Analogies in a literary work should be conveyed clearly, and associations, subtly. This is an important proposition in ancient Chinese poetics. Examples of analogy and association were first found in the six basic elements of The Book of Songs.“Analogy” means comparing one thing to another, with the focus on the external similarities of things, in order to better express one’s feelings and thoughts, thus making oneself more thoroughly understood. With this in view, similarities between two things should be made apparent and exact. “Association,” too, compares one thing to another, but such a link is indirect and nuanced, created by an inner combination of sentiment, charm and atmosphere, which can spark readers to infer other things from one instance, allowing the meaning of the text to be fully realized. The notion of explicit analogy versus implicit association is widely applied to poetry creation. Specifically, analogy is adjacent, obvious and easily intelligible, whereas association is profound, covert and aesthetically pleasing.

Poetic works in The Book of Songs have both width and depth. They are represented by six basic elements: ballad, court hymn, eulogy, narrative, analogy and association. Mao Heng and Mao Chang, in interpreting The Book of Songs, singled out association for extra explanation. Isn’t that because ballads are simple and crude, narratives are direct, analogies are obvious but associations obscure? Liu Xie: The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons

Narratives express inner feelings through describing external things; they give clear expression to both feelings and objects. Analogies embody feelings in objects and attach feelings to objects. Associations are created through external things one sees by chance; in an association, feelings are inspired by objects. (As quoted in Hu Yin: A Letter to Li Shuyi)