 72-81.
Tong Longchao. The Different Origins of Modern Lyrics and New Poetry——Reflection on the Theory of the School Songs as the Origin of New Poetry. journal1, 2025, 64(1): 72-81.