朱自清先生《詩言志辨》，認為“詩言志”之基本内涵是言説思想意志用以教化，强調其思想旨趣在於政教。這個學術影響巨大的認知，其實是對漢代詩學思想的整理和提煉，與“詩言志”之本義不完全相符。本文從先秦“詩言志”之實踐和闡説、詩人自道“詩言志”之内涵以及“詩言志”訓詁三個方面，重新梳理“詩言志”之本義，以為其不僅包含“表達思想意志”之義，也包含“抒發情感”和“紀事論理”之義。

In Shiyanzhibian, Zhu Ziqing believes that the essence of shiyanzhi is that the purpose of expressing thoughts and ideas is to emphasize the significance of official propaganda. This conviction, which has major academic influence, is actually an induction of the overall poetic thoughts of Han Dynasty, rather than aiming at the essence of shiyanzhi. This essay holds this argument from three aspects:the practice and interpretation of shiyanzhi of pre-Qin period, the illustrations of shiyanzhi of poets themselves, and exegetical studies (xungu) of shiyanzhi. In doing so, this essay reevaluates the very essence of shiyanzhi, and proposes that shiyanzhi contains not only the meaning of illustrating ideological thoughts, but also includes expressing emotions and the ethics of narratives.