China
The written form of Chinese poetry is believed to be over 22,000 years old. The first collection of Chinese poetry, The Book of Songs, was created between the 11th century and 2nd century B.C. The book contains short poems about everyday life. Themes of the poems include hunting, fishing, farming, and family life of that period.
Tang Shi San Bai Shou, or 300 Tang Poems, is a collection of poems over 1,100 years old. Almost every family in China owns a copy of the book or is familiar with its poems. Elementary school students in China still use the book when learning to read and write.
The following are poems from 300 Tang Poems. (Proceed to "While Visiting on the South Stream the Taoist Priest Chang.")
